Betting Bonanza for local punters

Bettors are in for a bumper Saturday, with tomorrow’s Pick6 at Turffontein starting with a R500,000 carryover and a likely pool of R3-million, as well as Win, Place, Swinger, and Quinella World Pools on the Dubai World Cup meeting.

On the local front, three graded races headline the nine-race card at Turffontein.

A stellar cast of 11 have been assembled for the Grade 2 Colorado King Stakes over 2000m, with the average merit rating of the contestants a whopping 111.

Majestic Mozart has been in action four times – winning twice - since his stunning runner-up finish in the Grade 1 Summer Cup. He disappointed last time out and trainer Ashley Fortune will want him to return to winning ways in this R400,000 event.

Trainer Sean Tarry saddles Shango and Zillzaal and both are in with a chance after their 1-2 finish in the Listed Drum Star Handicap last time out.

Mike de Kock’s Sparkling Water looks to complete a hat-trick while Paul Peter will be bargaining on Shangani to inch him closer to the top of the trainer championship log.

Most others also have claims, so racegoers are in for an entertaining fight to the bitter end.

Some of the Highveld’s best juveniles will contest the other two features reserved for two-year-olds.

In Dubai, Life Is Good is the hot favourite to win the Dubai World Cup. His chances were boosted when he drew pole position. Horses drawn low that can race prominently have dominated at Meydan this season and this will give trainer Todd Pletcher extra confidence to win his first Dubai World Cup.

The main threat in this R175-million race looks to be Hot Rod Charlie, trained by Doug O’Neill.

Racing240 will broadcast races 2-9 from Dubai while TAB will allow bettors to not only wager on the local pools, but also on the Win, Place, Swinger, and Quinella World Pools hosted by the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

These pools usually run into the tens of millions of rand, ensuring that payouts are not watered down by large bets.

There is also the customary Friday meeting at Fairview, headlined by the Listed East Cape Guineas and the Listed East Cape Sprint Cup.

Sunday’s action is from Greyville, with the main event the Listed Kings Cup.