TAB WEEKEND RACING HIGHLIGHTS: 18 - 20 July

BUILD A BANK AHEAD OF WORLD POOL GOLD CUP DAY

This weekend offers TAB customers multiple chances to build a bank ahead of the final big meeting of the 2024-25 horseracing season - World Pool Gold Cup Day at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday week. As usual Fairview opens the local weekend show this Friday and internationally trainer Aidan O’Brien is set for another classic winner in the Juddmonte Irish Oaks at the Curragh on Saturday.

FRIDAY HIGHLIGHTS

FAIRVIEW: ELLORIX SET TO DO MUCH BETTER THIS TIME

Ellorix was slow out of the gates and struggled to make headway from a wide draw when unplaced over 1000m on the Polytrack on 23 May. But she is expected to fare better over the same course and distance in Race 5, the day’s feature event. Drawn well this time, Ellorix can turn the tables on Paris Lass, who was eight lengths ahead of her last time but behind her in their March encounter at this course. Runners to follow elsewhere are Wild Fig (Race 3), well supported in three career starts and ready to win, and Rototo, who is better off with main rival Guarding The Wall in Race 4.

NEWBURY: ROYAL ASCOT RUNNER-UP DROPS IN CLASS

Royal Ascot runner-up Wise Approach drops in class in Race 4 over 1200m and looks the part. The Charlie Appleby-trained colt stayed on strongly when beaten 2,25 lengths by Charles Darwin in a big field in the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes over 1000m at Ascot. Appleby said: “Wise Approach came out of Ascot well and we feel that his returning to six furlongs (1200m) will suit. If he runs to anything near the level of his Norfolk Stakes form, it should make him very competitive in this grade.”

SATURDAY HIGHLIGHTS

PERAK: BIZAR LOOKS ON TRACK FOR A HAT-TRICK

Seven-year-old galloper Bizar Wins has rediscovered his best form since crossing the causeway and is poised for a hat-trick in Race 6 over 1200m. He has secured back-to-back victories over 1200m and 1100m at the last two Perak meetings and is back after a six-day break, having led throughout here last Sunday. The gelding's improved reliability at the start has played a key role in his recent success in lower grades and he has a genuine chance to go in again. Race 1 is off at 06:30.

TURFFONTEIN: RELY ON LERENA FOR YOUR PICK 6 BANKERS

Champion jockey-elect Gavin Lerena currently has the pick of rides at several top Highveld stables, which offers clear pointers to potential bankers in yet another challenging Pick 6. Tony Peter’s The Ultimate King is Lerena’s choice above well-performed American Rebel in Race 6 over 2000m. He is unbeaten in two starts since being gelded and looks progressive enough to complete a hat-trick.

Lerena rides smart colt Obsidian for Johan Janse van Vuuren in Race 9 over 1400m and his mount showed a good turn of foot in an easy win over subsequent winner Birthright recently. He looks a top handicapper in the making and appeals as a banker at the back end of the Pick 6. It’s trappy in several other legs, load up!

SUGGESTED R180 (20%) PICK 6 PERM (Leg 1 Race 4 @ 14:10):

Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 4, 7

Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7

Leg 3: 2

Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 6, 7

Leg 5: 2, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11

Leg 6: 1

THE CURRAGH: O’BRIEN TO WIN IRISH OAKS FOR EIGHTH TIME

Minnie Hauk got the better of a thrilling tussle with classy stable companion Whirl to win the Epsom Oaks and will face only six rivals in the Group 1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks over 2400m (Race 5). Three of them are her stablemates and the Frankel filly has been priced up 1-4, one of the shortest-priced Oaks favourites in history. She looks set to give O’Brien his eighth success in this classic.

SUNDAY HIGHLIGHTS:

SELANGOR: TWO BIG GUNS TO DOMINATE SELANGOR MILE

Malaysia’s best four-year-old runners will contest the Selangor Mile (Race 9) and two Grade 1 winners are the key contenders. Lucky Magic has been freshened since his triumph in the Penang Farewell Trophy on 31 May. He has drawn well in barrier No 1 and comes off a faultless preparation. Jockey Bernardo Pinheiro reunites with Antipodean for the first time since guiding him to victory in the Grade 1 Selangor Gold Cup last September. Pinheiro boasts a perfect four-from-four record aboard the gelding, who is set for another big run despite carrying top weight. The meeting starts at 06:20.

HOLLYWOODBETS SCOTTSVILLE: KANNEMEYER’S GATEWAY TO AN EARLY WIN

Cape trainer Dean Kannemeyer has sent out five winning first-timers in KZN this Champions Season - Keukenhof (5-4), Educator (33-20), Princess Averni (7-1), Gimmie Rules (33-10) and Aristocrat (18-10). For each of the five, his pre-race comment in Computaform has been more or less the same: “Nice type, include in exotics”. Evidently, this is Kannemeyer’s way of expressing cautious confidence and he’s made the same comment for well-bred Green Gateway, who debuts in Race 1 over 1200m. A R2.2-million colt by Gimmethegreenlight and a half-brother to several multiple winners, he will be ridden by Lerena who deputises for suspended Craig Zackey. The right boxes are ticked.