Raiders likely to snatch EC glory
As the Eastern Cape winds up for its premier weekend of racing all the signs are that once again raiders will make off with the spoils of the top feature event, the R350,000 Sunshine Sweepstake Algoa Cup (Listed).
The race, over 2000m at Fairview on Sunday, has attracted a maximum field 18, and will be the crowning event of two days of racing, starting today.
Leading trainer Justin Snaith has three in the line-up but one who will lead the stable’s attack and has a bright chance of success is four-year-old five-time winner Platinum Prince with Richard Fourie up. Aldo Domeyer was aboard in the classy gelding’s last four outings at Kenilworth where he swept all aside.
Snaith confidently said it all: “This is a top-quality horse and with a low weight, a good draw and a top jockey aboard. He could be the one to beat.”
However, Fourie’s mount will have to be on guard against Gauteng raider Stonehenge (S’manga Khumalo) out of champion Sean Tarry’s stable. This frontrunner comes off a promising 2-3-2 placing in his last three starts at Turffontein in tough company and should make his presence felt again. Also to be respected is Brett Crawford-trained Nebula who won this race last year with Fourie up.
Another in with claims is twotime winner Loadshedder (Keagan de Melo) out of the in-form stable of Andre Nel, as is one-time winner Ollivander to be ridden by MJ Byleveld from Candice BassRobinson’s stable.
Though having to contend with a strong raiding party from the Western Cape, Alan Greefftrained Seattle Flame should be up to the task today when teamed up with top-flight jockey Greg Cheyne in the feature event, the Racing Association Stakes (Listed) for three-year-olds over 1600m.
This colt has yet to finish out of the money in his seven runs, the last two of which were decisive wins with Aldo Domeyer aboard over 1200m and 1400m at the Polytrack. His switch to turf should not be a concern as he had fared well on the surface in his previous five runs – winning smartly on debut over 1000m and then three runs later justifying cramped odds with an impressive fivelength win over 1200m.
Expect a bold bid from Yvette Bremner-trained Copper Trail. This gelding renews rivalry after finishing a good third to Seattle Flame last time over 1400m. The best of the others are raiders Merysagos, Seattle Sound and Pack Leader.
Race 6 and supporting feature event, the Cradock Place Stakes over 1200m should go the way of Justin Snaith-trained Villa Del Largo with Richard Fourie up.
He has been threatening a twelfth-career win in recent outings – the best of which was last time when carrying 62kg and a fast-finishing second to Elusivenchantment at the Polytrack over 1000m. The gelding has a bright chance to go one better this time when racing over the extra 200m.
However, Snaith’s charge will have to be on guard against Greeff’s three-time winner Vous Et Var who followed up a courseand-distance win with three close seconds. The pick of the rest are Elusivenchantment and Captain Alfredo