Kotzen and Mxothwa plot a big day at Fairview

Sharon Kotzen and Luyolo “Louis” Mxothwa have been a very successful – if unsung – trainer-jockey combo in recent times and look set for another good day on the Fairview turf on Monday.

Zacpack Assassin (Race 2), Wings Of Fire (Race 5) and Fly My Flag (Race 7) could make it a treble for the hard-working duo.

Fly My Flag, a three-year-old filly by Querari out of a Model Man mare, is clearly well above average, having reeled off a hat-trick of wins in the latter part of 2020. Two subsequent third places were far from a disgrace; indeed, her Merit Rating was pushed up to a lofty 101 after those efforts.

She’ll be fighting fit for this 1000m FM96 Handicap and Mxothwa, having partnered her to two victories, will know what’s needed.

Of the rest of the field, Gavin Smith-trained Sugar Gum and Alan Greeff’s Scented Garden have the best form and could be considered for Pick 6 perms.

Wings Of Fire is another progressive filly and looks primed for a second career win in a 2000m FM70 Handicap. She hasn’t gone beyond 1600m in her five outings to date but she is by Ideal World so should have the blood to see out this trip.

Kotzen and Mxothwa could get the ball rolling with Zacpack Assassin in one of the two Maiden Juvenile Plates that open proceedings.

Events like this, with a plethora of unraced two-year-olds and very little form to go on, are a minefield. But Zacpack Assassin has the great advantage of two races under the belt and the competition experience could prove decisive in a field of greenhorns.

In his second appearance, the chestnut colt seemed to click to what was required of him and ran on into a decent second place over 1000m. This 1200m journey should be just the ticket.

Mxothwa has one other bright chance on the day, aboard Tevye for Juan Nel in Race 8, a MR68 Handicap. He has already won on the three-year-old, on the Fairview Polytrack, and last time was a close-up third over this turf course and distance.

Selections

Race 1: Watch betting

Race 2:

11 Zacpack Assassin, 3 First Rain, 6 Redoute’s Secret, 8 Senhor Duke

Race 3:

8 Big Splash, 2 Shades of Blu, 1 Homer Fidget, 3 Cyclops Jack

Race 4:

2 Arion Express, 7 Clover Club, 3 Mayfern, 5 La Duchess

Race 5:

4 Wings Of Fire, 3 Princess Of Fire, 10 What A Thrill, 6 Flying Thunder

Race 6:

1 Broadside, 5 Sailing Lizard, 9 Exion, 4 Duke Of Cards

Race 7:

1 Fly My Flag, 9 Sugar Gum, 3 Scented Garden, 2 Gimme Hope Johanna

Race 8:

1 Tevye, 3 Chainsaw, 7 Angel Bouquet, 8 Mojito Magic

Pick 6

8 x 2,3,5,7 x 3,4 x 1,4,5,9 x 1,9 x 1,2,3,7,8,10,11,13,14 (R579)

PA

3,11 x 8 x 2,5,7 x 4 x 1,5 x 1 x 1,3,7 (R36)

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