Snaith Flyer. Indian Hawk could be the right one
A bumper eight race programme awaits punters at Arlington today where the R90 000 Friendly City Stakes run over 1800m heads the card.
The Port Elizabeth programme is popular with Place Accumulator punters and the well patronised fields indicate that healthy dividends could be the order of the day.
The Friendly City Stakes is a race for all horses rated a net 70 or higher, and presents a tough poser with ten fair sorts lining up. The race is the third leg of the jackpot.
Justin Snaith ended last season as his best ever and with a flourish and he starts all over again with six runners on this card.
Snaith saddles the Black Minnaloushe Indian Hawk, who will be ridden by Wayne Agrella and carries topweight.
Indian Hawk has won 5 of his 24 starts and is the class runner in the race.
He won his last start in a Pinnacle Stakes mile at Fairview beating The Shark with a sustained effort.
The only horse that returns from that race is Grant Paddock’s White House, who finished 6,10 lengths behind Indian Hawk. He could get closer as he is 4kgs better off with the Snaith c harge.
Team Sham. May have a plan to beat Snaith today
Indian Hawk was once labelled by Snaith as a horse that could win in any centre in South Africa, and he will go very close here.
Hi major opposition should be provided by the Dorrie Sham trained Two Gun Kid.
The Toreador gelding has won two of his three PE starts since relocating from the Mike De Kock Gauteng yard.
Mitch Wiese has an interesting coupling.
His Requiem gelding Jupiter Symphony improved nicely at his last start when staying on for second 3,25 lengths behind Two Gun Kid.
Jupiter Symphony is all of 5,5 kgs better off here and is very capable of turning the tables.
Mitch Wiese’s Iron Grey is an enigmatic but very talented sort. Known to be a difficult ride, his form has tapered negatively at his last three starts and it will be interesting to see how his young claiming apprentice rider copes with him.
Placido returns after a short break following an unsuccessful attempt on the Winter Derby in Cape Town.
If not in need of the outing, he could challenge as he was a leading 3yo of his generation.
The Brazillian bred Zezinho Campeao is perfectly course and distance suited, but is an unsound sort who tends to produce inconsistent performances.
The Jet Master gelding Spellcaster never got into the race last time when finishing over 9 lengths behind Two Gun Kid.
While he enjoys a 3kgs swing with the Sham gelding here, that may not be enough to elevate him into a challenging position.
Silverano is the fourth of the Smith runners. Robbie Fradd makes a rare visit to PE and is an interesting jockey engagement.
He was beaten 6,25 lengths by Two Gun Kid last time, and is now 2kgs better off with the Sham runner,
Ozzie Dude returns from an eight month break and will need a run or two to reach peak fitness.
The pace will be on with Zezinho Campeao likely to lead the way.
A true run race will ensure a favourable result.
Indian Hawk and Two Gun Kid look likely to fight it out.
Maybe go with just the two in your PA and then go wide elsewhere as there are some testing races to get through.
