Greeff’s charge gets the scent of the Polytrack

Scent returns to the Polytrack at Fairview today and the Alan Greeff-trained runner is expected to get back on a winning track when he contests Race 5, a MR 85 Handicap over 1800m.

This five-year-old son of Silvano has been revitalised since arriving in the Eastern Cape and has taken a special fancy to the Polytrack. He has won five tim0es since joining Greeff’s yard and three of those have been on the specially treated track. In eight runs on the surface he has also finished second four times.

Scent disappointed last time in a MR 95 Handicap but that was on the turf. He looks the best horse in the race and is expected to give in-form Charles Ndlovu another winner.

Inviting Lily has won his last two starts and as long as the handicapper has not caught up with him, Tara Laing’s charge should be competitive.

He is quite capable on both turf and Polytrack and should enjoy this distance. One always gets a good effort out of Craig Zackey and he takes the ride on the four-year-old son of Dynasty.

Eighth Wonder is an interesting entrant. He makes his Port Elizabeth debut and it is noteworthy that trainer Grant Paddock has decided to put him on the Polytrack. The four-year-old Captain Al gelding looked to be a class act when winning the Grade 3 Cape Classic over 1400m at Kenilworth in 2015.

But he did not reproduce that form in later races although he contested the Grade 1 Cape Guineas where he finished unplaced behind Noah From Goa. If Paddock is able to rekindle that old spark then Eighth Wonder could be a contender.

Louis Mxothwa takes the ride.