TAB WEEKEND RACING HIGHLIGHTS: 17 - 19 October 2025

GET SET FOR AN ACTION-PACKED WEEKEND

The weekend starts on a high note at Fairview this Friday, when Mercantour looks set to become the first Eastern Cape-trained runner to win the Nelson Mandela Bay Poly Challenge and the R250,000 bonus. Also, on course patrons - don't forget to post your losing tickets into our competition box for a chance to win a VIP experience for 2 to the 225 Betway Summer Cup. There are two Pick 6 bankers at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday followed by a strong Conditions Plate at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday, in which three HWB Durban July runners will be prepping for the R6-million Betway Summer Cup. Internationally, don’t miss the TAB Everest, the world’s richest race on turf, over 1200m at Randwick in Sydney on Saturday morning followed in the afternoon by five Group 1 races on QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot.

FRIDAY HIGHLIGHTS

FAIRVIEW: POLY CHALLENGE GLORY AWAITS MERCANTOUR

Mercantour has an excellent opportunity to secure the Nelson Mandela Bay Poly Challenge in Race 5 over 1600m, the third and final leg of the series. Mercantour has won 10 races up to 1400m, including the 1200m and 1400m legs of the Challenge. Although his record over 1600m shows three defeats, those came in strong Pinnacle Plates on turf earlier in his career. Since relocating to the Eastern Cape, Mercantour has won four of six starts on the Polytrack and appears to be at the peak of his powers. Plus jockey Richard Fourie has said Mercantour should have “no trouble” handling 1600m on the synthetic surface.

SATURDAY HIGHLIGHTS

RANDWICK: WORLD’S TOP SPRINTER GETS RIGHT DRAW

The $20-million Group 1 TAB Everest over 1200m (Race 7) heads a 10-race card. Hong Kong raider Ka Ying Rising, the world’s highest-rated turf sprinter, brings a 13-race unbeaten streak and global swagger to a field loaded with Australia’s best, notably War Machine, Joliestar and Jimmysstar. Ka Ying Rising drew barrier seven and trainer David Hayes said: “I think it's a great barrier for him. Zac Purton will be able to make a choice whether he goes all the way forward or follows the speed.” The race is at 07:15 SA time. All TAB Win, Place, Quinella and Swinger bets on Races 6 to 10 at Randwick will be commingled into the Hong Kong World Pool. All other bets on the meeting will be commingled with Tabcorp as normal with Trifecta bets, and no Swinger bets, on Races 1 to 5 only. The meeting starts at 03:30.

HOLLYWOODBETS DURBANVILLE: TWO BANKER BETS

There are two solid bets in the Pick 6, the first in Race 5 over 1400m. Justin Snaith sends out Greenchoice, who was touched off over 1600m at this track last month after leading for most of the way. The same tactics are likely to be employed from a wide draw and he should take a power of beating. Gallic Victor (Race 8, 1600m) is among a host of promising three-year-olds from Dean Kannemeyer’s stable. He hacked up on his 1400m debut at Scottsville and looks fairly rated against a field of average quality.

SUGGESTED R262,50 (25%) PICK 6 PERM (Leg 1 Race 4 @ 14:25):

Leg 1: 1, 3, 4, 9, 12

Leg 2: 11

Leg 3: FIELD (1-7)

Leg 4: 2, 3, 5, 7, 9

Leg 5: 7 Leg 6: 2, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11

ASCOT: THREE-HORSE WAR IN QIPCO CHAMPION STAKES

The Group 1 QIPCO Champion Stakes over 2000m (Race 6) headlines a seven-race card. Three of the world's top-rated horses - Ombudsman, Delacroix and Calandagan - will face off in a blockbuster edition of this prized contest. Delacroix defeated Ombudsman in the Group 1 Coral-Eclipse Stakes before the tables were turned in the Group 1 Juddmonte International in August. They now meet for a third time. Calandagan is a formidable rival. He was beaten into second in the race a year ago and won the Group 1 King George this season. All TAB Win, Place, Exacta, Quinella, Swinger and Trifecta bets on Races 2 to 7 will be commingled into the Hong Kong World Pool. Race 1 bets will be commingled with the UK Tote as normal with South African Quartet, Place Accumulator and Jackpot pools. Here are brief notes on the other Group 1s.

Race 1: British Champions Long Distance Cup, 3200m Trawlerman won the 2023 renewal and was third behind Kyprios in the race last season. He’s established himself as the top stayer this year, winning the Gold Cup at this track in June and the Lonsdale Cup at York in August.

Race 3: British Champions Sprint Stakes, 1200m Wathnan Racing have leading claims with Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II victor Lazzat, along with the 2024 winner Kind Of Blue and Flora Of Bermuda.

Race 4: British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes, 2400m Andrew Balding’s Kalpana, runner-up to Calandagan in the King George, is among the favourites, having finished seventh in the Arc de Triomphe.

Race 5: Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, 1600m John and Thady Gosden’s Field Of Gold is the one to beat. He was an impressive winner of the Irish 2000 Guineas and the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot before a surprise defeat in the Sussex Stakes in which he was lame afterwards.

SUNDAY HIGHLIGHTS

PERAK: SEVEN-YEAR-OLD SOUSUI CAN OVERCOME DRAW

Seven-year-old galloper Sousui looks set for back-to-back victories in Race 12 over 1400m on the left-handed track at Ipoh. Fresh from an effortless triumph over 1200m here on 20 September, the Frank Maynard-trained gelding has sharp gate speed, likes to control the pace and is well equipped to overcome the outside draw in this 11-runner field. The meeting starts at 06:30.

SHA TIN: MY WISH TAKES ON HONG KONG 1600M CHAMP

Up-and-coming My Wish has been labelled a force to be reckoned with this season by trainer Mark Newnham after a Group 3 win on 28 September. He can validate that view with a victory in Race 7 over 1600m in which he is well in under handicap conditions. It should be a great race to watch as his rivals include Voyage Bubble, Hong Kong’s champion miler and runner-up in this race last year. The meeting starts at 06:45.

HOLLYWOODBETS GREYVILLE: BIG GUNS CLASH IN PREP RACE

Three of the highest-rated runners in the country kick off their summer campaigns in Race 8 over 1400m. See It Again, Royal Victory and On My Honour are being prepared for the Betway Summer Cup, and have targets beyond that, including the 2026 L’Ormarins King’s Plate and World Sports Betting Cape Met. All three have winning form over 1400m and generally perform well first-up after a break. With little separating them at the weights, a grandstand finish looks likely. On My Honour, the youngest of the trio, could have an edge from the best draw, but his seasoned rivals won’t go down without a fight.