The thoroughbred racing stage delivers a kaleidoscope of class, colour and exciting betting opportunities from virtually every corner of the globe this weekend. The curtain rises at Fairview on Friday, when a champion filly makes her long-awaited return, and later the spotlight shifts to Hollywoodbets Greyville where there appear to be several good bets.
A Grade 1 clash at Randwick in Australia gets Saturday out the starting gate and then comes Lucky Fish Cape Derby day at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. The flagship classic is supported by a powerful undercard and a likely R3-million Pick 6 pool. And halfway through the afternoon the keenly-awaited Super Saturday fixture at Meydan in Dubai adds to the excitement.
The international action continues on Sunday with two rich features at Sha Tin followed by the Hollywoodbets Scottsville meeting. Great racing, don’t miss it.
Top filly Anotherdanceforme returns to racing in Race 5, the Listed Breeders Guineas over 1600m, and looks hard to oppose at level weights with her lesser talented rivals. While she’s been off the track for three months, trainer Alan Greeff expressed some confidence in a Racing Today Track Talk interview, saying: “She was beaten five lengths in the Western Cape Classic, but got really sick after that run and went away for a holiday. She’s a good filly and don’t write her off for that run. She can definitely bounce back to her best.”
Etzebeth (Race 3, 1800m), Qhawekazi (Race 6, 1400m) and Indecent Proposal (Race 8, 1200m) have shown enough promise in recent starts to be considered good bets at this twilight meeting. Grey Etzebeth ran on late over 1400m in his last start and has a big, flowing stride. He should enjoy the extra and will take a power of beating. Qhawekazi is 2kg better off for a 1.70-length recent beating by main rival De Vlugge and looks set to turn the tables. Indecent Proposal shows up prominently in Computaform’s collateral form tables and has the benefit of a 4kg claim and an inside draw.
Chris Waller believes Autumn Glow can push her remarkable unbeaten streak into double figures and deliver a record-extending 12th victory when the star mare contests Race 8, the Group 1 Verry Elleegant Stakes over 1600m.
Formerly known as the Chipping Norton Stakes, the Verry Elleegant Stakes - named in honour of Waller’s 2021 Grade 1 Melbourne Cup heroine - has been dominated by the New Zealand-born trainer since 2011 with stars like Winx (won the race four times), Via Sistina and Verry Elleegant herself.
All TAB Win, Place, Quinella and Swinger bets on Races 7 to 10 will go into the World Pool tote. The meeting starts at 03:30 with the Verry Elleegant Stakes at 07:40.
British-bred five-year-old Superior Sixty-One looks ideally placed to break his
Malaysian maiden in Race 6 over 1200m. He attracted strong market support on his recent local debut and appeared just in need of the run, finishing third. Given the confidence about him that day, the Nick Selvan-trained galloper looks on the verge of a victory. The meeting starts at 06:45.
There are seven feature races on the card, comprising four Graded and three Listed contests. The Grade 1 Lucky Fish Cape Derby (Race 8) is the highlight of the afternoon and past winners include champions from yesteryear like Colorado King, Sea Cottage, Mazarin, Politician, Bold Tropic and Dynasty.
The main attraction on the undercard is Race 7, the Grade 2 Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes over 1200m in which consistent top-level performer I Am Giant is the one to beat. Stuart Ferrie’s runner is a possible banker in the R500,000 carryover Pick 6 and there’s an even better banker in the opening leg.
Here’s a leg-by-leg guide to the Pick 6, which is set to generate a bumper pool of over R3 million.
5 RED SPICE had 6 ROSKILDE, 7 QUERARI DANCER, 9 LADY NANCY, 3 CATWALK KING and 4 MARSEILLES behind him when landing the Listed JC Le Roux Summer Juvenile Stakes. With just a 1kg swing at the weights all round and natural improvement to come, he should confirm that form. He does, however, face a serious challenge from 8 WORLD SERIES, who quickened smartly to win at the second time of asking over 1000m. He was doing his best work at the line and was described as “a top horse” by trainer Vaughan Marshall. 1 CASPERITA drew well clear to win on her debut at Fairview, but this represents a sterner assignment. The promising Marshall runner looks destined for bigger targets and makes strong banker appeal in the opening leg.
Little to choose between 2 BEACH VERSE and 7 KATTEKWAADKWADRAAT on their run to Rose Woott in a decent race over 1600m recently, though the latter had a slightly faster finish and is 1kg better off over this extra 200m. 1 QUEEN REGENT finished third in the Grade 3 Summer Fling Stakes and on that is weighted to win this. 4 KUBU is bred for the extra and has some scope - she’s one to consider if you want to go wider.
A quality field in which seven of the eight runners have good form and are well proven over the course and distance, making the task of pinpointing a winner far from straightforward. The ratings favour Candice Bass’ 3 ROCCAPINA, but her stable jockey has opted for 2 BABELICIOUS who appears to be coming into her own at four. She overcame an awkward start in the recent Grade 3 Olympic Duel Stakes to run down the smart 5 PRINCESS OF GAUL over 1200m and, while she is 3kg worse off with her younger rival, she may still be ahead of the handicapper.
