TAB WEEKEND RACING HIGHLIGHTS: 29 - 31 August

R3-MILLION TURFFONTEIN PICK 6 POOL IGNITES SPRING SEASON

It’s a busy and exciting weekend headlined by a R500,000 Pick 6 carryover at Turffontein on Saturday, when the pool is expected to swell to some R3 million as the 2025 Highveld Spring Season gets underway. The weekend action begins with a lively day-night meeting at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Friday and the Saturday menu also includes the Winter Country Championships Final at Hollywoodbets Durbanville. On Sunday the spotlight falls on an intriguing sprint feature at Hollywoodbets Scottsville.

FRIDAY HIGHLIGHTS

HOLLYWOODBETS GREYVILLE: FUTURE VARIETY CAN STAY 1400M

Future Variety closed out a successful KZN Champions Season with a commanding win in the Listed Umgeni Handicap over 1000m on Gold Cup Day. He tackles 1400m for the first time in Race 5 and carries top weight, but his current form and strong 1200m record suggest he can handle the extra. The Shepherd and Gimmeanotherchance both pose threats.

SATURDAY HIGHLIGHTS

TURFFONTEIN: FRACTIONAL PERM BEST WAY TO PLAY TRICKY PICK 6

With no obvious bankers and plenty of potential pitfalls in the carryover Pick 6, punters will have to be sharp. This time of year often sees unexposed three-year-olds taking on older rivals with seemingly weaker form, a scenario that can lure bettors into costly traps. Fractional betting and a spread of horses in each leg look the wisest approach.

In Race 3 over 1200m, the opening leg of the Pick 6, lightly raced three-year-olds Winston’s Wonder and Wall Street stand out against an older brigade short on solid form and one of them should prevail. Race 4 over 1200m is similar. Three-year-olds Raceway, Fire In Her Soul and Power Of Pearls look the pick, although an improved run is expected from A Good Heart and consistent older runner Rendevous in Rio could make things interesting.

Perennial under-achiever Brave Viking offers each-way value in Race 5 over 1450m. Once highly regarded, he returns from a long layoff but usually runs well fresh and tackles this field off a career-low rating. Palace Revolt, Fostinovo and Super Awesome look the principal dangers. Lightly raced and talented Poblano makes her return from a break in Race 6 over 1200m. She has the ability to win, but if she’s short of peak fitness, Frozen Fantasy, That’s My Baby and Blizzard Snow are poised to capitalise.

Quantum Theory, sold online to the Wernars Family after an impressive last win, makes his debut for a new yard in Race 7, the Listed Betway Spring Spree Stakes over 1200m. He’ll appeal as a banker to many though Chyavana is no slouch and Night Bomber’s light weight makes him a serious threat. Three-year-olds Mighty Eagle and Clever Trevor step up in Race 8 over 1450m, but face stern opposition from seasoned older rivals Deception Pass, Dylan’s Champ and Nazare.

SUGGESTED R480 (10%) PICK PERM (Leg 1 Race 3 @ 13:25):

Leg 1: 7, 8

Leg 2: 1, 3, 4, 5, 7

Leg 3: 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8

Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 6

Leg 5: 1, 2, 7, 8

Leg 6: 2, 3, 4, 6, 7

HOLLYWOODBETS DURBANVILLE: BUMPER PAYOUTS ON THE CARDS

The four R200,000 Winter Country Championship finals (Races 5-8), postponed from 15 August, are middle-division racing at its most competitive. There is every chance for several good exotic dividends. The corresponding races last year, yielded winners at 20-1, 50-1 and 6-1, resulting in a Pick 6 carryover and Jackpot payouts of R15,038 and R30,064 respectively. There were even two rare Pick 3 carryovers.

African Prince should turn the tables on Moint Loisir in Race 5 over 1200m, but Azzurri has enough pace to beat them. Seven-year-old Bluff On Bluff has a wide draw to beat in Race 6 over 1000m, but loves the course and distance and with a bit of luck could outpace She’s My World and Peace Of Mind over the last 100m.

Kwite A King is 6kg better off with Ariovistus for a 2.25-length defeat and looks the one to beat in Race 7 over 2000m, but there are several others with chances, including improving Heal And Soul. Happy Verse will carry most hopes in Race 8 over 1500m, but faces a stiff task under top weight and the value lies with stable companion, Arbitration.

SANDOWN: GOSDENS SEEK EIGHTH SOLARIO WIN WITH PUBLISH

John and Thady Gosden’s two-year-old colt Publish heads the market for Race 4, the Group 3 Solario Stakes over 1400m. The Gosden yard has an outstanding record in the race, having saddled seven past winners including last year’s victor Field Of Gold. Like him, Publish is a son of Kingman, who won the Solario in 2013 in the Juddmonte colours. After opening his account over this course and distance last month, the colt is held in the highest regard.

SUNDAY HIGHLIGHTS

SELANGOR: ANTIPODEAN LOOKS HARD TO BEAT OVER BEST TRIP

Talented Antipodean has managed just one win this season, but shapes as a strong contender to return to the winners’ enclosure in Race 8, the Trinity Cup over 1400m. He has been consistent in four-year-old feature events, including a notable third in the Selangor Mile, finishing just 2.75 lengths behind Lucky Magic after a late surge. Antipodean is unbeaten in four starts over 1400m and, despite a likely challenge from recent Gold Vase winner Filial Dragon, looks the horse to beat.

HOLLYWOODBETS SCOTTSVILLE: QUANDARY FAVOURED AT WEIGHTS

Course-and-distance specialists Bourbon Warrior, Quandary and Licence To Thrill are the main contenders in Race 7 over 1200m, the topliner at the meeting. Computaform’s collateral form section provides a good insight into the likely outcome of this potential three-way contest and gives Quandary an advantage at the swing of weights, but also brings Riverstone and Agrado into the picture. It should be an exciting finish.