THERE are many stories about great comebacks in sport.
Most of the time, the comeback story is a heart-warming affair. You just have to be with the player or team that was down and out, and then come back to take victory. One of these comeback stories is in progress at the Fairview race track in Greenbushes. It involves former champion trainer, Gavin Smith.
Smith last won the East Cape trainers’ title (his eighth) back in 2013. Since then things weren’t that great and at times, according to Smith’s high standards, things were really bad.
Some trainers in the same boat would probably have packed it in, but Smith stuck it out, kept on fighting and this season his stable is very much on song.
The stable is currently enjoying a wonderful run and the possibility of a first title since 2013 has very quickly become a reality.
The defending champion trainer, Alan Greeff, started the season with a bang and built up an early lead. It looked as though he would have no problems in keeping the trainers’ title.
That was before the Smith stable hit top gear and produced winner after winner. The difference in winners is becoming smaller and smaller and the title race has given the Eastern Cape season a new dimension.
There is still a long way to go, still many races, till the end of the current season at the end of July. It is going to be very exciting. Greeff has saddled 107 winners at Fairview since the start of the season but Smith has been gaining fast and is on 94 winners. These two mighty stables are way ahead of the rest, with Sharon Kotzen on 38 winners, back in third spot.
The jockey title should be going to Greg Cheyne again, unless things go terribly wrong.
Cheyne has been doing his regular trips from Cape Town to ride mostly for the Greeff yard at the Fairview meetings.
He is aiming for his fifth East Cape title in a row (his ninth overall) and is once again way ahead of the other riders with 76 winners (Marco van Rensburg is in second spot with 51).
To recognise the efforts of the Gqeberha-based jockeys, there is also an annual award for the local rider with the most wins at the end of the season. This is where things get really interesting. Teaque Gould is leading this race but Charles Ndlovu, Kendall Minnie, Stallone Naidoo, Lukas Bester and Keanen Steyn are all still in the hunt.
There have been some brilliant rides by the locals recently. At last Friday’s meeting, Gould, Bester and Dylan Lerena all overcome terrible draws to win races on the Polytrack.
With such classy riding they will keep the big names on their toes in the upcoming meetings.
This Friday racing is on the turf track at Fairview. The main race is the East Cape Nursery (for two-year-olds) and should be a very exciting and competitive race. – HENK STEENKAMP
