Punters eye two bankers
PUNTERS will probably set their hopes on two possible bankers at tomorrow’s Fairview race meeting.
The former Justin Snaith runner Don’t Be Blue looks hard to beat in the first leg of the Pick 6 over 1200 meters, while Greg Cheyne is set for another win on Sunshine Mint in the fourth leg after a convincing victory last time.
Don’t Be Blue will make her debut for the Tara Laing yard.
The daughter of Captain Al comes off a long rest as her last race was on 25 May at Kenilworth last year.
However, she is in Laing’s care from the end of August and should be ready to run a big race.
The three-year-old had three races in the Western Cape, and was never far off.
Sunshine Mint is a former Dennis Drier charge who will have her third run for the Alan Greeff yard.
She won both her opening two PE runs and is now set for a hat-trick.
In her last start she easily defeated Gimme Katrina by 2.50 lengths as she drew right away over 1000m.
The main event of the day is Race 7, the Fairview Merchants over 1200m with prize money of R110 000.
Glen Kotzen’s Elusive Heart looks hard to beat, but if she does not win, it can be anyone’s race.
The five-year-old daughter of Elusive Fort is a fourtime winner from 23 races and also has four seconds and three thirds to her credit.
Bernard Fayd’Herbe will ride her for owners Chrigor Stud (Pty) Ltd & Mr PG de Beyer.
Anyone of the rest can win if Elusive Heart fails. Therefore keep an eye on the betting of Dutch Philip, Kimberley Star, Le Grand Rouge, Voices Of Light, Aldo, Omega Onslaught, Copper Trail and African Victory.
The first of eight races starts at 12:40 with a Workriders Maiden Plate for all maidens over 1000m.
• At yesterday’s Fairview meeting the 12-1 outsider Ocean Master was a surprise winner in the first leg of the Pick 6.
The three-year-old son of Master Of My Fate was having his second run for new trainer Juan Nel. Teaque Gould was in the saddle.
Ocean Master was followed home by Phantom Rolls (12-1), Interstate (181) and St Patrick’s Flame (30-1). The result ensured a fine R26 653,60 Quartet dividend.
Another shock followed in the second leg when Marco Janse van Rensburg won on Fiery Fort (10-1) for the Gavin Smith yard.
Fiery Fort paid R11.80 a win and R3.80 a place and with King Capone (25-1) running second the Exacta paid a handsome R157.90.
For punters who survived, it was a sigh of relief when the photo showed that Wylie’s Flame (7120), and not 40-1 outsider Hopeful, won Race 5 over 1900m.
In the end there were only 2.3 successful Pick 6 tickets, enjoying a dividend of R195 184.90.
Louie Mxothwa and Marco Janse van Rensburg shared the jockey spoils with two winners each, while trainer Smith this time had the better of Greeff with three winners to two.