A number of good collateral form lines point to a race-in-three among versatile and talented 3 QUESTIONING, formidable older sprinter 8 I AM GIANT and flashy 15 FUTURE VARIETY, who can match strides with the best on his day. Marginal preference is for distance specialist I Am Giant, who will be cherry ripe in his peak run and has the best tactical options from a middle draw in a large field. While he is out at the weights with some, 13 ALL THE RAGE is the rising star in the pack and won the recent Winchester with such ease that he cannot be ignored. Covering Jackpots are a good option to include competitive stablemates 1 TEFLON MAN and 2 OUTLAW KING, and game older runners 12 ASIYE PHAMBILI and 14 DANCE VARIETY. But they will all have to get past I Am Giant.
1 STAR MAJOR overcame the odds in the Grade 3 Politician Stakes and gave 6 HAPPY VERSE, 8 BETTER MAN and 3 PAY THE PALACE a thorough beating. There is no reason why he shouldn’t confirm the form. The one to watch, however, is Richard Fourie’s mount 2 WISH LIST, who won the standard-setting Grade 1 Paddock Stakes with a barnstorming finish and looks talented enough to become only the third filly in the last five decades to win the Derby. You can also consider 5 NOTE TO SELF, an up-and-coming stayer who has won over track and trip, and 7 VIVA’S LIBERTE.
A high-level contest in which rejuvenated 7 SNOW PILOT seeks to follow up on a game victory over Powerandtheglory in a 1400m handicap on WSB Cape Town Met Day. There are dangers, most notably course-and-distance specialist 6 SUGAR MOUNTAIN, who has also signalled a return to form and is by no means finished at seven years of age. 4 ZEITZ has disappointed on occasions, but reverts to 1600m with a handy galloping weight and should be competitive. 5 CAPTAIN WEST enjoys a significant pull at the weights with 10 JET FORCE and could feature, though Jet Force is the classier of the pair. 8 I SALUTE YOU is a decent sort and has improved with gelding. While he seems better over slightly further, he warrants respect.
Leg 1: 8
Leg 2: 1, 2, 7
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 5
Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 8, 12, 13, 15
Leg 5: 1, 2, 5, 6, 7
Leg 6: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10
The excitement to the 2026 Dubai World Cup meeting on Saturday 28 March is building and Super Saturday at Meydan this weekend should provide plenty of clues to Dubai’s $30.5-million showpiece in four weeks’ time.
Super Saturday is the traditional dress rehearsal to the Dubai World Cup meeting, which comprises six Group 1 and three Group 2 events. Johnny Murtagh’s stable star Alakazi is one of the main contenders for the Super Saturday topliner, the Group 2 Singspiel Stakes over 1800m. He is the highest-rated runner in the field.
The best bet on the card could be undefeated Taifuu who runs in Race 2, the Listed Jumeirah 1000 Guineas over 1600m. She was delivered fast and late to give Denmark a major success on the world stage in last month’s Mawj Stakes. From the first crop of the smart Japan, winner of the Juddmonte International and Grand Prix de Paris, she is open to more improvement and is a confident pick in a weak field.
All TAB Win, Place, Exacta, Quinella and Swinger bets on Races 4 to 7 will be commingled into the Hong Kong Jockey Club World Pool tote so don’t worry about a big wager significantly depressing a payout. The pools are basically just too big.
This exciting 11-race card features two Group 1 races worth $1.7-million each. Champion gelding Romantic Warrior launched his Triple Crown bid with a commanding Stewards’ Cup win over 1600m. He steps up to his preferred 2000m for the second leg in Race 7, the Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup in which it is hard to see his rivals turning the tables. In Race 9, the Hong Kong Classic Cup over 1800m, Numbers is the horse to beat. He gave his rivals a galloping lesson in his last two all-the-way wins in strong races. The meeting starts at 06:30.
Four-year-old Fight To Win can make a winning return in Race 8 over 1600m at Ipoh. He drops back in grade after finishing unplaced to Frenetic in a Class 5A event here two weeks ago. Fight To Win has two wins over this course and distance and should prove hard to beat against weaker opposition, despite a 4.5kg rise. The meeting starts at 06:45.
Talented three-year-olds I’m A Fireball and Roland Garros can fight out the finish of Race 5, the March Stakes over 1400m. This is likely to be a tactical contest because I’m A Fireball has blistering pace and could break away from the opposition. He set a course record for 1450m at the Vaal racing from the front recently and left King Harald three lengths in his wake. King Harald franked that form with an impressive win on Thursday. Roland Garros is probably not as fast as I’m A Fireball, but has a good cruising speed and runs on gamely. We could be in for an exciting duel.