The horse racing fraternity will be celebrating Heritage Day with a spit braai and some classy racing on Friday.
All eyes will be on the Friendly City Stakes, which will be the main race at the meeting on the Fairview Turf track in Greenbushes.
Some top horses will contest this one and no doubt racegoers will be treated to a competitive and exciting battle over 1 800m.
Together with the theme of ‘United We Braai’, the eight races will be run in a real festive atmosphere.
Racegoers are also encouraged to celebrate their heritage by dressing up and there will be some surprises for the fans throughout the afternoon. There is also a chance of a few surprises on the track.
This was certainly the case at last Friday’s very exciting meeting, when there were a few upset results.
That meeting could well be remembered as a nail-biting meeting. Almost every race turned into a thriller with one photo finish followed by another.
Cape Town jockey, Luyolo Mxothwa, was the star of the show by riding three winners in a row on a very competitive afternoon.
The Fairview faithful are privileged to see top riders in action at every meeting and Mxothwa proved that he can hold his own with the best. He gave a polished performance.
In the first race of the day the riding was maybe not that polished. It was a work riders’ race and the amateurs who do such valuable work at the stables got a chance to show off their skills.
Some struggled but some of them looked like professionals in the saddle.
It was a huge race for Sibongile Liyaba. He was the East Cape champion work rider of last season and that was why last Friday’s race was named after him.
Sibongile did not disappoint and won the very race named after him, just hanging on with the Gavin Smith-trained filly, Champagne Charlie, to beat the strong finishing stablemate, Red Centre.
As expected, the powerful stables of trainers Smith and Alan Greeff started the current season strongly but the performances of the Fairview ladies are also catching the eye.
It might not be Women’s Month anymore, but the four lady trainers at the Fairview stables are still producing the goods.
Last Friday, Sharon Kotzen saddled a double while Tara Laing and Montana Turner also had a winner each.
The newcomer to the trainers’ ranks, Kelly Mitchley, didn’t join the party this time, but made a sensational start to her career recently, with three winners in no time.
Keep an eye on the lady trainers in the upcoming meetings; they mean business.
Upcoming Fairview meetings:
23 September: Turf – Friendly City Stakes
30 September: Poly – EC Challenge
7 October: Turf – Lady’s Pendant
11 October: Poly
