Chase can cruise home

THE main race at Fairview today is wide open but Stratocruiser, Kiss Me Hardy and Frederick Fox look set to fight it out for the winner’s cheque in Race 7 over 1 400m.

After four consecutive second places it will come as a bit of a surprise if Chase Maujean can’t put this one to bed for the connections of Stratocruiser. The son of Jet Master is ultra-consistent and clearly deserves to win now. He could also be at his best over this distance.

Kiss Me Hardy has had two good opening runs in Port Elizabeth with Craig Zackey up. He retains the ride for the Corné Spies yard. Kiss Me Hardy, a fiveyear-old son of Captain Al, won on the turf and could possibly defy top-weight.

He is a six-time winner from 38 outings and is well drawn at gate No 3.

The Gavin Smith-trained Frederick Fox is also due for a win. He was in great form in his last three starts and should be a serious contender with only 52,5kg on his back. In his last start he had to carry 60kg and therefore JP van der Merwe could use this advantage to secure a fourth career victory for owners Messrs MI Fullard & JH Drew.

However, this is not where the competition ends. Pataudi won all three his last starts at the Fairview Polytrack and has been kept to this surface for some time. The big question now is how he will react returning to the grass track.

However, Pataudi remains a big danger with S’manga Khumalo up and should not be left out of exotic perms.

Captains Slipper won his last race in style when he defeated Dutch Harbor over 1 400m and could follow up for the Tara Laing stable. Captains Slipper is a fivetime winner from 19 starts and needs to be respected.

Mister Matchett, who will have Louis Mxothwa in the saddle for the Smith yard, finished well in his last race last month, finishing just one length behind Captains Slipper. This time he carries only 53,5kg compared to 63,5kg in his last race which brings him right into the picture. Mister Matchett is a sixtime winner from 34 outings.

Briar King and Atso Time are capable of an upset.

The first race is off at 1.05pm.