TAB WEEKEND RACING HIGHLIGHTS: 28 - 30 November 2025

GRAND RACING AND A LIKELY R5-MILLION PICK 6 ON CUP DAY

A terrific weekend of racing headlined by Joburg’s biggest raceday - Saturday’s Betway Summer Cup meeting at Turffontein, where horseplayers can bet into a R1-million carryover Pick 6 pool likely to total some R5 million!

The R6-million topliner is set to be a cracker and punters who play a Quartet and choose the first four home in the correct order can bank on a good payout whatever the outcome. That’s because the big-race Quartet starts with a R500,000 carryover set to deliver a total pool of R2 million.

The Cup is Race 8 on an 11-race programme that carries two BiPots and three Jackpots. Don’t forget that Jackpot THREE (Races 8 to 11) also has a R500,000 carryover. With big and competitive fields, it’s going to be a grand afternoon from start to finish with loads of chances to collect a share of the loot!

Irish-bred import The Equator, who began his racing career with globally renowned trainer Aidan O’Brien, was firm favourite for the Cup with sponsors Betway earlier this week but has been displaced at the top of the boards by champion stayer King Pelles. The Gareth van Zyl runner is at 28-10 with The Equator at 33-10 and last year’s winner Atticus Finch third favourite at 7-1.

As is often the case in Johannesburg at this time of year, the race is likely to be run on a wet surface but that should pose no poblems for the principals. Race 1, also the first leg of Jackpot ONE, is at 11:25.

FRIDAY HIGHLIGHTS

FAIRVIEW: IN-FORM LAING SET TO BAG MORE WINNERS

Trainer Tara Laing’s runners have been in good form on the Polytrack over the last few weeks. She has a few bright prospects at this meeting and should add to her seasonal tally. Laing’s best could be State Secret in Race 3 over 1600m. She hasn’t beaten a field of this calibre and top filly Splicethemainbrace is an obvious danger, but Alan Greeff’s contender is probably best up to 1400m whereas State Secret is a course-and-distance specialist. Laing’s promising Buffalo Bill ran on strongly over 1200m last time and steps up to 1400m in Race 7. He has a handy gate and, if he enjoys the Polytrack, should go close.

HOLLYWOODBETS GREYVILLE: ISIKWISHIKWISHI LOOKS BEST

Having similar records, top-weights Industrialstrength and Isikwishikwishi look set to dominate in Race 7 over 1400m. With Rachel Venniker’s 1.5kg allowance taken into account, Ishikwishikwishi is best weighted and comes into the contest with two wins and four places from seven starts on the Polytrack. That could give him the edge over his rival who makes his Polytrack debut.

NEWBURY: TWINJETS CLEARED FOR TAKE-OFF IN CHASE

Trainer Paul Nicholls and jockey Harry Cobden can win Race 5, the Coral Bet Handicap Chase over 4000m and one of two Grade 2 features on the card. Nicholls saddles sparingly raced eight-year-old Twinjets, who won easily last month after a long rest and is heading for his eighth career success. "He was a nice winner on his seasonal return at Fontwell, where we thought he would need the run. He ran very well at this meeting a year ago, so he has a chance in this competitive race," Nicholls said.

SATURDAY HIGHLIGHTS

TURFFONTEIN: TAB PICK 6 IS THE BET OF THE DAY

With a R1-million carryover set to generate a mega pool, the bet of the meeting on Betway Summer Cup Day has to be a TAB Pick 6. Below is a leg-by-leg guide to the six races that make up the bet.

