The Eastern Cape kicks off the national feature race calendar on Friday, 14 August with the 2026 renewals of the R175,000 Memorial Mile (Listed) and R175, 000 Jockey Club Stakes (Listed).
Both of last year’s winners are back to defend their titles with ASSM Racing Syndicate (Nom: Mr A Chadha)’s Zinovi (Heavenly Blue - Zayna) attempting back-to-back wins in the Memorial Mile for the Alan Greeff stable under Aldo Domeyer (race 5 at 14H40) and Wilgerbosdrift (Pty) Ltd (Nom: Mrs M Slack)’s Epikleros (Master Of My Fate – The Heiress) defending her title in the Jockey Club Stakes (race 7 at 15H50) for the Tara Laing yard and regular jockey, Wayne Agrella.
Last year both races took place on Fairview’s turf track, but due to adverse weather conditions, this meeting has been moved to the Polytrack.
Zinovi is hunting a 12th career victory and “looking extremely well” according to trainer Alan Greeff. The 6yo gelding is enjoying a rich vein of form, having won his last four starts, with the last being over this course and distance. He looks very hard to oppose.
Epikleros might have preferred the Jockey Club Stakes to be run on the turf, but has the form to win this race on the polytrack too. Her last victory was also over tomorrow’s course and distance and regular jockey Wayne Agrella will be keen to start the season on a winning high.
Elsewhere, Mr Peter Moor’s Equus Champion 2yo Filly for 2024/25, Golden Palm (Master Of My Fate – Croisette), returns from a rest and the Alan Greeff charge makes her 4yo debut in race 6, the
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Conditions Plate for fillies and mares over 1200m. She will be ridden by Aldo Domeyer for the first time.
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