The drum to go on beating

There is no doubt that Global Drummer is a very decent threeyear-old and it will be interesting to see if trainer Gavin Smith will try to run him outside the Eastern Cape again.

It is hard to fault the performances of the son of Global View. He has run seven times for six wins and is unbeaten at Fairview, both on turf and Polytrack.

He has suffered only one defeat and that was when he finished seventh last year behind highclass sprinter Eric The Red in the Summer Juvenile Stakes over 1200m at Kenilworth, his only trip out of the Eastern Cape. It might be that he does not enjoy travelling although it must be noted Smith had him gelded less than a week after that race so there might have been something else troubling him.

Four commanding wins followed as a two-year-old and he has looked just as good this season as a three-year-old, winning twice on the Polytrack.

Global Drummer takes another step forward in his career when he lines up today in Race 7, the Fairview Merchants Sprint (NonBlack Type) over 1200m. His last two wins were over 1400m and 1600m respectively but now he drops in distance and returns to the turf.

He has shown himself to be versatile as he has won both his starts over the course and distance. That is why, despite the fact he will also be tackling his elders for the first time, it would come as a surprise were he to be beaten by a bunch of exposed runners.

Jockey Marco van Rensburg knows Global Drummer well enough, having won on him three times.

Rival trainer Alan Greeff has four in-form runners, but consistent Kimberley Star looks the main threat.