There are major highlights on this weekend’s international racing calendar, complemented by three local standalone meetings on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The Eastern Cape’s top two trainers square off in the feature at Fairview on Friday. On Saturday, the log-leading jockey could prove a lifeline for Pick 6 punters at Hollywoodbets Durbanville, while at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday, a well-regarded debutant shapes as a banker in the opening leg of the BiPot. Abroad, Doncaster hosts Group races on Friday and Saturday, There will be Hong Kong World Pool betting at Leopardstown on Saturday, backed by a Group feature in Malaysia in which a young South African jockey has a ride. The whole of Saturday’s Turf Champions Day at Woodbine in Canada will be televised live where South Africa’s Equus Three-Year-Old Champion colt of last season, One Stripe, makes his international debut. On Sunday, The Curragh follows with a high-class card. Don’t miss a minute of the excitement!
Six weeks into the new season, the Eastern Cape’s two powerhouse stables are firing on all cylinders. Alan Greeff saddled four winners at Wednesday’s meeting, while both he and Gavin Smith are already in the Top 5 on the early National log. Punters can again expect at least a double from both trainers. Dean Smith, assistant to his father, expressed confidence in Twilight Bay (Race 6, 1900m) and hat-trick-seeking Tintamarre (Race 8, 1200m), while Greeff felt that Amanatto would be “in the firing line” in Race 2 over 1300m and Walkonthewildside could “run them down” in Race 4 over 1600m. Smith’s Family Power and Greeff’s pair, One Religion and Green Isle, were all given winning chances in the feature, Race 5 over 1600m, with a Box Trifecta suggested as the most strategic way to play.
There are two Group 2 features on the card, including the Betfred Howard Wright Doncaster Cup Stakes over 3600m, in which John and Thady Gosden’s solid Group six-year-old Group performer, Sweet William, could become only the third horse this century to win back-to-back renewals of the race. He has been installed 11-8 favourite for the Gosden team, who have an excellent record down the years with four wins, aside from Sweet William, with Samuel (2010) and Stradivarius (2019/2021).
Craig Zackey, six winners clear of Serino Moodley on the National Jockeys Log, could be the man to follow in a tricky Pick 6. He has each-way prospects on Justin Snaith’s We Have Touchdown (Race 4, 1800m) and Un Bel Di (Race 6, 1000m) and good winning chances on Future Free (Race 5, 1800m) and Tulip Fields (Race 9, 1250m). Future Free impressed with a good turn of foot winning his maiden recently and looks progressive enough to follow up. Tulip Fields returns from a good spell in KZN and is one considered to have Classic hopes this season. Another Classic prospect Dreamworld (Race 7, 1250m, Sean Veale) is weighted and drawn with a big chance and is one to rely on in small permutations.
Leg 1: FIELD (1-8)
Leg 2: 1, 4, 7, 8
Leg 3: 1, 3, 4
Leg 4: 1
Leg 5: 1, 3, 5
Leg 6: 4, 7, 10
Tom Marquand has secured the ride on hot favourite Scandinavia, who will take on six rivals in Race 5, the Group 1 Betfred St Leger over 2900m at Doncaster. Marquand is one of three jockeys stepping in for Aidan O’Brien’s Ballydoyle team this weekend due to the absence of the injured Ryan Moore and the suspended Wayne Lordan. Scandinavia has risen through the ranks this season, culminating in Group 1 glory in the Goodwood Cup in July, and will aim to provide O’Brien with a third consecutive success in the prestigious Classic.
Aidan O'Brien's chief stand-in, Christophe Soumillon, is set to ride Delacroix in Race 7, the Group 1 Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes over 2000m. He will partner this season’s Group 1 Coral-Eclipse Stakes winner for the first time. Delacroix looks hard to beat in the absence of his arch-rival Ombudsman, who was withdrawn at final acceptance, leaving the field open for a commanding performance.
South Africa’s Equus Three-Year-Old Champion colt of last season, One Stripe (now trained by Graham Motion), will be making his international debut in the US$1-million Group 1 Rogers Woodbine Mile. He will be ridden by Hall of Fame jockey, John Velasquez. The race is off at 23:39, SA time. South African jockey Ryan Munger will also be in action at this meeting.
Two of Malaysia’s top gallopers are set for an exciting showdown in Race 8, the Group 1 Hygain Horse City Selangor Gold Cup over 1600m at Kuala Lumpur. Antipodean and Lucky Magic have met only once before, with Lucky Magic dominating in the 4YO Selangor Mile on July 20, while Antipodean finished a close third, 2.50-lengths behind.
Lucky Magic hasn’t raced since, but thrives when freshened and boasts an excellent record over the mile. Antipodean, meanwhile, returned to peak form with a 1400m win last time out and will aim to defend his title in this, the second leg of the Triple Crown series. South African jockey Kaidan Brewer has been invited to this meeting and will partner the Simon Dunderdale-trained Valois, a pairing that has reportedly sparked interest among racing enthusiasts. Brewer has a total of seven rides scheduled for the day. The meeting starts at 06:45.
Lightness Of Music made an immediate impression when winning on debut in June, defeating his rivals by two lengths. He steps up into Class 3 in Race 7, the Mei Tung Handicap over 1000m – the same course and distance - and shapes up as a horse destined for higher honours this season. With Zac Purton in the irons, he looks the one to beat in the second of three equally prized features on the card. The first race is off at 07:00
Tony Rivalland and Jabu Jacobs, who won the opener at HWB Greyville with well-fancied Little Cracker on Wednesday, could strike again with first-timer Cowboy Country in Race 1 over 1000m. Rivalland noted in his pre-race comment published in Computaform that this R800,000 yearling by The United States had a ‘winning chance’ — a statement of confidence rarely committed to print for newcomers to the track. That Cowboy Country has already shortened from 8-1 into 5-1 suggests Rivalland’s faith is well placed. Punters could have a ready-made BiPot banker and an early strike to kick off the day.
There are no fewer than four Group 1 contests on what promises to be a blockbuster day of top-class racing. Once again, all eyes will be on Aidan O’Brien, who is set to dominate the spotlight with likely favourites in three of the features – Composing (Race 3, 1400m), Gstaad (Race 5, 1400m) and Illinois (Race 6, 2800m). At the time of writing, however, final declarations of runners and jockeys were still pending.