Drummer the master, no doubt

There is some really good racing at Fairview today which includes the running of two important local features, the Listed East Cape Sprint Cup and the Listed East Cape Guineas.

Once again trainers from the Western Cape will be raiding so the rivalry between east and west will continue.

But there also look to be some really good bets on the card and two of them are provided by visiting trainers.

Race 6 is the Guineas over 1600m and just six runners are carded to go to post - and it might well end up being a one-horse race.

Only one of the six carded, Master Redoute, has competed at the highest level. He contested the Grade 1 Cape Derby over 2000m, where he finished ninth in a field of 12. Prior to that, he was runnerup to Universal in the Grade 3 Politician Stakes over 1800m.

That is arguably the best form on offer in this race.

Master Redoute does boast two wins from six starts and both were over this distance. Jockey Grant van Niekerk knows him well, having ridden him in all his starts. It is a bit of a concern that trainer Andre Nel has reached for blinkers this time as that is an unknown risk.

Race 7, the East Cape Sprint over 1200m, could be more competitive but one has to be with local superstar Global Drummer trained by Gavin Smith. He has only been beaten once in his last nine starts and that was four runs back in October last year.

It was over this course and distance, which might give the other runners some hope of ending his phenomenal streak, but he was coming back from a layoff and could have needed the run.

JP van der Merwe gets the ride this time.