TAB WEEKEND RACING HIGHLIGHTS: 24 - 25 October 2025

WEEKEND RACING SERVES UP CLASS, VARIETY AND VALUE

The weekend action starts this Friday afternoon with a potential superstar on the comeback trail in the feature race at Fairview. There are standalone meetings at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday and at Turffontein on Sunday when several feature-race contenders will strut their stuff.

Internationally Aidan O’Brien and Christophe Soumillon could continue their recent run of Group successes at Doncaster on Saturday. All in all loads of good opportunities to build a kitty for next Saturday’s carryover Pick 6 on Allied Steelrode Charity Mile day. Don’t miss out!

FRIDAY HIGHLIGHT

FAIRVIEW: GOLDEN PALM HARD TO BEAT IN COMEBACK RUN

Champion filly Golden Palm returns to the track in Race 6, the Listed Racehorse Association Stakes over 1600m, and is as close to a racing certainty as you will find. Laid off since her sensational win in the Grade 2 Douglas Whyte Thekwini Stakes on Gold Cup Day, she’s considered fit enough for this contest. Trainer Alan Greeff commented: “This is a nice run to start off Golden Palm’s three-year-old campaign. She looks hard to oppose.”

SATURDAY HIGHLIGHTS

SELANGOR: BANKER’S PRETTY CAN WIN ON MALAYSIAN DEBUT

Former Australian galloper Banker’s Pretty can recoup part of her purchase price when she makes her Malaysian debut in Race 9 over 1300m at Kuala Lumpur. Formerly known as The Doll, she arrives with a good race record, having posted back-to-back victories in South Australia, the latest on soft ground on 31 May. Banker’s Pretty impressed with a comfortable trial win here last week and looks on track to make a winning start for the Johnny Lim stable. The meeting starts at 06:10.

HOLLYWOODBETS DURBANVILLE: TENPENNY CAN BEAT THE DRAW

Tenpenny has been patiently handled by trainer Paddy Kruyer and has a good opportunity to bag the lion’s share of the prize money in Race 7 over 1600m, the topliner at the meeting. Tenpenny is best over this trip and caught the eye with a good warm-up run to Pinot Grigio in a slightly stronger race last time. He hit the gates and was bumped in running that day, so with better luck should go close despite the widest draw. Game campaigner Voorloopertjie is fully fit after two outings this season and poses the biggest danger.

DONCASTER: O’BRIEN RUNNER LOOKS PICK IN FUTURITY TROPHY

O’Brien saddles the top three in the betting for the Group 1 William Hill Futurity Trophy Stakes over 1600m. Jockey Ryan Moore’s superb deputy, Christophe Soumillon, has been confirmed to ride Frankel colt Benvenuto Cellini, who looks the stable elect ahead of Hawk Mountain and Action. Benevenuto Cellino was an impressive winner of a Group 2 race in his last start, but Ronald Whelan’s mount Hawk Mountain, who won the Beresford Stakes last month, has an almost identical record and is likely to pose a strong challenge.

SUNDAY HIGHLIGHTS

SELANGOR: IRISH GOODBYE TO SCORE AGAIN FROM GOOD DRAW

Brazilian-bred performer Irish Goodbye should maintain his unbeaten local record when he contests Race 8 over 1400m in Kuala Lumpur. He defied long odds and a wide draw to score by 2.75 lengths on 14 September and will find it easier from No 3 draw this time. The meeting starts at 06:30.

SHA TIN: DIVANO CAN KEEP GOING FROM AN INSIDE DRAW

Helios Express is regarded as the second-best sprinter behind Ka Ying Rising after finishing runner-up to him five times last season. He’ll be using Race 8, the Group 2 Premier Bowl over 1200m, as a springboard for Group 1 targets later this season, which may give Divano a foot in the door. He is a tricky horse to catch and worth an each-way bet at the right odds from the inside gate. Divano flashed home for third behind Ka Ying Rising first-up before drawing wide second-up over 1400m and never finding a clear passage in the straight. Race 1 is scheduled for 06:45.

TURFFONTEIN: IT MAY PAY TO COUNT ON OLIVIA’S WAY

A quality eight-race card containing several runners prepping for major features in November. With no apparent bankers, winning the Pick 6 will require careful structuring.

Betway Summer Cup contenders Parisian Walkway and The Equator are rated well above their opposition in the opening leg, Race 3 over 1600m, and should fight it out. Top-class Olivia’s Joy returns to her favourite course and distance in Race 4 over 2000m in preparation for the Betway Summer Cup and is perhaps one to rely on in small perms. Hotarubi and Two Miles West are others who appeal at the weights.

Avoontoast and Dimako’s Jet are the obvious inclusions in Race 5 over 2000m, but collateral form shows that Key Worker is the value bet. Fast-improving Hazy Dazy can complete a hat-trick of wins in Race 6 over 2000m, but hard-knockers Damova and Pepper Tree come into the reckoning.

Buffalo Storm Cody was a brilliant winner of the Merchants on Gold Cup day and returns from a rest in Race 7 over 1160m. He has a few to beat including recently gelded Winds Of Change. Xenophon catches the eye in Race 8 over 1160m, but add His Lordship as a back-up. Legendary and Spy Story are not out of it.

SUGGESTED R288 (25%) PICK 6 PERM (Leg 1 Race 3 @ 14:00):

Leg 1: 1, 2

Leg 2: 5, 6, 9

Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 7

Leg 4: 2, 3, 8

Leg 5: 1, 5, 6, 8

Leg 6: 1, 3, 4, 6