TAB WEEKEND RACING HIGHLIGHTS: 09 - 11 JANUARY

LIKELY R4-MILLION PICK 6 ON A STELLAR RACING WEEKEND

This weekend delivers on every front and is topped by Saturday’s world-class 10-race L’Ormarins King’s Plate Day meeting at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, featuring the historic 165th renewal of this great race and a projected R4-million Pick 6 pool. Sunday offers a strong double-header at Hollywoodbets Scottsville and Turffontein, which is anchored by three excellent features. On the international front, there is quality fare in Dubai this Friday, the UK on Saturday and Hong Kong on Sunday. Three days of top-drawer racing laced with marvellous betting opportunities for TAB customers.

FRIDAY HIGHLIGHTS

FAIRVIEW: UNCONQUERABLE LADY SET FOR BREAKTHROUGH WIN

Useful Unconquerable Lady has not won since relocating from the Western Cape in 2024, but gets a good opportunity to break her local duck in Race 2 over 1200m. She has been racing against slightly stronger and it’s best to ignore her running out of steam when backed to favourite behind Sweetie Darling last time. Trainer Dean Smith said: “You can ignore that run. We tried cheek pieces and she didn’t enjoy that.”

MEYDAN: RED-HOT BUICK CAN BAG TWO MORE WINNERS

Godolphin-retained jockey William Buick continues to enjoy a terrific season in the Emirates and last week’s victory aboard Six Speed in the UAE 2000 Guineas Trial was his seventh win of the campaign. Buick, who is operating at a remarkable 43% strike rate this season, has two rides for Charlie Appleby and both have winning claims. His mount Hallasan should fight out the finish of Race 3 and Words Of Truth looks the one to beat in Race 5, the Al Wasl Stakes over 1200m. He won last year’s Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury and on that level of form will be hard to beat.

SATURDAY HIGHLIGHTS

HOLLYWOODBETS KENILWORTH: SEVEN FEATURE RACES . . . WOW!

What a day. Seven feature events on a 10-race card, a R1-million TAB Pick 6 carryover and all TAB Win, Place, Exacta, Quinella and Swingers bets commingled into the Hong Kong World Pool tote. You can bet bombs on any of those five bet types with no concerns about significantly depressing the payout and the huge pools enhance you chances of hitting a big payout. But for most the Pick 6 will be the bet of the day and below is a leg-by-leg guide.

Leg 1 (14:15): Race 4 - 1200m CARTIER SCEPTRE STAKES (Grade 2)

Competitive race brimming with speed. There is little to separate Grade 1 winners, Mon Petit Cherie and Mia Moo on their encounter in last year’s Prix du Cap over 1400m, though the latter may have the edge over this trip. Mai Sensation is capable at best and She’s My World is usually thereabouts. Jockey bookings suggest Symphony In White is the Bass stable’s first choice over Scarlet Macaw and Roccapina, but all three have chances. Three-year-old Cape Fillies’ Guineas winner Quickstepgal, twice successful up the straight, adds class to the mix. Princess Of Gaul, who had the better of Quickstepgal in a Grade 2 feature over 1400m before the Guineas, is well above average and also deserves consideration. Be Merry brings proven credentials at this level, plenty of pace and excuses for her most recent run. She’s the value bet.

Leg 2 (14:50): Race 5 - 1800m ANTHONIJ RUPERT PREMIER TROPHY (Grade 2)

Okavango, the highest-rated runner, looks hard to beat on the evidence of his comeback effort over 1600m on 2 November, when he ran on and was beaten 2.75 lengths by stablemate Native Ruler (6kg worse off). He is effective over 1800m and will go close if he doesn’t go flat in his second run after a rest. Recently gelded I Salute You has a squeak on a line of form through Selukwe. The Equator has good South African form and, as a fluent winner of his only start over this trip, is one more to include if you’re not convinced by Okavango.

Leg 3 (15:25): Race 6 - 1800m CARTIER PADDOCK STAKES (WFA) (Grade 1)

It’s hard to look beyond champion mare Double Grand Slam, who easily won this race from Red Palace last year and has been kept in training for a follow-up attempt. She is all class with everything in her favour and no apparent pretenders to her throne.

Leg 4 (16:00): Race 7 - 1000m WORLD POOL CAPE FLYING CHAMPIONSHIP (WFA) (Grade 1)

As the highest-rated thoroughbred in South Africa, star sprinter Buffalo Storm Cody is weighted to win this without much fuss. The single concern is that he has had to make the arduous trip from Johannesburg to Cape Town, but there is every reason to believe he will go to the start in top shape. If you want to include others then Tenango, I Am Giant, Asiye Phambili, Truth and Outlaw King are obvious possibilities. Also consider that Kingdundee is unbeaten in five starts over 1000m, and that three-year-old Constellation is considered good enough to take on older rivals, despite facing a tough task at the weights.

