The Alan Greeff machine maintained the momentum from last season with four winners at Fairview on Friday, including a gutsy win by the Twice Over mare Studio Blues in the non black-type R110 000 Wedgewood Handicap.
There isn’t more form outfit in the country and the Greeff team delivered the goods again to get the new term off to a flyer.
Only eight runners faced the starter for the first feature of the season and Ridgemont Highlands rider Greg Cheyne rode a well-judged race on the favourite Studio Blues who was stepping up to the 2400m for the first time.
Greg Cheyne gets Studio Blues to rally and hold off the late challenge of Lousi Mxothwa and Just My Style (Pic – Pauline Herman Photography)
Ryan Munger slowed things down up front on the free-striding Flying Squadron, but Cheyne was stalking and aware and he released Studio Blues early with a winning effort.
With Flying Squadron fading late, it was the ever consistent Just My Style who ranged up dangerously down the inside.
But confidence is a winning tonic and Greg Cheyne had judged it perfectly as Studio Blues stayed on strongly to win by a half length in a time of 156,49 secs.
Just My Style is often a PA banker and she also plugged on well to grab second and three lengths ahead of longshot Exclusivity in third.
Studio Blues has won 5 of 20 starts with 7 places and stakes of R353 375.
A Daytona Stud-bred daughter of Twice Over (Observatory) she is out of the twice winning Six Blue Notes (Qui Danzig), who raced for Glen Kotzen.
Cheyne grabbed a Greeff double on the day with the Jackson colt Go Goodfellow winning the opener. Charles Ndlovu and Wayne Agrella each rode the balance of the champion yard’s quartet.
