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By Nicci Garner

Writer/journalist


Have a Night Out on Purely Atomic

Today’s meeting at Fairview could present one of those rare occasions in the Eastern Cape where the Pick 6 is fairly straightforward.


There are two possible Pick 6 bankers on the programme, Purely Atomic in Race 7 over 1600m and Night Out in Race 4 over 1000m.

Purely Atomic races in the biggest race on the card, a FM 84 Handicap over 1600m, and there is a bit of depth to the field, so could start at a nice Eachway price.

She is a consistent four-year-old Australian import, who has three wins and nine places on record from 16 career runs.

It’s been quite a while since she found the winning groove – her last win came in July last year – but she has not been beaten more than 2.25 lengths since.

In her last outing she hung late but still made up ground on Sunset Tripp over 1400m on the turf track at Fairview to finish 0.50 lengths behind in second and she was beaten about the same distance in the 1200m Lady’s Pendant in her penultimate start.

Dream To Reality finished behind her in both those races and although she is better off at the weights, Purely Atomic should confirm the form.

Racing experts will point out that the Alan Greeff-trained filly will be racing over 1600m this time and that the race is on the Polytrack. Neither should be a worry. She has recorded two wins and a short-head second in her three runs on this track and placed in three of her four 1600m races on the turf.

Scarlet Berry is holding form well and followed a 1900m Polytrack win in February with a 2.75-length second to Sensuous Sally over that course and distance.

Most of her form has been recorded over further, but she did finish a 1.75-length third behind Razed In Black over this course and distance in her second run after a layoff in January. She could feature.

Agterskot failed in a 1600m three-year-old feature race last month but had good previous form and can do much better, while Strong Scent seems to be improving and has a chance on her best efforts.

The Polytrack surface, which she has not encountered before, and the lack of a recent run seem to be the only things that might prevent Night Out from holding on to her unbeaten record in Race 4, a Graduation Plate.

Alan Greeff’s runner seems a trifle problematic, having run in October and then December last year and going missing again. But she has been impressive in winning both her starts to date, most recently downing Firing Queen (a winner subsequently) by 1.50 lengths over 1200m on the Fairview turf.

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