TAB WEEKEND RACING HIGHLIGHTS: 17 - 19 APRIL

DOUBLE-HEADER KICKS OFF A WEEKEND FULL OF VALUE

There is plenty of value on offer across four competitive South African meetings this weekend. The action kicks off with a Friday double-header, featuring a Listed race at Fairview and an eight-race Polytrack card at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

Saturday brings two eye-catching runners at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, presenting an ideal opportunity to land a value double. And then at Turffontein on Sunday astute Pick 6 players can unlock a rewarding Pick 6 payout if they structure their perms correctly.

Internationally, the six-week Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival comes to an end with a 10-race Hong Kong World Pool meeting at Royal Randwick. All TAB Win, Place, Quinella and Swinger bets will go into the massive Hong Kong pools, increasing customers’ chances of landing substantial payouts.

FRIDAY HIGHLIGHTS

FAIRVIEW: SMITH TEAM EXPECTS MASTER MTOTO TO DELIVER

There is plenty of confidence from the Dean Smith camp about Master Mtoto in Race 5, the Listed East Cape Nursery over 1200m. He holds all but one of his five rivals on form and is expected to fight out the finish. Assistant-trainer Francois Jacobs said: “I don’t think this fellow knows how good he is. He takes everything in his stride. He is jumping out of his skin and working very well. If he decides he wants to, they will have to run to beat him.”

HOLLYWOODBETS GREYVILLE: MASTEROFTHEDESERT TO STRIKE FOR BASS

Candice Bass and her Summerveld assistant Terry Fripp have the KwaZulu-Natal string in good form and could strike with Masterofthedesert in the evening’s feature over 1200m (Race 7). He campaigned successfully in KZN last season before returning to his home base, where he produced a string of solid efforts. Those included a close second to stablemate What A Fortune, form that was franked in last week’s R5-million Race Coast Sales Big Cap.

Masterofthedesert finished fourth in his only previous start on the Polytrack, a run in which he appeared to need the experience. With that behind him and the benefit of apprentice Dezahn Louw’s 2.5kg claim, he looks set to go close.

SATURDAY HIGHLIGHTS

RANDWICK: WALLER’S ANGEL SET FOR 1400M BREAKTHROUGH

The 2026 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival wraps up with 10 races on All Aged Stakes Day. There are six group races, including the Group 1 All Aged Stakes over 1400m (Race 9). Ciaron Maher’s reigning champion Jimmysstar and Chris Waller‘s progressive Angel Capital have been installed joint favourites.

In-form jockey James Macdonald takes the ride on Angel Capital, who has been kept ticking over with a sharp recent trial. He has been crying out for 1400m and is expected to unleash a powerful finishing burst in his quest for an overdue Group 1 success. Waller said: “His run in the Yulong Newmarket Handicap was good, his last start was brilliant and he’s ready for 1400m.” The meeting starts at 03:30.

SELANGOR: EASTERN BARRACKS SET TO FOLLOW UP

Four-year -galloper Eastern Barracks returned to form recently and appears on target to score again in Race 3 over 1600m. His form tapered off after a maiden win in December, but he indicated a return to best after gelding when beaten a neck by promising mare Banker’s Beautiful on 15 March. Eastern Barracks franked the form and went one better just two weeks later, winning over 1400m. He has the outside gate but is a fast finisher and looks the one to beat. The meeting starts at 07:15.

HOLLYWOODBETS KENILWORTH: VALUE ANGLE TAB DOUBLE

Two intriguing runners stand out on the card. Girl Magic returns from a four-month break in Race 8 over 1500m and brings strong form with her. Her most recent wins came at the expense of Dream Searcher (now a three-time winner) and Queen Regent, who has won a Listed race since, which underlines the ability of Shane Humby’s filly. Humby noted in Computaform that Girl Magic “should run well” and the booking of Andrew Fortune suggests the stable really means business.

In Race 9 over 1400m, Sabine Plattner’s Ferryman has been transferred from Andre Nel to Eric Sands, who trained his graded-winning half-brothers Rainbow Bridge and Golden Ducat. A R2.8-million yearling, he will be closely watched in just his third career start. The obvious play is the Girl Magic-Ferryman TAB last Double. Both runners are likely to offer good-value payouts.

SUNDAY HIGHLIGHTS

SHA TIN: PATCH OF COSMO COULD BE HARD TO BEAT WITH PURTON UP

Winning Wing brings the standout formline to the topliner, Race 11 over 1800m, having finished third behind Romantic Warrior over 2000m last time. He has had 49 days between runs and has trialled well for a staying type. His supporters can expect a big challenge, however, from Patch Of Cosmo, who comes off an encouraging Derby fourth, when he closed off well after being 10th at the 800m mark. A key positive is that he reunites with Zac Purton, who won on him first-up this season. Race 1 is at 06:45.

TURFFONTEIN: CHRONICLE KING CAN BUILD ON COMEBACK WIN

Leading three-year-old Chronicle King was well short of peak fitness when making a winning return over 1700m recently, showing plenty of grit in the process. He should have come on from that run and can score in Race 6, a Pinnacle Stakes over 1600m. The outing is likely to bring him to a peak ahead of the Champions Season in KZN.

Musical Score, while not a Graded winner like Chronicle King, has solid form at this level and rates a danger, along with Kisshoten who finished fourth behind star filly Double Grand Slam in the Grade 1 Empress Club Stakes last time out. In Race 7, Robbie Sage’s filly Poplar Park drops back to 2000m and at an opening call of 10-1 shapes as the best each-way bet on the card.

SUGGESTED R360 (25%) PICK 6 PERM (Leg 1 Race 4 @ 14:00):

Leg 1: 1, 2, 4, 5

Leg 2: 4, 5, 8, 10

Leg 3: 1, 3, 5

Leg 4: 1, 4

Leg 5: 1, 3, 5

Leg 6: 4, 5, 7, 8, 10