Nine f illies lined up for Aloe Handicap
SOME fine three-year-old fillies are involved in the main race at the Fairview polytrack today.
The Aloe Handicap over 1 300m looks very competitive, with most of the nine fillies in with a shout.
Star Burst Galaxy, O Tamara, Victoria College and Cape Town visitor Harakiri seem to be the main contenders.
Maverick Girl will be a sentimental favourite. She is bred and owned by Peter and Val Fenix.
Peter, 77, died on Wednesday and will be sorely missed by the Port Elizabeth horse racing fraternity.
He was a huge role player as a breeder and owner in the sport.
He bred and owned the 1996 Met-winner La Fabulous.
Peter also played 57 first class cricket matches for Eastern Province and Border between 1958 and 1972.
On Monday, there is some more action with another meeting at Fairview, and we are also getting closer to the big Cape Town meeting with the running of the SunMet on January 28.
The day before the Met, French jockey Stephane Pasquier will be a welcome visitor at Fairview.
He will also be riding on Met day and it will be exciting to see how he does on South African tracks.
The French jockeys who have visited Fairview in recent years have all ridden a winner or two and the pressure will be on Pasquier to produce the goods.
The build-up to the SunMet certainly gained some momentum after the very fine Queen’s Plate meeting last Saturday.
Legal Eagle is a worthy favourite to win the Met after an impressive win in the Queen’s Plate, but others also caught the eye.
The grey filly Bela Bela was just as impressive in winning the Paddock Stakes and now has the Met in her sights.
Whisky Baron has come into the picture after winning the Peninsula Handicap, his fourth win in a row.
The Met-field will be announced on Monday, with Gold Standard and Nebula possible runners.
These two Cape Town horses are well known to Port Elizabeth fans.
Back in October, Gold Standard won the Racing Association Stakes at Fairview and Nebula clinched victory in the Algoa Cup.
Punters’ Pal tips:
Fairview: PA R432 1-4/3-6-7/4-9/4-5-9/7-8/1-2-7/2-4 PICK 6 R1 920 1-3-6-7/2-4-5-6-9/3-4-5-9/7-8/1-2-5-7/2-3-4