Smith could win again
IT IS still early in the horse racing season, but it looks safe to say that it could be a good one for trainer Gavin Smith.
The Smith stable has of late not been producing the brilliant results of four or five seasons ago.
Smith dominated then, and formed a formidable combination with champion jockey Mark Khan.
It has been a long, tough battle, and the hard work that Smith is known for, to get the stable back on track again.
A good start to the new season must be encouraging for Smith, who last won the East Cape trainers’ title in 2012-13.
He holds the season record with an almost unbelievable 150 winners in 2006-07.
He can now light up the H B Christian Room at Fairview again with his familiar shouting home of his jockeys down the long straight: “Go JP, go JP boy!”
J P van der Merwe and Smith have become a solid combination.
With the stable getting into gear, it would help Van der Merwe to challenge for the East Cape jockey title. The race to it could be interesting.
S’manga Khumalo won the title last season, but has not been in action in the Bay lately, due to a welldeserved suspension.
It could be difficult for Khumalo to catch up in this title race as the veteran Andrew Fortune and Van der Merwe had a great start.
Greg Cheyne has a bad injury that ruined his chances of successfully defending the title last season.
He is the first-choice jockey for the champion stable of trainer Alan Greeff, and also had a good start to the season.
How the stables of Greeff and Justin Snaith use the jockeys available to them will play a huge role in this championship race.
The main contenders for the title are all out-of-town jockeys, but there is also a title up for grabs for the Port Elizabeth-based jockeys.
Teague Gould is the defending champion and has already shown that he means business by taken the early lead again.
Hopefully your favourite jockey will produce the goods today. Punters’ Pal tips: Fairview
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