We are back at Arlington on Wednesday for yet another competitive race meeting.
The stable of Justin Snaith looks ready to strike in the first half of the meeting but keep an eye on the three lady trainers that won five of the eight races between them on Friday.
Champion East Cape trainer Gavin Smith won two other races and George Uren the first race of the meeting. But the day belonged to the stables of Tara Laing (two wins), Dorrie Sham (two) and Yvette Bremner (one).
Laing won the main race, the Aloe Handicap (Non-Black Type) for three-year-old Fillies over 1 300m, with Tudor Star, ridden by Nooresh Juglall.
These results were proof that the stables of Laing, Sham and Bremner are going from strength to strength. They are now established among the best in the Eastern Cape, a region that is getting more competitive by the day.
Just look at the statistics since the start of the season in August last year: Smith is the leading trainer in terms of wins but Bremner is in second, an achievement not to be underestimated in this company.
Bremner has the support of well-known owner Hedley McGrath, with Carl Hewitson also doing great work in this yard.
Laing is fifth on the log but with just two winners less than third-placed Alan Greeff. She is training for big time owners Markus and Ingrid Jooste with Gavin Venter always around to lend a helping hand.
Officially Sham has 12 winners for the season but if you add the 10 in partnership with Barry Steenkamp, it gives her 22 in total, just two less than Laing.
You will always find Dorrie’s husband, Mark, and Rocky Agrella putting in the hard work to help her.
The season is far from over but the lady trainers can already be very happy with what they have achieved and I look forward to seeing how the rest of the year unfolds.
Read my hot tips for Wednesday’s Arlington race meeting right here.
TRAINERS (MOST WINS)
1. Gavin Smith 44
2. Yvette Bremner 33
3. Alan Greeff 26
4. Justin Snaith 25
5. Tara Laing 24
6. Dorrie Sham 22 (10 in partnership with Barry Steenkamp)
7. Mitchell Wiese 17
ALOE HANDICAP (RECENT WINNERS)
2013: Tudor Star
2012: Irish Maid
2011: Zaafiel
2010: Detzky’s Darling
