One of the most versatile and consistent gallopers in the Eastern Cape, the Ascot Stud-bred Global View gelding Fairy Knight returned from an eleven week break to register his tenth career success with victory in the R175 000 Mining Pressure Systems Listed East Cape Sprint Cup at Fairview on the Human Rights Day public holiday, that hosted the ECHCU Raceday.
Fairy Knight and a saluting Richard Fourie leave them for dead (Pic – Pauline Herman)
While he was tested up to the 2400m of the East Cape Derby last season, Fairy Knight (3-1) is clearly a very accomplished sprinter and he put a very decent field of nine opponents to bed under top weight in scintillating fashion, sweeping through late to beat the progressive 3yo Kingdundee (18-10) by 1,25 lengths in a time of 67,05 secs.
On a good day for the Kelly Mitchley yard, Anuschka’s World (20-1) was a further quarter length back in third, with Highveld transferee Mercantour (8-1) having his first race for Greeff ex the Stuart Pettigrew yard, capping the quartet.
Ridgemont jockey Richard Fourie suggested Fairy Knight is a better sprinter than a miler plus.
“But he’s a pleasure to ride and it was a sensational win. I saluted like it was a Grade 1 winner. When Cruise Control runs in the Computaform Sprint on the Highveld on 29 March, we will get a line as to how he would compare in other regions,” he added in Response to a question by interviewer Neil Pretorius.
The happy Fairy Knight connections celebrate a big win (Pic – Pauline Herman)
Alan Greeff said he wanted to send a special shout out to their farrier Tommy and his crew.
“We only put the shoes on late morning. Well done to all the owners around the world too. What a wonderful horse has proven to be!”
A R120 000 National Yearling Sale purchase, Fairy Knight is raced by Pine Lodge Stud and the Halo Syndicate and was registering his tenth victory and 6 places from eighteen starts for stakes of R940 150.
Bred by Ascot Stud, Fairy Knight is by the top stud’s Galileo stallion Global View out of the two time winning Lecture mare, Fairy Queen.
Alan Greeff shared the training honours with Kelly Mitchley up to this stage of the day.
