TAB WEEKEND RACING HIGHLIGHTS: 20 - 22 FEBRUARY

FULL FIELDS OFFER SOLID PICK 6 AND JACKPOT PAYOUTS

There are three SA meetings this weekend, each boasting full fields and the promise of rewarding exotic payouts. Candice Bass heads to Fairview on Friday and her raid should pay off. At Turffontein on Saturday, Tony Peter runs a speedy filly in one of the two feature races and his charge is a strong candidate to banker in the Pick 6 banker, and Peter Muscutt saddles a value bet in Sunday’s topliner at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. The international highlight comes at Sha Tin on Sunday morning, when the world’s leading sprinter bids for an astonishing 18th consecutive victory. Don’t miss a moment!

FRIDAY HIGHLIGHTS

FAIRVIEW: SYMPHONY IN WHITE DROPS IN CLASS IN TOPLINER

Candice Bass raids with a pair of runners in Race 7, the Listed Lady’s Pendant over 1200m, and her four-year-old Symphony In White looks hard to beat. She drops in class following a close second to accomplished Asiye Phambili in the Grade 3 Southern Cross Stakes and a fair run in the Grade 2 Sceptre Stakes. Plus she reunites with JP van der Merwe, who partnered her to victory over Kaiboy in a Progress Plate at HWB Kenilworth almost exactly a year ago. Take the Exacta with Dean Smith’s progressive three-year-old Danish Dynamite.

MEYDAN: APPLEBY’S BLUE NAZARE LOOKS THE PART IN BALANCHINE

The Group 2 Balanchine Stakes over 1800m, named in honour of Godolphin’s 1994 Epsom Oaks and Irish Derby winner, heads the card. Trainer Saeed bin Suroor’s Dubai Beach, owned and bred by Godolphin, is aiming to become the 10^th filly to successfully complete the Cape Verdi-Balanchine double, but there will be strong opposition from Charlie Appleby’s Blue Nazare. The daughter of Dubawi created a big impression on her debut at Yarmouth last October, easily going clear of eight rivals to score in grand style. Also bred and owned by Godolphin, she clearly has much more to offer and has the right profile to give Appleby his seventh consecutive success in the Balanchine.

SATURDAY HIGHLIGHTS

TURFFONTEIN: COURAGEOUS THE LAST DUKE CAN EDGE OUT RIVALS

Paul Matchett’s three-year-old The Last Duke has displayed notable courage in his six career starts and appears to have the mettle to land Race 7, the Grade 3 TAB National Currency Sprint over 1100m. He narrowly held off former stablemate Zalatoris in a driving finish at the Vaal last month and meets him on 2kg better terms. Gareth van Zyl’s KZN raider Wild Justice and Grade 1-placed Charming Cheetah are others worthy of consideration in what promises to be an exciting finish.

The banker for the day looks to be Tony Peter’s progressive sprinter Rifle Queen, who remains unbeaten on her home track. She is poised for a feature success in Race 6, the Betway Bauhinia Stakes over 1000m.

SUGGESTED R158 (10%) PICK 6 PERM (Leg 1 Race 4 @13:55):

Leg 1: 1, 2, 4
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 11, 12

Leg 3: 4

Leg 4: 1, 3, 4, 5, 7

Leg 5: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9

Leg 6: 1, 2, 7

KEMPTON: SKELTON’S DOUBLE MEASURE SET TO FOLLOW UP

There are three Grade 2 jump contests including Race 4, the Ladbrokes Dovecote Novices' Hurdle over 3200m in which Dan Skelton’s up-and-coming five-year-old Double Measure could get the better of closest form rival Klub De Reve. Double Measure secured an 11-length victory in a hurdle contest at Huntingdon recently and is being aimed at the major festivals later this season.

SUNDAY HIGHLIGHTS

SHA TIN: KA YING RISING AIMS FOR RECORD 18TH CONSECUTIVE WIN

Ka Ying Rising goes into action again in Race 8, the Group 1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup over 1400m, aiming for an 18th consecutive victory and the chance to set a Hong Kong racing record. “I would say that 17 was a real magic number,” trainer David Hayes commented. “To equal it was magic and to beat it will be even better, especially over 1400m, where he's stretching out to show the diversity that he has. The expectation is for him to win. You just want him to not let everyone down and the way he trialled recently, I don't think he's going to,” Hayes added. The meeting starts at 07:00.

SELANGOR: ANTIPODEAN IS BACK TO HIS RIGHT DISTANCE

Star runner Antipodean contests Race 6 over 1300m. This is an ideal race for Simon Dunderdale’s 12-time winner, who was way out of his comfort zone when downfield in an experimental 2000m race last December. But there was no harm done. A specialist over shorter sprint trips, he will be right at home over 1300m. The meeting starts at 07:10

HOLLYWOODBETS KENILWORTH: NOBLE CITY ON COMEBACK TRAIL

Noble City’s merit rating has plunged to 94 from a career-high 107 in June 2024. Now back in the care of Peter Muscutt, he is beginning to show signs of rediscovering the form that marked him as an exciting prospect. He shapes as a serious contender in Race 7 over 1600m, the feature of the day.

Noble City burst onto the scene early in his career and was tested against some of the best in the land, including Dave The King and Oriental Charm. Injury, a change of stables and extensive travel interrupted his progress, but a recent close fifth from a wide draw was by far his most encouraging effort in the past 18 months. With Keagan de Melo booked to ride, there are clear signals that Muscutt expects a bold showing and Noble City could represent solid value.