TAB WEEKEND RACING HIGHLIGHTS: 31 October - 2 November 2025

HIGH-OCTANE RACING AND TWO PICK 6 CARRYOVERS

An absolute bumper weekend of racing featuring two R500,000 TAB Pick 6 carryovers and high-octane action on three continents. It all starts at Fairview on Friday afternoon with the Eastern Cape’s biggest race followed at night by the start of the two-day Breeders’ Cup spectacular at seaside racecourse Del Mar.

The four-meeting Melbourne Cup Carnival roars into life at Flemington on Saturday morning and later in the day comes the Allied Steelrode On A Mission Charity Mile at Turffontein, one of the major events on the Joburg racing calendar. And when the sun goes down Breeders’ Cup hits top gear and continues into the early hours of Sunday morning. That’s nearly 40 hours of continuous racing action with countless chances to win big!

FRIDAY HIGHLIGHTS

FAIRVIEW: LEG-BY-LEG GUIDE TO R500,000 TAB PICK 6 CARRYOVER

The Pick 6 pool is set to total about R2.5 million and here’s what you need to know:

Leg 1 (13:35): Race 3 – 1400m RACING240 MAIDEN PLATE (F & M)

A beaten favourite in both starts, 10 LOTUS SILK gets a third opportunity to get out of the maidens, but a deep draw is a concern. The plum draw goes to the Cape raider 8 HEAVENLY MAFIA, who has been tried over distances ranging from 1200m to 1800m, has fair form and looks like she’ll enjoy 1400m at this track. 1 DESERT CLOUD’s shenanigans at the start have been her downfall on a few occasions, but the addition of blinkers could do the trick for her.

Leg 2 (14:10): Race 4 – 1000m TAB TELEBET 0861 000 822 PINNACLE STAKES

Smart and speedy 2 KINGDUNDEE looks a blinder on his current form and races well fresh. Stablemate 1 CRUISE CONTROL is a formidable sprinter in his own right, but was out of sorts before a break and jockey bookings suggest that the stable’s confidence lies with his younger stable companion. There are no certainties in racing, but Kingdundee should have this well in hand.

Leg 3 (14:45): Race 5 – 1000m PLAY SOCCER 6, 10 AND 13 FM 84 HANDICAP (F & M)

A tricky dash in which the puzzle gets harder the closer you look. 1 DANISH DYNAMITE is on the upgrade and has won in the highest class, but was soundly beaten by 6 SPORTS FAN when they met in May and is 2.5kg worse off. Five months have elapsed since their encounter and while Danish Dynamite is better and stronger, Sports Fan has also improved and could still have the edge. Older filly 3 KINGS AGAIN packs plenty of pace and had excuses for her below-par last effort. She has a value chance. 

Leg 4 (15:20): Race 6 – 1400m RACING240 MR 68 HANDICAP

2 DAS GUTE and perennial runner-up 5 THUNDER MASTER have the best form overall and both are running well, but this is the proverbial minefield - the type of handicap in which any number of rivals are likely to flash up with winning chances in the final stages. 4 COMMANDING has underperformed in the Western Cape and has always looked like a runner with more than one win in him. There is little to choose between 1 EL CAPITAN and 7 PIBE DE ORO, and bottom weight 12 MIGHTY MAC is down to his lowest career rating and, on his improved last run, can spring a surprise. With easier options in other legs, consider opting for the field here.

Leg 5 (16:00): Race 7 – 2400m BETWAY ALGOA CUP (Listed)

Local star 1 MY BEST SHOT is aiming at his 12th career win, but has a race on his hands with talented 3 HOLDING THUMBS, who is not easy to pass when he gets his head in front. It should be a two-cornered contest, but if you wish to take cover in Jackpots, there are a few others to consider. 6 ZATARA MAGIC has a shout on the swing in weights with My Best Shot on their course and distance encounter on 6 June. Justin Snaith’s useful pair 8 ARDABIL and 12 PLEASE BE TRUE should enjoy the course and distance, but they’re under sufferance at the weights.

Leg 6 (16:35): Race 8 – 1600m NEXT FAIRVIEW RACEMEETING WEDNESDAY 5 NOVEMBER CLASSIFIED STAKES

Cases can be made for a least half the field. 7 GOLDEN GREY has the narrow beating of 2 BLACKBERRY BREEZE, 6 FLASH LIGHTNING, 8 CHEERFUL CHARLIE B and 9 ROCK OF FUTURA on their recent run to Pyro Edition, but they should all be included. Cheerful Charlie B is coming to hand steadily and looks ready to win. Rock Of Futura is the highest rated runner in the race and, having suffered interference in his last run, could bounce back from a good draw. 10 GOLDEN ANGEL has faced slightly stronger in the Western Cape and is not out of it.

