TIME is running out fast to reach those milestones and secure some prestigious awards for the current horse racing season.
There are now only three meetings left at the Fairview track in Greenbushes before the 2023/24 East Cape season comes to an end.
All the roleplayers will give it a full go to improve their statistics at the meetings over the two coming Fridays, and the last one on Monday, July 29.
This situation always produces exciting and competitive racing, and fans can get ready to see some extraordinary performances at the remaining meetings.
The pick of the three upcoming meetings is without a doubt the one of Friday, July 26.
Just as the Fairview stables will give it everything to try to pick up more winners, there are out-of-town trainers who are very interested to include the meeting on the 26th in their final onslaught.
Five top out-of-town stables have nominated runners to participate at Fairview on the 26th. At this stage it looks as though this meeting will be filled with quality.
The feature race on the day will be race seven of the eight carded races, the R200 000 Champion Juvenile Cup for two-year-olds over 1 400m.
If the action will be anything close to what we experienced last Friday, racing fans are in for another thrilling afternoon.
The Gold Cup over the challenging distance of 3 200m has always been a crowd favourite, and yes, it was once again a spectacular race.
Battleground, the visiting horse from Vereeniging, was the strong favourite to win the race, but the locally Tara Laing-trained Juan Carlos, nearly caused an upset.
Laing has an excellent record in this race and it was nearly another one for her stable.
The Gold Cup is regarded as one of the most beautiful trophies in South African racing, and this was the main reason why Battleground’s team made the effort to visit Gqeberha.
Breeder and owner, Gaynor Rupert, was so impressed with the trophy that she gave trainer, Lucky Houdalakis, the green light to prepare Battleground for the race.
“Go and get that beautiful trophy,” was her call and the plan worked out perfectly. It was a good ride by jockey S’manga Khumalo to secure the victory, beating Juan Carlos by a quarter length.
The Gold Cup was a disappointment for trainer, Alan Greeff, but his stable dominated the rest of this meeting, with five winners.
Three of the Greeff winners were ridden by Cape Town-based jockey, Richard Fourie, who now holds the record for the most wins in an East Cape season, and there are still three meetings to go!
