TAB WEEKEND RACING HIGHLIGHTS: 22 - 24 August

EXCITING WEEKEND OF RACING FROM EAST CAPE TO YORK

There’s plenty to look forward to this weekend. The annual East Cape Poly Challenge kicks off this Friday with a competitive 1200m sprint, in which Alan Greeff sends out a runner who looks capable of taking the crown this season. And at the York Ebor Festival, a juvenile filly takes on older males in a Group 1 sprint. The Festival ends on Saturday. At home, a hot visiting jockey could enjoy a fruitful afternoon at Turffontein before attention shifts to Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday.

FRIDAY HIGHLIGHTS

FAIRVIEW: VERSATILE FAIRY KNIGHT AIMS FOR CHALLENGE FAME

The NMB Racing East Cape Poly Challenge carries R775,000 in prize money. Each race carries a stake of R175,000 and a R250,000 bonus will be paid to any horse who can win all three legs, which are run on the Polytrack over 1200m, 1400m and 1600m respectively. Glen Kotzen’s King Regent pulled off an exciting series win last season and Alan Greeff’s versatile Fairy Knight is the best contender this year. The five-year-old has won over all three distances and is likely to be a popular favourite in Race 7 over 1200m, which kicks off the 2025 Challenge. He’s three from three over the course and distance and while Greeff also gives his stablemates Mercantour and Dubai Hills winning chances, Fairy Knight is well treated at the weights off his rating of 118 and should take a power of beating.

YORK: JUVENILE FILLY TAKES ON OLDER STARS IN NUNTHORPE

The third day of the 2025 York Ebor Festival features two Group 2 races and the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes over 1000m (Race 4). Irish trainer Ger Lyons’ dazzling filly, Lady Iman, bids to become the first two-year-old in 18 years to win the prestigious sprint. She was supplemented into the contest for 40,000 Pounds after advertising her claims in the Molecomb at Goodwood in June. The big field for this mouth-watering feature comprises a stellar cast of sprinting talent, including fellow Irish raiders Sapphire Stakes and Arizona Blaze and Jack Davison’s ultra-consistent stable star She’s Quality. While Lyons has expressed his concern about “a baby taking on older horses”, Lady Iman’s part-owner Roger O’Callaghan said: “Sometimes in racing we’re all afraid to have a go. But why? Why not have a bash? If it doesn’t happen, so what? At least we can say we’ve had a shot at it.”

SATURDAY HIGHLIGHTS

PERAK (MALAYSIA): WILSING RETURNS TO BEST DISTANCE

Following a surprising recent defeat, five-year-old Wilsing gets a chance at redemption in Race 6 over 1100m at Ipoh. The former New Zealand-based galloper followed a third place on his Malaysian debut with a decisive 1100m success. He proved no match for veteran campaigner Black Thorn when stepping up to 1400m, but should get back to winning ways on his return to what looks his best trip. Race 1 is off at 06:30.

TURFFONTEIN: FOLLOW SERINO MOODLEY IN THE PICK 6

Visiting jockey Serino Moodley, currently lying fourth on the national log after a top-10 finish last season, has a strong book of rides with solid chances in most of the Pick 6 legs. His first winner may come aboard rejuvenated Money Heist for Tony Peter in Race 5 over 1600m. Back in form with the addition of blinkers, a favourable draw and a handy weight, Money Heist looks primed to gallop his rivals off their feet. Moodley rides Peter’s Heavenly Good in Race 8 over 1450m. This impressive maiden winner now steps into a handicap, but her 81 rating looks lenient and she has a good chance of following up under only 52kg. Moodley’s mount Plus Four in Race 9 is another with strong appeal at the bottom of the weight scale.

SUGGESTED R270 (20%) PICK PERM (Leg 1 Race 4 @ 14:05):

Leg 1: 1, 2, 6

Leg 2: 3, 4, 5

Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8

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

Leg 5: 9

Leg 6: 1, 3, 12, 13

YORK: NEVER SO BRAVE CAN DOWN THE FAVOURITE

Richard Hannon’s top miler Rosallion is set to face 10 rivals in Race 3, the Group 1 Sky Bet City Of York Stakes over 1400m. He hasn’t won for over a year and missed his last run due to a bruised foot, but has been backed into favourite this week. Andrew Balding fields a strong rival in Never So Brave, who handled the rise from handicaps to Group 2 company admirably when winning recent Summer Mile in convincing style. He’s had a more fluent preparation and could upstage the favourite.

SUNDAY HIGHLIGHTS

SELANGOR: KHAO MANEE CAN GET BACK ON THE WINNING PATH

Eight-year-old Khao Manee could return to the winner’s enclosure in Race 10 over 1500m at Kuala Lumpur. A four-time winner in Singapore, Khao Manee made an immediate impact in Malaysia, winning his first three starts. Two of those victories came over this track and trip. After being placed twice from seven attempts at Class 4 level, Khao Manee signalled that his next win is near when finishing second on his return to Class 5 company three weeks ago. Race 1 starts at 06:30.

HOLLYWOODBETS SCOTTSVILLE: JP’S PALACE TO STRIKE FROM GOOD DRAW

Trainer Darryl Moore’s progressive four-year-old JP’s Palace looks poised to secure a first minor-feature win for Willie Pieters’ Classic Racing Syndicate in the topliner, Race 6 over 1750m. He showed plenty of pace from a wide draw over 1600m at HWB Greyville on July Day, hitting the front late before being caught close home by smart mare Tomyris. That form has been franked with fifth-placed Dawn Till Dusk scoring at this track on Wednesday. Now drawn well and proven over the course and distance, JP’s Palace can come out tops.