Racing fans Bok for Algoa Cup

It is rugby fever in Port Elizabeth this weekend but the horse racing fraternity is also starting to show symptoms of Algoa Cup fever.

The big race day at Fairview is precisely a month away.

The PE trainers are hard at work to try and win this big one that has been dominated by Cape Town visitors in recent years.

Racegoers can look forward to a sensational day at the races on Sunday October 28 as Fairview is getting an even bigger reputation as a top venue.

The catering talents of top chef Annelie Oosthuizen, combined with the efforts of Fairview promotions manager Karin le Roux and Marilyn Smith, of the Racing Association, make for an unforgettable experience in the HB Christian Room on big race days.

Before we get to the Algoa Cup, there is still some great racing on the polytrack.

There is plenty to look for Mangrove ward to today as it is a very attractive card of eight races.

The feature race is the Fairview 1,800 which will see 11 horses face the starter.

The chances are good that some of them will be back to contest the Algoa Cup.

Querari Viking, from the inform Sharon Kotzen yard, is certainly one that is aiming for the Algoa Cup. He made a lovely winning PE debut two weeks ago and will be aiming for his third win in a row.

The Yvette Bremner-trained is going for five in a row.

Western Cape conditioner André Nel is adding some spice to the mix and is in town with the four-year-old gelding Chatuchak.

Chatuchak, with Robert Khathi in the saddle, will have many supporters in an open affair.

Nel is also looking strong in some of the other races where he combines with top Cape Town jockey Bernard Fayd’Herbe.

In the RA Plate for threeyear-olds, the consistent filly Madame Speaker and the gelding National Park tackle each other again after a fierce battle in July.

Madame Speaker won that race on an objection but the weight turnaround is in National Park’s favour this time.