To retire or not to retire? That is the question all top sport stars have to answer at some point in their career. Some get the timing right, and others overstay their welcome.
With a racehorse that decision has to be taken for him or her, usually by the owner or trainer. In the case of the eight-year-old gelding, American Landing, the decision makers got it spot-on.
As a three-year-old, American Landing won the East Cape Derby back in 2018 and wasn’t given much of a chance to win another big race when he lined up for a crack at the Glenlair Trophy last Friday. It was his 61st race, but the eight-year-old looked as fresh as the three-year-old Derby winner as he stormed to victory, under a fine ride by local jockey, Kendall Minnie.
After this fantastic win it will not be easy to retire American Landing soon. He is owned by Delma, the wife of former Springbok fly-half, Lance Sherrell.
A horse must have plenty of stamina to win the Glenlair Trophy as the race is over 2 800m.
Trainer Alan Greeff and the Sherrell couple will be tempted to give the Gold Cup over 3200m a go later in the year. The Glenlair Trophy was the main race at last Friday’s meeting.
Greeff won six of the 10 races and is now in a position to challenge defending champion, Gavin Smith, for the East Cape trainer’s title.
The other big race of the day was won by a three-year-old, Cliff Top, who was at the top of his game when he won the Fairview Flying Five over 1 000m. He won the East Cape Nursery for two-year-olds last season, and the Nursery will be the main event at Friday’s meeting.
An exciting race is expected over 1 200m. Famous names like Global Drummer, Madame Speaker, Oomph and In a Rush are previous winners of this race, not an easy one to win.
Friday’s winner will be frontrunner in the race to be crowned the champion two-year-old in the province, at the end of the season.
Fairview dates
21 April: Turf – East Cape Nursery
28 April: Poly
5 May: Poly
12 May: East Cape Derby
19 May: Poly
26 May: Turf
29 May: Poly
