Multiple East Cape champion Alan Greeff saddled the first four winners on the Fairview card on Friday to become the first South African trainer to reach the century mark this term.
Despite suffering from the dreaded ‘sales flu’, the Halo Stables boss, who turned 53 earlier this month, was able to muster a smile after the unstoppable Richard Fourie booted the Ridgemont bred Canford Cliffs filly Executor home to win the fourth, an MR 68 Handicap, in good style.
Top combo! Alan Greeff and Winning Form rider Richard Fourie in the Ridgemont silks (Pic – Pauline Herman)
The 3yo has won twice from 13 starts, with 7 places, and races in a partnership of Ridgemont’s Craig Kieswetter and Hollywoodbets Brand & Communications Manager, Devin Heffer.
A half hour later, in an illustration of the competitiveness of the Nelson Mandela Bay Racing title chase, Hollywoodbets-sponsored Gavin Smith registered his 100 winners for the season, when Craig Zackey got the Ascot Stud-bred Global View 4yo Forest Spy up to win the fifth.
The gelding is now a three-time winner from 22 starts with 8 places.
No trainer in the country has sent out more runners than Gavin Smith.
Craig Zackey and Forest Spy celebrate the season 100 winner mark with the Hollywoodbets sponsored Gavin Smith Team (Pic – Pauline Herman)
Alan Greeff has saddled close on 200 less runners than his arch rival, but his strike rate is better at 15,3% – which compares favourably with the likes of Alec Laird (16,8%), West Coast private trainer Andre Nel (16,6%), and Gauteng based Johan Janse van Vuuren (15,4%). Trainer Tony Peter is some way ahead on 21%. The comparisons can be academic, as naturally numbers of runners do smooth the stats out.
Congratulations to both Alan Greeff and Gavin Smith on the achievement!
Richard Fourie continues his march to topple the 25 year old Anthony Delpech 334 winner mark and was on 268 as we went to publication.
