It is about time that the East Cape champion jockey Greg Cheyne wins the R85 000 Listed Lady’s Slipper Stakes.
Henk Steenkamp writes that today at Fairview champion trainer Alan Greeff will be going for his sixth consecutive victory in this race for two-year-old fillies over 1400m.
Cheyne will probably become the East Cape champion jockey for the fifth time in a row at the end of the season, riding mainly for the Greeff stable.
Greg Cheyne (Pic – Pauline Herman)
It is therefore very strange that one can’t find Cheyne’s name amongst the Greeff winners of the Lady’s Slipper Stakes since 2016.
In this time Charles Ndlovo won the race twice and there was one win each for Bernard Fayd’Herbe, Teaque Gould and Andrew Fortune.
Cheyne can add to the list of Greeff winners tomorrow when he rides Sound Check, the only Greeff runner and also the only filly in the race that has won over 1400m.
It is interesting to note that Sound Check is following the same route as a filly called Nik Nak did some 20 years ago.
Nik Nak was trained by Greeff, with Mike du Toit of Kariega involved as a part-owner.
The 84-year-old Du Toit now owns Sound Check in partnership with his son Barry, and will no doubt be at Fairview to support his filly.
After a break from the racing game, Du Toit recently returned and is as excited as ever about his horses.
He enjoys referring to the Nik Nak days: “They can’t get rid of me. No wonder they help me up and down the stairs here,” he joked at a recent Fairview meeting.
Sound Check will have some strong opposition in a small field of six runners that include two Cape Town raiders, Homely Girl (Justin Snaith) and Quick Breeze (Brett Crawford).
Lady’s Slipper Stakes:
Recent Winners:
- 2020: Herrin
- 2019: Luna Wish
- 2018: Madame Speaker
- 2017: Queen Forever
- 2016: O Tamara
- 2015: Jane S Piddy
- 2014: Dancing Natasha
- 2013: Darling Moon
- 2012: Deepo
- 2011: Ocean’s Swift
- 2010: Ebony Flyer
- 2009: Sarah Em
