Justin Snaith has won more than double the number of races than the second trainer on the South African trainers’ log and anyone who had a R1 bet on each of his runners so far this season would have cleaned up, with a profit of R78.50.
His winning strike rate is also impressive – 22.42% of the horses he has saddled have taken a turn in the winner’s circle and 18 of the 50 before Tuesday’s Port Elizabeth meeting came at Fairview.
He has an excellent chance of adding a few more wins to his tally at Fairview today, including Razed In Black in the topliner, Race 7, a MR 90 Divided Handicap over 1300m.
Razed In Black is going for his third win in a row on the Fairview Polytrack and, with the handicapper raising his rating each time, his task is getting harder. However, he is in a rich vein of form and might still have something in hand over the handicappers.
The first of those wins was in a 1600m race in June, when he beat Grapevine by 0.50 lengths. Third-placed Cruzcampo won next time out, so it came as no surprise when Razed In Black duly won his next start. That came three months later, when Snaith’s runner beat Land Of Meadows by 0.50 lengths over 1300m. That form is not as strong, but the five-year-old son of Kahal will be fitter for that outing and from a good draw, will give his supporters a good run for their money.
Nugget Counter makes his debut for trainer Dorrie Sham. He had some good form before relocating from Randjesfontein, just outside Johannesburg, including a win from All Night Flight over 1000m at Turffontein in August. There were excuses for his next outing because he was restless in the stalls.
He has not been the soundest of individuals throughout his career and should enjoy the Polytrack.
Stratocruiser has finished second in his last three starts and is starting to look overdue. The most recent of his four wins was recorded the last time he ran over this course and distance and he must rate a danger.
Afrikaburn showed signs of a rejuvenation last time out and will enjoy this shorter distance. If he holds form, he will also be a factor.
Few of the other runners have no chance of placing but best of them could be Mister Matchett, who has also recently relocated from the Highveld and makes his debut for Gavin Smith.
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