This weekend’s racing action presents several opportunities to build a kitty for next week’s flagship Betway Summer Cup meeting, where there are 11 races with quality fields and carryovers to the Pick 6 (R5-million pool expected), the Cup Quartet (R2-million likely pool) and Jackpot THREE (R2-million likely pool). The Summer Cup Computaform will be available online this weekend so make the most of the extra time and start studying!
There’s a Pick 6 banker to get you off to a good start at Fairview this Friday followed by a host of quality races at Saturday’s standalone meeting at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. On Sunday, the world’s best sprinter returns to racing at Sha Tin in Hong Kong and Turffontein hosts nine races on the Inside track.
The best bet on the card, and a solid Pick 6 banker, is Alan Greeff’s up-and-coming three-year-old Royal Kingdom, who looks a cut above the opposition in Race 3, the Guineas Plate over 1600m. In Race 5, the Glenmore Sprint over 1000m, Roman Agent has his rivals stone cold on the strength of his close second to star sprinter Kingdundee in a Pinnacle Plate on 31 October. He has not raced on the Polytrack before, however, and surface specialists Cliff Top and Golden Pavilion may loom dangerously.
Meshtri created a big impression when winning the Group 2 Maktoum Mile in Dubai last season. He thrived for trainer Michael Costa, winning two of his four races, and is back to defend his Listed Dubai Creek Mile title in Race 5, the highlight of a decent seven-race card on dirt. From a yard that has made a terrific start to the season, Meshtri is fancied to run a big race and bag another big prize. The meeting starts at 15:30.
Dean Kannemeyer’s classic contender Aristocratic steps up to 1600m in Race 7, the R500,000 Grade 2 Race Coast Punters Cup. He’s a colt that’s always promised more, evident in his fourth place to older horses in the Grade 3 Matchem Stakes as an early three-year-old. He’s been staying on late over shorter and looks a principal contender here in his third run after a rest. There are some other talented runners, including Good For You, Better Man and Randolph Hearst who are likely to contest the places.
Candice Bass’ young sprinter, All The Rage, looks set for his first Listed win in Race 6, the Sophomore Sprint over 1200m. The stable’s top older sprinter Tenango returns to racing in Race 8 over 1100m and will win if he’s anywhere near best.
Leg 1: 1, 5, 6, 7
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Leg 3: 1,8, 9, 11
Leg 4: 2, 6, 7, 12
Leg 5: 7
Leg 6: 2, 3, 6, 8, 10
There are two Grade 2 jump features on this Premier Race Day including Race 5, the Ladbrokes Ascot Hurdle over 3900m. With seven wins from 12 starts and a second place to Lossiemouth in the Grade 1 Aintree Cup last April, Gordon Elliott’s five-year-old mare Wodhooh rates the one to beat. This is her seasonal return but reports suggest that she is in fine fettle.
Talented sprinter Yes Man looks poised to complete a hat-trick when he lines up in Race 8 over 1200m at Kuala Lumpur. He broke through for his first Class 3 win on 6 September before enjoying a two-month break. He returned in style a fortnight ago with a scintillating all-the-way victory, putting four lengths on a strong Class 3 field. In career-best form, he should find the front again and prove tough to reel in despite the rise in class. The meeting starts at 06:30.
Ka Ying Rising returns to home soil after his emphatic win in the Everest Sprint in Australia, and is on track to defend his Hong Kong Sprint title in December. David Hayes’ champion runs in Race 6 over 1200m and if the trainer’s confident pre-race commentary is any indication, it should be business as usual for the world’s top-rated sprinter. The meeting starts at 06:45.
Max The Magician is a four-year-old good enough to have raced in a minor feature on Betway Summer Cup Day next Saturday. But trainer Roy Magner has found easier pickings in Race 8 over 1450m, in which the gelding’s preference for the track and trip could be the deciding factor. He’s won two of seven starts at this tricky circuit and enters the race in a good vein of form. With recent winner Skittles Skies perhaps better over a bit further, the danger to Max The Magician could be War Of Kingdoms, who tries the distance for the first time and is competitively weighted.