A genuine test of stamina, the 3200m R150 000 Listed Glenlair Trophy shares the Good Friday feature billing today at Fairview.
Jacques Strydom has a knack of prepping the stayers and he may feel he can go one better this time round with the 7yo Frikkie, who was runner-up behind Desert Wisdom in last year’s race. Frikkie is a genuine stayer who produces a strong finish off a pace and he strips fit after two decent prep runs.
Jacques Strydom – will have Frikkie ready
The Mullins Bay gelding Chappaquiddick has not been at his best for some time and would need to recapture his better earlier form – the likes of chasing Plano for a hard-earned second in the PE Gold Cup last year.
The Cape raider Ballad Of The Sea is stakes placed over ground in his home province and has threatened without quite delivering at his recent starts. This should give the Australian-bred 4yo an excellent chance to register a second win and the stable has done well with their raiding parties up the Garden Route.
Tara Laing has won this race three times and her 2018 PE Gold Cup winner Plano must have a big shout after two fair prep runs over shorter.
Tara Laing – top record in this race
Evolver has relocated from Gauteng and earned at five of his 6 PE starts. The son of Gimmethegreenlight has won up to 2400m and now takes on stronger company over 800m further.
Angel Of Athens has done well since relocating to Sharon Kotzen from the Cape and is another who has her first dip in marathon waters
Second of the Tara Laing duo, topweight Sheet Weaver ran a gutsy third in the Gold Vase at Greyville last year and will easily get the trip here. He could be good enough to run into the place money.
Multi Gold – more to do but is progressive
Sharon Kotzen’s Lakeside Handicap winner Multi Gold is a progressive 4yo in this region and a horse that looks very likely to stay the 3200m.He is 1,5kgs worse off with Evolver whom he beat a length last time.
Jacques Strydom also saddles Omaha Tribe and the Ideal World filly, Onesie.
Omaha Tribe has been off form for ages and has not won ina long time.
Onesie is another who hasn’t shown any spark in some time and she would be a shock winner.
The former Mayhew trained Gauteng based Blue Sage has her first run in the Eastern Cape. The daughter of Russian Sage has not tried the distance previously and while she stayed fairly well up to 2000m, this will be a different story.
A tricky staying handicap where it may be best to look to the proven trainers of the longhaulers.
That would be Jacques Strydom with Frikkie and Tara Laing with Plano and Sheet Weaver. Best of the others and the horse with the most scope looks to be Multi Gold.