SUGGESTED R196 (25%) PICK 6 PERM (Leg 1 Race 3 @ 13:35):

Leg 1: 1, 8, 11

Leg 2: 2

Leg 3: FIELD (1-7)

Leg 4: FIELD (1-12)

Leg 5: 1, 3

Leg 6: 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

HOLLYWOODBETS GREYVILLE: AMOR FATI WEIGHTED TO WIN

On a line of recent form through Imposing, Nathan Kotzen’s gelding Amor Fati is weighted with a winning chance in Race 8 over 1400m, the feature race at the meeting. With leading apprentice Dezahn Louw claiming 4kg, he should have the beating of Stars In Heaven, Plaza Accord, Wican Warrior, Rosh Kedesh and Queue Wing. Winter Games makes some appeal, but has to concede 5.5kg to Amor Fati.

DEL MAR: PRECISE TO GIVE AIDAN ANOTHER BREEDERS’ CUP WIN

This is the 42nd edition of Breeders’ Cup, the greatest thoroughbred horseracing event on the global calendar and first run at now defunct Hollywood Park in Los Angeles in 1984. Breeders’ Cup comprises 14 Grade 1 races and $30-million in prize money with the five events for juveniles on Friday and the remainder on Saturday.

Champion Irish and UK trainer Aidan O’Brien has 20 Breeders’ Cup winners to his credit and his charge Precise looks Friday’s best bet in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies over 1600m on turf.

She’s got the outside draw but her class should tell under Christophe Soumillon, the 10-time French champion jockey who is standing in for O’Brien’s injured stable jockey Ryan Moore. Soumillon’s only Breeders’ Cup winner was back in 2005 and he’ll be keen to add to that success over the two days.

Commingled TAB pools on Breeders’ Cup comprise Win and Place (R40 unit), Exacta and Pick 6 (R20 unit), plus R10-unit Jackpots and Pick 3s. There’s a local PA pool on both days (races 4 to 10) with a R1 unit.

SATURDAY HIGHLIGHTS

FLEMINGTON (AUSTRALIA): OBSERVER HARD TO BEAT IN DERBY

This year's Melbourne Cup Carnival kicks off with Victoria Derby Day, an all-graded-race card including the Grade 1 Derby over 2500m (Race 7). The early favourite is Godolphin’s Observer, who looks hard to beat after a win in the Gold Vase at Moonee Valley last Saturday. The carnival spans a week and also features the Grade 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup on Tuesday 4 November, the Grade 1 Crown Oaks on Ladies Day Thursday 6 November and the Grade 1 TAB Champions Stakes on Saturday, 8 November.

TAB Win, Place, Quinella and Swinger bets on all races at Flemington will be commingled into the Hong Kong World Pool tote. There will be no Trifecta bets.

TURFFONTEIN: BANK ON PETER’S FLYING FILLY IN CARRYOVER PICK 6

The total Pick 6 pool should soar above R3 million as a result of a R500,000 carryover and there’s a standout banker in the last leg. Here’s a race-by-race guide:

Leg 1 (13:40): Race 4 – 1400m TAB STARLING STAKES (Grade 3)

In a strong line-up of three-year-old fillies, 1 Elegantrix rates the one to beat. She was only caught near the line in her comeback run over 1400m at the Vaal last week. There are three relatively unexposed factors in unbeaten and highly regarded import 6 Stormy Day, fluent debut winner 7 Ovation Star and 9 Warm Reception, but the advantage lies with Elegantrix who is proven at graded level.

Leg 2 (14:15): Race 5 – 1400m BETWAY GRAHAM BECK STAKES (Grade 3)

A quality renewal featuring two proven Graded stakes winners against several other progressive three-year-olds. But there is every reason to believe that recent Grade 2 Joburg Spring Challenge hero 1 TIN PAN ALLEY is still improving and he ticks most boxes. Best weighted, unbeaten over this course and distance and in the hands of the current champion jockey, he looks poised to land his fourth career win. Versatile Grade 2 Umkhomazi Stakes winner 2 ZALATORIS has the inside draw and will be perfectly suited to this distance. He is 1.5kg better off with 8 MIAMI MOUNTAIN for a 1.50-length beating over 1200m last time. But the latter is another likely improver and, on the way he won that day, there is undoubtedly more to come. His stable companion 5 WHISPERING DEATH is also a smart sort. He has a better draw and a higher rating, and despite the stable jockey having opted for Miami Mountain, cannot be ignored. Another runner with a shout is 6 NYAKA NYAKA, who over-raced in the Spring Challenge and is 2kg better off with Tin Pan Alley for a three-length beating. He is bound to get closer this time. 14 TRUST and 15 RADIO STAR are possibly much better than their current ratings and are worth adding to Pick 6 perms if you’re playing to beat the top two.

