Grant Van Niekerk. Rides For The Count for Mike Bass
The Mike Bass yard will be looking for a feature success at Fairview today when the Dylan Thomas filly For The Count jumps from pole position in the R90 000 Wedgewood Handicap .
The 2400m event has attracted a field of 14 and poses an interesting puzzle for punters as it is the opening leg of a bumper jackpot.
In an interesting weight spread, not seen very often, Gavin Smith’s topweight Fly Emirates carries 10,5kgs more than her 13 opponents who are all on joint ‘bottomweight’ of 52kgs.
That means technically that other than For The Count and Silvan Spirit, the rest of the eleven runners are in under sufferance.
Mike Bass has not looked back since appointing Gavin Blake to run his PE satellite operation and Mrs Rhona Beck’s smart 3yo has had two runs in the Eastern Cape and should now be ready to win.
Piloted by the in form Grant Van Niekerk, For The Count is a two time winner from 11 starts and appears well suited to the 2400mafter staying on strongly over her two 2000m starts in the Windy City.
The chief opposition could be provided by Allan Greeff’s Silvan Spirit .
The daughter of Silvano won the Oaks Plate before running a good second in the East Cape Oaks behind Valor Red.
She beat For The Count into third there by a short head and they meet again here at level weights.
So there won’t be much between them.
Gavin Smith’s Fly Emirates is a game and consistent daughter of Jet Master and the highest rated runner in the race as we have already observed.
She has a hefty burden to carry over the ground and in a field dominated by lightweights, the test of stamina could be raised a good few notches.
The weather is cloudy with a head wind blowing at Fairview.
The penetrometer reading is set at 23.