Leg 1 (13:10): Race 4 – 1160m JOBURG TOURISM CARRY ON ALICE STAKES (Listed)

A cracking field of fillies makes for a tricky start to the Pick 6. While there are collateral form lines to gauge the relative chances of the leading contenders, several additional factors could influence the outcome. Top-rated 1 FATAL FLAW has never raced over 1160m, but as a classic winner she has the class to trouble the established sprinters. 2 MIA MOO holds many of these on her best performances from last season. But she hasn’t raced since July and enjoyed a more comprehensive prep before finishing second in this race last year. She again meets the 2024 winner 4 CHASING HAPPINESS at level weights, but S’manga Khumalo gets off the latter to partner hugely talented but problematic 6 ELEGANT ICE, whose victory over star male sprinter Buffalo Storm Cody last October stands as the strongest form line here. The historical concern is that she has never won second up from a layoff. The net must therefore be cast wider to include her classy half-sister 9 ELEGANTRIX and progressive three-year-old 10 RACHEL WALL. 7 RODEO DRIVE continues to improve, while recent easy course-and-distance winner 13 CALANTHA warrants some respect. 2 WHISTLE THE TUNE is another capable of earning a stake.

Leg 2 (13:45): Race 5 – 1160m NEW TURF CARRIERS MERCHANTS (Grade 3)

Another competitive sprint. 2 TRUTH, 3 MELECH and 5 PISTOL PETE are capable of winning, but all three have their second run after a rest and are not certain to produce peak performances. 1 BARBARESCO easily accounted for 6 QUANTUM THEORY over this course and distance in January, but the latter has improved since. He suffered interference when beaten by 13 COSMIC STAR, 11 AFRICAN PRIDE, and 10 CHARMING CHEETAH a few weeks ago. Fairly weighted in this handicap, the Tarry runner should at least reverse that result and is a serious contender. 4 FUTURE VARIETY appears better round the bend, but is a smart sort from a top raiding stable. If standside draws prove advantageous, speedy AFRICAN PRIDE, drawn on the inside, may run out of steam late and leave a lightly weighted outsider like 12 NYAKA NYAKA to rush up with a late challenge. It shapes as a blanket finish, in which punters may need to rely on instinct.

Leg 3 (14:20): Race 6 – 1600m DUCAT AFRICA FILLIES MILE (Grade 3)

Only three of 16 runners - 3 LITTLE MISS MILLION, 13 DRUMNADROCHIT and 16 MERRYWEATHER - have won over 1600m and they should be included first in another open contest. 1 VALENTINA BALDUCCI beat a decent field in the recent Grade 3 Starling Stakes, but she’s drawn 16 of 16 and will need luck. Visiting filly 2 SILVA CITY, 4 PRETTY PERSUASIVE, 9 UNITED OFFER, 14 FIRE IN HER SOUL and 15 FISH HAWK have all stayed on over 1400m and are worth including.

Leg 4 (14:55): Race 7 – 1600m JACKPOT CITY DINGAANS (Grade 2)

Equus Champion Two-Year-Old Colt 1 JAN VAN GOYEN has not raced since his effortless beating of 2 TIN PAN ALLEY and 3 CHRONICLE KING in the Grade 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes at the back end of last season. The form of that race has been well franked and Jan Van Goyen is reportedly not far off his best. He was taken to the city track for a gallop recently and in the absence of outstanding bankers in the other legs, it may be best to give him the benefit of the doubt. But then consider including 2 TIN PAN ALLEY and 3 CHRONICLE KING, as well as 5 SHADOWFAX, 10 ALL SYSTEMS GO and up-and-coming 11 TRUST in Jackpots to cover your Pick 6.

Leg 5 (16:00): Race 8 – 2000m BETWAY SUMMER CUP (Grade 1)

