Weekend racing truly has spring in its step, starting with a double-header on Friday – the second leg of the Poly Challenge at Fairview and a twilight meeting at Hollywoodbets Greyville. Durbanville’s Saturday card features a Listed event and two Grade 3 races, and several top Pick 6 contenders have landed favourable gates. Punters could benefit, with at least one ready-made banker shaping up to kick off the betting sequence in style. At Turffontein on Sunday, a number of summer feature prospects start their preparations in handicaps. There is top group racing from the UK on Friday and Saturday, and a rich feature in Hong Kong on Sunday in which a South African jockey rides the likely favourite. Wily punters could get the cash!
Tough-as-teak six-year-old Mercantour rallied gamely to win the first leg of the Nelson Mandela Bay East Cape Poly Challenge over 1200m last month. He now looks poised to clear the second of three hurdles in the series when lining up in Race 7 over 1400m. Proven over the track and trip and well in at the weights, he could prove too strong for stablemates Guy Gibson and The Africa House. “Mercantour won a good race last time and we’re hoping he can round this one up,” said trainer Alan Greeff.
Lightly raced Corrupt is considered to have lots of potential over ground, a sentiment expressed by trainer Mike de Kock after the four-year-old won his first run over 1800m. “I think we can win a feature with him. He wants a lot more ground,” said De Kock. On a mark of just 81, Corrupt could be well ahead of the handicapper in Race 7 over 2400m. This is his peak run, his first beyond 1800m, and if he has the kind of staying power his stable suspects, he should go close in this Class C contest.
There are three Group races on the card, including Race 4, the Group 2 BoyleSports Daily Racing Rewards Joel Stakes on the Rowley Mile. With four wins from five starts, including the Listed Henry Cecil Stakes over the course and distance, Charlie Appleby’s Opera Ballo is the horse to beat. Appleby said: “His homework has been great and he has done very well physically over the summer. This is his biggest test to date and it’s a competitive race, but we are confident of his chances.”
Durbanville’s tight-turning circuit often rewards an inside draw, and punters could find an advantage this Saturday. Top contenders in three of the six Pick 6 legs have drawn well, which could be crucial when it comes to structuring your bets. With positions set to complement pace and racing patterns, Justin Snaith’s hard-knocking maiden, Delta Pride, looks the proverbial shoe-in, to get punters off to a flying start in Race 4 over 1400m. Dean Kannemeyer’s unbeaten stakes winner Princess Of Gaul steps up against older fillies and mares in a strong renewal of Race 7, the Grade 3 Schweppes Diana Stakes over 1400m, but barrier No 1 and a light weight boosts her already impressive form prospects. The Cape’s versatile powerhouse Sugar Mountain will jump from gate No 3 in the Grade 3 Race Coast Matchem Stakes. He goes for four-in-a-row and will be hard to oppose on his current, devastating form.
Leg 1: 1
Leg 2: 7, 9, 10,12
Leg 3: 3, 4, 6, 7, 8
Leg 4: 1, 3, 4, 6, 8
Leg 5: 3
Leg 6: 1, 4, 5, 7, 11
Charlie Appleby said on Monday he has “plenty of confidence” going into Race 3, the Tattersalls Middle Park Stakes over 1200m on the Rowley Mile. The Mehmas colt will bid to give the Godolphin handler a third win in this Group 1 contest, where 11 horses remain in contention after the Andrew Balding-trained Five Ways, winner of the Group 3 Sirenia Stakes at Kempton Park, was supplemented. “The form of his previous race in Deauville has worked out solidly,” Appleby added.
Talented four-year-old Duma tackles a Class 3 field in Race 8 over 1200m at Kuala Lumpur and looks well placed to notch back-to-back victories. The Frank Maynard- gelding posted a dominant win in the ACE Synthetics Trophy over 1400m on 5 August. He showcased his trademark turn of foot, weaving through from midfield to score by 1.50-lengths in testing, rain-affected conditions. Duma lacks early pace but saves his best for the closing stages and with KC Wong retaining the ride he shapes as a strong contender. The meeting starts at 06:30.
Luke Ferraris resumes his so far successful partnership with My Wish, who shapes as one of the more exciting prospects going forward this season in Race 8, the $4,2-million Celebration Cup Handicap over 1400m. His two trials for return have been impressive, and from barrier No 4 he maps ideally on pace in a race lacking pressure. He is primed to resume as a winner. Trainer Mark Newnham commented on Thursday: “I’m really pleased with him. I’d say he’ll be hard to beat.” Race 1 is off at 07:45.
The scratching of Destiny Of Fire from Race 7 over 1450m presents her traditional rival, Palace Dancer, with a winning opportunity. But there are two other fillies in this quality contest who have strong prospects too. Accept Cookies ran on well to win her last race at the Vaal, and well-bred Jingleberry returns from a rest and is a three-year-old that will be targeted at the summer features. With Palace Dancer drawn widest of all and Accept Cookies perhaps better over 1600m, the advantage lies with the younger filly, who is likely to be a smart prospect in the making and can pounce off only 52kg.