Leg 5 (16:45): Race 8 - 1600m L’ORMARINS KING’S PLATE (WFA) (Grade 1)

With an average merit rating of 124, this high-quality renewal will be keenly contested. Dave The King is hard to peg back once he gets into a galloping rhythm as he did in the Green Point Stakes. But he was a spent force over the last 50m and there is every chance that one of the faster-finishers, including Sail The Seas, The Real Prince, Garrix and See It Again, can turn the tables. Sail The Seas, in particular, is a big prospect. He jumps from draw five (four of the last five renewals of this race have been won from that draw) and he has defeated more accomplished stablemate Eight On Eighteen over 1600m at levels. Eight On Eighteen hasn’t raced since last July and while he is arguably the best horse in the race, winning here after a six-month break will be a gargantuan achievement. Only four three-year-olds have won the King’s Plate in the last 14 years, but that Callan Murray gets off Dave The King for Jan Van Goyen is a factor to consider. The three-year-old also won in a faster time over this course and distance than Dave The King, on the same afternoon. Overall, an exciting contest in which trainer Justin Snaith again holds the aces.

Leg 6 (17:20): Race 9 - 2500m CAPE OF GOOD HOPE CHAIRMAN’S CUP (Grade 3)

Leading stayer Holding Thumbs scored a tenacious win over Ahead Of The Facts (1kg worse off) and Triple Time (1.5kg better off) in December’s Settlers Trophy over this course and distance. There won’t be much between them again, but they have two fresh rivals to contend with in erratic-but-talented World Of Alice and consistent Magic Verse. The latter gave a good account in his only try beyond 2000m last July. He has been racing in generally stronger company, should enjoy the 2500m and shapes as a good value bet on what could be a red-letter day for Snaith.

SUGGESTED R270 (50%) PICK 6 PERM (Leg 1 Race 4 @14:15):

Leg 1: 1, 2, 6, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15 Leg 2: 7, 8, 9 Leg 3: 5 Leg 4: 13 Leg 5: 2, 5, 6, 8, 10 Leg 6: 1, 2, 5, 6

KEMPTON: KALIF DU BERLAIS CAN GET NICHOLLS ROLLING

Trainer Paul Nicholls is confident that Kalif Du Berlais can ignite what he intends to be a successful January for his team by winning Race 5, the Coral Silviniaco Conti Chase over 4100m. Nicholls said: “We all got a bit disappointed when he got beat in the Haldon Gold Cup last November, but he wants two-and-a-half miles now. He is really well and worked well last Saturday morning.”

SUNDAY HIGHLIGHTS

SELANGOR: KOONDAKAARA LOOKS HARD TO BEAT

Promising four-year-old Koondakaara looks primed for a winning return in Race 9 over 1200m at Kuala Lumpur. Arriving from Australia as a maiden, he made an immediate impact when leading throughout to score over 1020m, defeating subsequent winner Eastern Barracks. He followed with a good second to Tycoon Bosse Company. Koondakaara is to be ridden by premiership-winning jockey Andre da Silva for the first time and hooks hard to beat from draw three. The meeting starts at 06:10.

SHA TIN: LITTLE PARADISE CAN EDGE CLOSER TO THE CLASSIC PICTURE

Zac Purton rides talented Little Paradise in Race 8 over 1400m, the day’s topliner. He’s a four-time winner from seven career starts and is emerging as a key four-year-old ahead of the Classic Series. He moves up to Class 2 off a smart win over fellow up-and-comer Top Dragon and this is a stiffer test, but one he can take in his stride if he keeps improving. The meeting starts at 06:30.

HOLLYWOODBETS SCOTTSVILLE: IMILENZEYOKUDUDUMA’S TIME TO SHINE

Imilenzeyokududuma looks capable of bouncing back to winning ways in the 1750m Michael Roberts Handicap, a contest he won with authority last year. He raced below best in the recent Christmas Handicap at HWB Greyville, but may have needed the run and seems to reserve his best efforts for Scottsville. Four-year-old Black Platina stands out in Race 5 over 1500m. She is 16 runs without success, but has been inching closer to the winner’s box in recent starts. The booking of a capable 4kg claimer further strengthens her case, and she’s a banker for small permutations.

TURFFONTEIN: GRAND EMPIRE CAN MAINTAIN FLAWLESS RECORD

Several quality runners will be in action in the three features on a super programme. Unbeaten three-year-old Grand Empire takes on hard-knocking older contenders in Race 6, the Listed Wolf Power 1600, and looks capable of maintaining his flawless record. Visiting filly Amelia’s Legacy, narrowly beaten in last month’s Listed Flamboyant Stakes, looks good in Race 7 over 1400m. Trust, who defeated Jan Van Goyen in the Grade 2 Dingaans, is a potential crowd-puller in 2026 and will be all the rage in Race 8, the Grade 3 Betway Got The Greenlight Stakes over 1400m.