Bank on Pepper Oak

Craig Zackey has just one ride for trainer Alan Greeff at Fairview today and it should be a winning one.

The pair team up in Race 7 where Greeff saddles three runners but topping the list in this MR 78 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1000m on the Polytrack is Pepper Oak, a winner of her last two starts.

The three-year-old daughter of Sail From Seattle has only raced three times and although well supported on debut to go off at 16-10, she could only manage a second place, beaten four lengths by Smackeroo over 1200m on the turf. She showed excellent pace but was outpaced in the closing stages.

Her next start was over 1000m on the Polytrack and this time there were no mistakes as she beat Miss Aphrodite by three lengths. Two winners from eight runners have come from that form line, including Pepper Oak who ran on strongly to beat Leia Organa by 1.50 lengths. The runner-up franked the form by winning her next start and has placed twice since.

Pepper Oak only received a 1.5kg penalty for that last time and looks to be still ahead of the handicappers so she should be a banker in all bets.

The main threat, if there is one, should be stable companion Oklahoma Sky but she has to give 6kg to Pepper Oak which looks unlikely.

Jockey Piere Strydom bought a few horses which he gave to his father, Hekkie, to train. They had a winner last Friday when Oasis Queen came flying from the back of the field to win Race 8 with Jarryd Penny up and the combination could be worth including again in Race 6, where they combine with Talca.

This six-year-old Kahal gelding has not been blessed with a decent draw since arriving in PE but finally drew No 4 in this MR 66 Handicap over 1300m.

While Le Havre looks the runner to beat, the inclusion of Talca in Swingers, Trifectas and Quartets could make those bets pay quite significantly in an open race.