On what we’ve seen in preparatory runs this season, the winner should come from last year’s hero 1 ATTICUS FINCH, 2 ROYAL VICTORY, 3 KING PELLES, 5 THE EQUATOR, 7 MADISON VALLEY and 10 ON MY HONOUR. Atticus Finch is at the peak of his powers and looks physically superb at present. Royal Victory is weighted to finish alongside Atticus Finch on last year’s outcome and he, too, is a previous winner of the Cup. Powerful and versatile King Pelles has a soft draw, will be suited to the testing journey, can carry weight and will be at his peak on the day. Galileo’s imported son The Equator has enjoyed a most impressive build-up against weaker and while he has more to do now, he has not stopped improving and looks handily weighted. Madison Valley is the value bet. He was hugely impressive when disposing of Royal Victory and On My Honour in their 1400m prep on 19 October. While both behind him are likely to have improved, Madison Valley is weighted to confirm the form with no concerns about the extra 600m here. He finished just 2.35 lengths off Atticus Finch in the Cup last year and is a whopping 5,5kg better off. 9 MY BEST SHOT and 14 OLIVIA’S WAY are perhaps best of the rest and could ensure a big Quartet dividend. But for the minor placings it’s really best to rely on your hunch, as all the runners deserve their berths and will be racing hard for a share of major prize money. A good and exciting renewal of a famous race.

Leg 6 (16:40): Race 4 – 1600m BETWAY SUMMER CUP CONSOLATION

Late-maturing 11 ALADDIN’S LAMP has come into his own this year. He is best performed of all over 2000m and should be at a peak. He steps up against a few hard knockers, but is probably better than his 95 rating and has a galloping weight. This will be in his favour over the last 2000m against hardened campaigner 2 CAPE EAGLE, who is capable but will be hard pressed to carry 58,5kg to victory. 5 FIELD MARSHAL holds 3 MONEY HEIST, 4 THUNEE PLAYA and 7 DON’T CRY FOR ME on their encounter in the Grade 3 Victory Moon Stakes and should confirm the form. 8 LADY FALLON is not sure to stay, but has a bit of class and poses a danger among the lower-weighted runners, as does 12 BEYNAC, who finished two lengths off the Summer Cup favourite last time. This looks the leg to take a chance and make a banker of still-improving Aladdin’s Lamp.

SUGGESTED R437,40 (10 %) PICK 6 PERM (Leg 1 Race 4 @ 13:10):

Leg 1: 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13

Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11,12

Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 5, 9, 13, 14, 15, 16

Leg 4: 1

Leg 5: 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10

Leg 6: 11

SUGGESTED R264 (20%) QUARTET PERM FOR THE CUP (Race 8 @ 16:00):

Float 3 and 7 with 1, 2 ,5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 17, 19.

NEWCASTLE: CONSTITUTION HILL READY FOR COMEBACK

Champion hurdler Constitution Hill has won only two of five starts since undergoing wind surgery last year and was out of sorts before a long rest. He is back to restore his good record in Race 5, the Grade 1 BetMGM Fighting Fifth Hurdle over 3300m. "His recent Newbury gallop was visually good and jockey Nico de Boinville was very pleased. Touch wood, everything has gone to plan. He is in a perfect place for his first run of the season," said trainer Nicky Henderson.

SUNDAY HIGHLIGHTS

SELANGOR: BANKER’S PRETTY SET FOR FIRST MALAYSIAN WIN

Former Australian galloper Banker’s Pretty gets a good chance to break through in Malaysia when she lines up in Race 7 over 1400m at Kuala Lumpur. The mare has produced two encouraging runs since making her local debut and receives a 4kg claim from apprentice Farhan Ghalazi, who has made an excellent start to his career with five winners this season. The meeting starts at 06:30.

SHA TIN: SAGACIOUS LIFE TO SHOW HE’S THE REAL DEAL

Sagacious Life announced himself as a Hong Kong Derby prospect with a shock debut win and everything since points toward him backing it up in Race 7, the day’s feature event. His trial was excellent and with James Mcdonald aboard, Sagacious Life gets every opportunity to confirm he is the real deal. The meeting starts at 06:45.

HOLLYWOODBETS GREYVILLE: COUNT ON GARETH IN TOPLINER

Smart sprinter Luhamba Phambili is weighted to win the topliner, Race 2 over 1000m. He comes to the Polytrack for the first time having earned his 112 rating on turf, but the progeny of Danon Platina generally perform well on this surface and Gareth van Zyl’s runner looks hard to beat from an inside draw.