The three-year-old fillies will be under pressure to produce more fireworks, after some spectacular performances at the last Fairview meeting.
This Friday’s meeting of eight races at the Fairview Turf track in Greenbushes, the Breeders Guineas, tops the bill. It is a race for three-year-old fillies, over 1 600m. This is going to be a big test for the best in the province.
They will hopefully produce something special, as another three-year-old filly, Three Rocks, did at the last meeting.
Three Rocks took on the older fillies and mares in the Lady’s Pendant race over 1 200m. She produced a wonderful finish under top Cape Town jockey Richard Fourie, to win for the Alan Greeff stable.
It was a great meeting for Greeff and Fourie. They also won the other big race on the day, the Ibhayi Stakes for three-year-olds over 1 400m, with Fairy Knight. Both winners were bred by the local Ascot Stud. This was Fairy Knight’s second run after being gelded, and he looks an even better horse now. He destroyed the opposition and we can look forward to more top runs from him.
The Ibhayi Stakes was the first leg of the East Cape Sophomore Challenge. There is a huge bonus for the connections of Fairy Knight if he can win all three legs, but it is a huge task.
His next mission will be the East Cape Guineas over 1 600m. This distance will be no problem for Fairy Knight, but the third and last leg is the derby over 2 400m.
Fourie sees no problem for Fairy Knight up and till 2 000m but the derby distance might be a bridge too far.
It will be interesting to see what the plans are with Fairy Knight, which has now won five races from 11 starts. His last win was his third in a row. When Fairy Knight runs at Fairview it is always a bit of an occasion. He is partly-owned by the Halo Syndicate and many of his owners are always at the track to support their horse.
Syndicates are formed to give more people a chance to own a share in a racehorse. Some members of the Halo Syndicate are new to racing and are thoroughly enjoying the experience. There are 14 different countries represented in the ownership of Fairy Knight!
Fairy Knight is now also the top earner at Fairview, R281 150 for the current season, which started in August last year. Although champion trainer Gavin Smith didn’t win the big races last Friday, it was yet another tremendous day at the office.
The Smith stable won four of the eight races. That makes it 80 winners already for Smith this season.
