Silvan Spirit is expected to go close on Friday
It looks like a rewarding Friday for the PE faithful. A welcome return to the turf surface and with bumper fields to boot, the card will certainly grab the attention of the value seekers.The R150 000 Listed Jockey Club Stakes heads the nine race programme and jockey Greg Cheyne and his boss, champion trainer Alan Greeff, could get back to winning ways after a quiet time of it last week.
With racing on poly and turf, the local form picture has been a bit muddied of late – but that is often the allure of PE racing for the smaller punter, where hunches, loyalties and a gut feel can often lead to rewarding exotic returns.
Bounce Back
A pair that will be keen to get back to the winner’s enclosure are the Greeff-Cheyne combination, who stuck their necks out last Friday with two fancied runners that are still running.
Simmering and Fascinating Filly were the two ‘missing in action’ but the power duo look set for a big run with the smart Wicklow Stud-bred mare, Silvan Spirit, in the 2000m Listed Jockey Club Stakes.
The 5yo four-time winner hasn’t seen action for five weeks since a close up third behind Cape raider Irish Myth in the Listed East Cape Paddock Stakes run over the mile.
She will be far better suited to the extra 400m of this race and from a good draw looks the one to beat.
Support Attack
Greeff has three support runners.
Best of these may be the Jet Master mare Starlight Beauty, who was only beaten 2,95 lengths by La Salle last time, but meets that one on a back breaking 8kgs better terms here.
The former Stan Elley-trained runner is fit and as a course and distance winner looks nicely in here.
The consistent Rushing Elf ran a cracking second and 1,25 lengths behind La Salle last time but is another who jumps dramatically in the weights and may not find this easy going.
The fourth of the Greeff runners is the Windrush mare Entrancer, who appears to be battling after being winless for close on a year.
Beranrd Fayd’herbe pays rare visit to PE
Big Chance
Bernard Fayd’herbe makes a rare appearance in these parts and the Cape heavyweight partners the smart Silvano mare Petara for Justin Snaith.
An impressive winner of her last start in an MR 78 Handicap at Kenilworth, she comes in well drawn and must be taken seriously on her best form to her contemporaries down South.
She has her first run in PE.
Dark Horse
Glen Kotzen’s PE satellite yard is ticking over very nicely and they have pulled the best draw for their Judpot filly Skysign.
She has been on the fringes of late and showed her guts and courage with a plucky third, albeit 7 lengths away, in the Gr3 East Cape Derby.
She ran a fair fifth in the East Cape Paddock Stakes and looks far better than a maiden winner at this stage.
She will be partnered by Grant Van Niekerk and could be the lurker in the pack.
The Dorrie Sham trained La Salle has drawn widest of all after scoring an overdue win at her last start in the Wedgewood Handicap (NBT).
She looks to hold Rushing Elf again but a filly like Starlight Beauty (only 3 lengths behind in the Wedgewood) is way better in here.
Smith Trio
Gavin Smith sends out three runners and his trio are headed by the former KZN mare Sounds Of Tigers.
While battling towards the end of her KZN campaign, Gavin’s cousin Duncan Howells got her to run some decent races in fair company and she could be a place prospect if having settled in quickly.
Smith’s second string is the Albert Hall mare, Deepo.
A smart 2yo, she has never really recaptured the form of that time and looks an outside place prospect at very best. She will strip fit after two polytrack outings.
The third Smith charge is Babazeka, who has no recent form to recommend her.
Deep End
The Hekkie Strydom-trained National Forest ran in tough company at her last start and ended up dropping out to nothing.
She will be far more comfortable against her own sex here and is not far off La Salle – although Starlight Beauty looks way superior, as we have observed.
The Yvette Bremner trained Foam Party is battling to get her act together and looks outclassed.
Renate Du Plessis’ Sparkling Saphir ran a cracker when beating the hardknocking males in a low-key handicap on the polytrack at her last start.
While she is in the deep end on the ratings here, she could run a place as she appears to be enjoying PE after the tougher Gauteng arena.
The Jacques Strydom trained Bursary is still a one-time winner after her 19 starts and appears to be struggling somewhat. That said, she is never very far off the earners but may need to look elsewhere to win her second race.
Plenty Pace
The race looks likely to be a true-run affair as there is plenty of pace in the ranks.
True-run races produce form results.
On that basis we are suggesting Silvan Spirit may be good enough to edge out the Cape challenger Petara and the very game Starlight Beauty.
Kotzen’s Skysign could be a value dark horse after a luckless run.
