Race 3: BAROSSA VALLEY(2)
Jockey: Stuart RANDOLPH – Trainer: Riaan VAN REENEN
BAROSSA VALLEY is living up to his trainer’s expectations and is slowly turning into a fine stayer. He has won his last two starts and comes here in search of a hat-trick. He was returning from a short nine week break but kept going well to fend off a strong challenge from Cask to win over 1800m last time out. He would have needed that outing but should strip much fitter today. This extra distance suits him better and he should give another very good account of himself, despite his five pound penalty.
Race 4: MY PRECIOUS(1)
Jockey: Robert KHATHI – Trainer: Yogas GOVENDER
The Yogas Govender yard holds a strong hand in this contest and MY PRECIOUS gets the nod to shed her maiden tag on her third run after the break. The daughter of Goldkeeper has shown promise in all four starts to date. She was pipped in the final stride over this c & d in her comeback run after a ten week break and then ran on nicely for a close third, four weeks ago. She isn’t the stable elect but gets the services of a very capable jockey and can pull this off from her midfield draw.
Race 7: FAIRYINTHEWOODS(7)
Jockey: Fareed ANTHONY – Trainer: Darryl HODGSON
FAIRYINTHEWOODS has continued to improve and she showed her determination to get up close home to win her fourth race on the trot, over this c & d. Incidentally, that was her first success in feature company and she deserved her nine week break. The daughter of Count Dubois looks an exciting prospect that has tons of scope. She will again be severely tested against a former Grade 1 winner, in PRINCESS VICTORIA, at level weights but could again rise to the challenge. Admittedly, this is by some margin her toughest test to date but there is no secret in the fact that the latter hasn’t been at her best for some time now. That said, the top class daughter of Victory Moon gets the weights in her favour and could still pull this off, even if she isn’t at her best. Interestingly though, she has never raced over this c & d but she gets re-acquainted with her old pilot.
Race 8: CASH REGISTER(1) – TOP BET