Go with local Madame
A STRONG contingent of five Western Cape raiders will give local favourite Madame Speaker a torrid time in the Breeders Guineas over 1 600m at Fairview tomorrow.
The visitors, making up 50% of the field in Race 7, are: Dream Baby Dream (Andre Nel), Star Fighter (Candice Bass-Robinson). Be Yourself and Count Dubucks (Glen Kotzen) and Chakri (Justin Snaith).
Alan Greeff-trained Madame Speaker, a six-time winner from 13 starts, was very impressive in a runaway 6,75-length win over March Music in her last start, over 1400m last month.
With regular pilot Greg Cheyne aboard, she is obviously the horse to beat. But victory won’t come easy.
Star Fighter is improving and likes the distance. Her last race was a 1,25-length defeat of Golden Chance at Kenilworth, with the daughter of Argonaut showing a smart turn of foot. Champion jockey Lyle Hewitson retains the ride.
Dream Baby Dream, owned by Sabina Plattner, has run only three races for one victory. But she is not in Port Elizabeth for the scenery and could enjoy this step up in distance.
The Kotzen duo look dangerous on form. Be Yourself is knocking at the door for a second victory, while Count Dubucks has won her last two and is quite capable of landing the hat-trick.
Chakri is the least fancied of the visitors, but the Snaith-Richard Fourie combination can never be underestimated.
The vote goes to Madame Speaker to be pushed all the way by Dream Baby Dream, Star Fighter and Be Yourself.
Fairview has again been flooded by Western Capebased runners.
In race 2, former Brett Crawford charges Dubula and Cirencester Rose make their debuts for the Greeff yard, while the trainer also welcomes Duke Of Hazard, formerly trained by Patrick Kruyer.
Kotzen raids with Rock Spirit in the same race.
Red Ginger (Snaith) and Glamorous Life (Kotzen) run in race 3, while former Michael Robinson charge Fashion Force has her first outing for the Gavin Smith stable.
The first of nine races on a tricky-looking card is off at 12:10.