TAB WEEKEND RACING HIGHLIGHTS: 1 - 3 August

AUGUST KICKS OFF WITH AN ACTION-PACKED WEEKEND

It’s a new month and a bumper weekend of racing locally and abroad. The action kicks off this Friday with a day-into-night, 10-race fixture on the Polytrack at Hollywoodbets Greyville. Saturday’s Turffontein meeting on the Standside track is headed by three R150,000 features with a return to the turf track at HWB Greyville on Sunday. Internationally, be sure to make the most of the last two days of the 2025 Glorious Goodwood Festival on Friday and Saturday.

FRIDAY HIGHLIGHTS

HOLLYWOODBETS GREYVILLE: BANK ON BOURBON WARRIOR

Bourbon Warrior and Rainbow Reward are the key runners in the topliner, Race 8 over 1200m. They finished second and third respectively behind Future Variety over this course and distance on 13 July. That form received a solid boost when Future Variety posted another handsome win on Gold Cup Day. On the basis of collateral form there – and in the absence of an obvious third strong contender – Bourbon Warrior should beat Rainbow Reward by two lengths and win.

GOODWOOD: AUSTRALIAN RAIDER TO AVENGE 2024 DEFEAT

Asfoora, the popular Australian mare, will be bidding to avenge last year's narrow defeat in Race 4, the Group 2 King George Qatar Stakes over 1000m. She was beaten a short head by Big Evs in the 2024 renewal and returns to Goodwood after finishing fifth in the King Charles III at Royal Ascot contest last month. Asfoora’s supporters expected a more prominent prep run, but trainer Henry Dwyer commented: "She raced on a very hot day and was a bit flat after the race. There is good improvement to come. She has had a chance to acclimatise and she’s picked up weight. This is our lead-in to the Nunthorpe Sprint, but she has a good chance as the market suggests."

SATURDAY HIGHLIGHTS

SELANGOR: CONSISTENT RED SUN LOOKS THE PART

Red Sun took 23 starts to break his maiden back in March, but since then has compiled a solid local record of three wins from 11 starts. He looks set to atone for a recent defeat in Race 6 over 1400m at Kuala Lumpur. He was second over 1300m last Sunday, has yet to finish outside the placings in five starts at this grade and could have his consistency rewarded again. Race 1 is off at 07:00.

TURFFONTEIN: MOUNT PINATUBO IS WILLIAM’S WORRY

William Robertson returns to the course and distance of his Computaform Sprint triumph in Race 8 over 1000m. The seven-year-old rates a standout off his mark of 128, but has failed to fire in three starts since that Grade 1 victory. He showed signs of a form revival when sixth in last Sunday’s Mercury Sprint and could bag his 16th career win if the return trip to Durban has not taken an edge off him. Johan Janse van Vuuren’s Mount Pinatubo is lightly raced and appears better than his rating. With a red-hot stable behind him, he shapes as a major contender.

SUGGESTED R162 (10%) PICK PERM (Leg 1 Race 4 @ 13:50):

Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 4, 8

Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Leg 3: 1, 3, 7

Leg 4: 1, 6, 9

Leg 5: 1, 4

Leg 6: 2, 5, 7

GOODWOOD: GOODIE TWO SHOES TARGETS FOUR IN A ROW

The Group 2 Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes over 2800m (Race 3) headlines the final day of the Goodwood Festival. Goodie Two Shoes, fresh off a hat-trick of stakes victories capped by the Group 3 EBF Stanerra Stakes three weeks ago, brings strong form but may be vulnerable to the weather. Trainer Joseph O’Brien has cautioned that she’s most effective on a firm track and with rain forecast, last year’s winner Terms Of Endearment, trained by William Haggas, enters the fray. She’s also had a solid prep and is well proven in softer going.

SUNDAY HIGHLIGHTS

SELANGOR: PLATINUM EMPEROR CAN RULE AGAIN

Former Macau galloper Platinum Emperor looks on target for a follow-up victory in Race 9 over 1600m at Kuala Lumpur. He made an instant impact on his local debut in February, charging home to win the Wilyah Silver Bowl over 1200m, followed by a third in March’s Group 1 Tunku Gold Cup over 1200m and a good 1400m success in July. Platinum Emperor hasn’t won second-up in his previous three campaigns, but this looks about to change. The meeting starts at 07:00.

HOLLYWOODBETS GREYVILLE: TOMYRIS TO STAY ON WINNING PATH

This year’s Listed Off To Stud Stakes has drawn a quality field of 10 fillies and mares and four have good winning claims. Callmegetrix had White Pearl behind her when they were soundly beaten by Double Grand Slam in the Grade 1 Garden Province Stakes, but White Pearl was in season and a much better performance is expected. Stablemate Forgiveness is 3kg better off for a five-length beating by classy Tomyris and could shape. Improving Tomyris, however, is at the top of her game with three wins in her last five and could score again.