American Captain is a Free Agent now
Paddock, Greeff and Cheyne to star at Fairview meeting
Grant Paddock-trained American Captain has a massive chance of remaining unbeaten in Port Elizabeth today when he lines up in Race 6, a MR 72 Handicap over 2000m on the Fairview Polytrack.
This Polytrack specialist, formerly with Mark Dixon in KwaZulu-Natal, shed his maiden tag on his first attempt at this track in July, impressively skipping 5.75 lengths clear of The Sultans Secret in a Maiden Plate over 1900m on the Polytrack.
This Captain Al gelding then followed-up with a gutsy performance under Luyolo Mxothwa in his latest effort, denying a game Seattle Spell by the whisker margin of 0.25 lengths – in another performances contested over 1900m.
“This game is getting too difficult for me,” said a shocked Paddock to Tellytrack.
“He got slaughtered (at home) by a horse that couldn’t run a place in a maiden so I told the owners not to have a bet.
“I said his work was not good enough – then, he wins and the maiden doesn’t even run a place!”
American Captain now shoulders 1kg less than he did last time out with 58.5kg.
He will also get the services of the in-form jockey Greg Cheyne for the first time.
Cheyne’s experience will aid the four-year-old gelding in overcoming the wide No 7 draw in this nine-horse field.
For the Quartet float American Captain and Multi Gold with the remainder of this small field.
Two of Free Agent’s last three performances were on this surface, finishing second and third respectively.
He produced a late surge in his last outing when beaten 1.75 lengths into second place by Querari Viking over 1600m.
If that performance is any indication, Free Agent should relish the extra 400m.
He could prove a rather valuable Eachway prospect when he competes against a competitive field in Race 5, a MR 81 Handicap over 2000m.
This Tara Laing-trained six-year-old shoulders 59.5kg, is smartly drawn at No 3 and appears to be far better than his merit rating of 80 suggests.
Top Eastern Cape trainer Alan Greeff also has a number of good chances in today’s topliner, a Pinnacle Stakes over 1400m in Race 7.
Captain Marmalade, who has a definite affinity for the Fairview Polytrack, has a bright chance to make it six wins is another son of Captain Al and is a five-time winner at the Polytrack – four times with Cheyne aboard. Three runs back when coming off a rest and ridden by Cheyne he won by an increasing 3.50 lengths in a 1300m MR 86 Handicap.
However, he will have to be on guard against five-time winner Dawnbreaker (Craig Zackey) out of Gavin Smith’s stable. The five-year-old followed up that gutsy 1400m Pinnacle win with a creditable third in the 1600m Founders Trophy at the same venue.
Other Greeff-trained runners who could make their presence felt in the race are Breakfast Club and Seattle Flame.