Viking Moon ready to shine on Glendore

The Glendore Sprint at Fairview on Friday has attracted just six runners, but a winning case can be made for every one of them and an exciting race is in prospect on the Polytrack.

As has been the case over decades, and generations, it’s a Greeff versus Smith affair in 2021 – although the single outsider might disrupt the East Cape’s natural order.

Gavin Smith saddles three for the 1000m, non-black-type dash, with his elect being consistent galloper Viking King, who has a seven from 17 winning record. The son of Vercingetorix comes off a 164-day rest but has won fresh in the past and should be up to the task under Sandile Khathi.

Stablemates Big Bay and Snow Report are far from afterthoughts, with the latter, a four-time winner in Cape Town, making his local debut and his Polytrack debut – which could throw up a minor surprise.

Alan Greef’s prolific winner Regimental looks like his stable choice with the booking of No 1 rider Greg Cheyne.

This five-year-old clearly loves life in Nelson Mandela Bay as he has won five of his last eight runs here – after transferring from Cape Town. However, it is worth noting that five bashes at this minimum sprint have proved largely fruitless.

Perhaps it’s this latter stat that’s prompted Greeff to fit blinkers for the first time – to help the son of Captain Al keep his mind on the job in the early scramble.

Greeff’s back-up is Foreign Source, a six-time winner who has battled through injury and badly needed his last run. He might need a bit more time to acclimatise to competition but could run into the money.

Trainer Juan Nel is the extra wheel on the Glendore wagon, so to speak, but could just roll away with the main prize – courtesy of his veteran What A Winner.

With eight wins to his name, this gelding knows a bit about running at high speed and good recent form indicates he hasn’t lost his zest for the fight at the age of seven.

SELECTIONS

1: 4 Goodwill, 1 Jackbequick, 8 Twice The Secret, 2 Cashing In

2: 4 Jungle Promise, 6 Grace Lightning, 5 Hot To Trot, 1 Make It Happen

3: 2 On Your Marks, 6 Mount Grace, 1 Jumeirah Gold, 3 Linguee

4: 2 Divine Odyssey, 1 Christopher Robin, 8 Colorado Springs, 6 Ancient Times

5: 1 Viking Moon, 5 Regimental, 6 What A Winner, 3 Big Bay

6: 8 Under My Hat, 1 Forward March, 5 Quenanza, 2 Perfect Angel

7: 5 Moon Game, 10 Brass Bell, 7 Radiant Love, 8 Teofilia

8: 1 Grazinginthegrass, 6 Great Warrior, 7 Wings Of Fire, 8 Falling For You

Pick 6: 1,2,3,6 x 1,2,4,7,8,9 x 1,5 x 8 x 1,2,5,7,8,10 x 1,2,5,6,7,8 (R2016)

PA: 4,6 x 1,2,6 x 1,2,8 x 1 x 8 x 5,10 x 1,6 (R72)