It often pays to follow jockey-trainer combinations. That’s the route we are going on the polytrack at Fairview on Friday where the red-hot Snaith-Fortune juggernaut face up to the equally in-form Spies-Zackey team in an MR 92 Handicap over the lightning fast 1000m.
Stable wellbeing and jockey confidence are worth a good few lengths on any raceday and this past Monday’s Fairview meeting was living proof that when you are hot, you’re hot.
Cliffhanger
Andrew Fortune is riding at the top of his game
The finish of the day was surely the three corned cliffhanger in the sixth, which involved a strand of hair separating the Snaith and Spies gallopers.
Andrew Fortune had Bella’s Empire in front at the 200m looking all over a winner, when the daughter of Oratorio was besieged with a late flourish from Craig Zackey on Fire Dancing down her outside. Greg Cheyne was negotiating some rush-hour traffic on Kanara down the inside rail and the three came together inside the 50m.
Bella’s Empire looked for all intents and purposes to be beaten. But the never-say-die Fortune threw the kitchen sink at the grey mare and she stuck her head down to nose out the Spies longshot.
Young Zackey must have thought he had it in the bag but would have been happy as the sun set to fly back home to Jozi with a super Spies first and second race double in the bag.
Friday
The combinations renew rivalry on Friday in a competitive eight-horse field.
Jo Malone – fit and fast
Spies saddles one of only two members of the fairer sex in the hardknocking Tiger Ridge mare Jo Malone, who walloped some quality males on the turf at this venue at her previous jump.
That was in a MR 97 Handicap where she beat Gr2 winner Harry Lime and Gr1 star Normanz – admittedly getting a few kilos – but with something in hand.
The Mauritzfontein bred fighter seems to be getting better with age and switches back to the poly – a surface she has shown she can run on. A one-time stakes placed 2yo, she is versatile and has won on the Vaal sand and turf too.
She is in prime form and will make them pick up their feet.
Big Dreams
Justin Snaith – A Million Dreams carries top weight
Justin Snaith saddles the year younger Jay Peg filly A Million Dreams for his owner-brother, Jono.
Formerly with Louis Goosen, the Ken Truter – bred flyer showed some decent Gauteng form and is a Vaal sand winner.
She was not disgraced at her opening East Cape start when lumbering top weight and going down only 3,55 lengths to the talented Clear Sailing on the turf. That was her first start in five months and she will strip a fitter proposition on Friday.
Vaughan Marshall brings the long overdue to win again Zinnavar to town.
The son of Var went close to winning in the Greyville poly during the SA Champions Season and with a nice draw and Greg Cheyne up, most go very close.
At Home
Dragon Li is enjoying PE and goes for a hat-trick of wins as he steps into handicap company.
The son of Querari has shown a solid turn of foot on this surface and will not lack for speed.
Tara Laing – dangerous coupling
It has been a year since the 6yo Cardinal has put a winning performance together and they may go too quick for him. The son of Trippi jumps from the rails draw but tends to find his feet too late.
Course and distance specialist Leodocus steps up in class and will be tested in this company. He is no slouch and hails from another effective trainer-jockey combination in Sham and Zechner.
The Tara Laing coupling of Western Force and Bonfire Heart are both capable of delivering a winning performance – even though both ran less than impressive recent races.
Tough
It is a very competitive little race and should prove an entertaining spectacle.
The in-form Jo Malone and Zinnavar could fight it out – but don’t discard the topweighted filly under Fortune.