Leg 3 (14:50): Race 6 – 1800m ALLIED STEELRODE YELLOWWOOD HANDICAP (Listed)

A race in which Pick 6 punters may get away with stablemates 1 WORLD OF ALICE, who ran down classy Elegantrix in a 1450m contest at the Vaal last week and loves this course, and 13 WARNING SOUND. She’s lightly raced, conceivably better than her rating, bred out of a mare who won two legs of the Triple Tiara and cherry ripe in her third run after a rest. 2 HAT’S QUEEN, 3 LADY FALLON, 9 TWOSTEP QUEEN and 12 POPLAR PARK are obvious other inclusions if you’re casting the net wider.

Leg 4 (15:50): Race 7 –1600m ALLIED STEELRODE – ON A MISSION CHARITY MILE (Grade 2)

Trainer Fabian Habib believes that 4 CONFEDERATE is at best over 1600m and he’s unlikely to change his customary tactics with this classy front-running galloper. Confederate can be expected to come across from a wide draw early to engage other speedy sorts such as 3 TEXAS RED and 11 CHOISAANADA, which could make jockeyship a key factor. A strong early tempo would play right into the hands of another high-class performer in 1 ATTICUS FINCH, who finishes strongly and is nearing peak fitness. 6 SPUMANTE DOLCE, one of the better fillies of her generation last season, will be improving toward her Summer Cup target. She won’t be far off and is a Trifecta possibility. 9 IMILENZEYOKUDUDUMA impressed in his only start over this course and distance - a Grade 1 event. Seasoned campaigner 14 ANFIELDS ROCKET is handily weighted and can spring a major surprise if he produces his top form. Include the race sponsor’s improving runner 8 ZINOVI in Quartet combinations.

Leg 5 (16:05): Race 8 – 2400m ALLIED STEELRODE JAVA STAKES (Listed)

This race looks tailor-made for bottom-weight 12 CORRUPT, who has emerged as a potential leading stayer, has been prepared for this race and will be near the peak of his powers in his third start after a rest. He’s up against a number of stayers with lots of miles on the clock, a few who are off form and others who lack the class to win. 10 ENFLAME jumps in class but comes from a hot stable and is one who looks to have some running and staying power in him. Take a chance on the pair.

Leg 6 (16:40): Race 9 – 1160m BETWAY SUMMER CUP TICKETS ARE ON SALE ON TICKETPRO FM 100 DIVIDED HANDICAP (F & M)

6 PERFECT MIRACLE followed an impressive maiden win with another commanding, start-to-finish victory in a strong handicap. She could be a top sprinter in the making and will take plenty of beating from a favourable draw under just 52.5kg. There are some capable older rivals in the field, but it’s hard to see them matching strides with Tony Peter’s flying three-year-old.

SUGGESTED R196 (25%) PICK 6 PERM (Leg 1 Race 4 @ 13:40):

Leg 1: 1, 6, 7, 9

Leg 2: 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 14, 15

Leg 3: 1, 13

Leg 4: 1, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11,14

Leg 5: 10, 12

Leg 6: 6

DEL MAR: SOUTH AFRICA’S ONE STRIPE HAS TOUGH TASK IN MILE

Last season’s Equus Champion Three-Year-Old colt One Stripe runs in the $2-million Breeders’ Cup Mile on turf and faces a field packed with stars. “He’s been a pleasure to be around,” said trainer Graham Motion. “It’s going to be a tall order for him, but I think he’s going to be a really nice horse. He hasn’t done much wrong.” One Stripe has been priced up at 50-1.

The $7-million Breeders’ Cup Classic over 2000m is the USA’s richest race and the headline event. Trainer Todd Pletcher’s four-year-old Fierceness is now favourite following the scratching of 2025 Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty.

SUNDAY HIGHLIGHT

HOLLYWOODBETS KENILWORTH: ENNION HAS THE ACES

Dean Kannemeyer’s promising colt Aristocratic finished an excellent fourth in the Matchem Stakes against older horses recently. He needed that run after a long rest and is back against his own age group in the Grade 3 Cape Classic over 1400m (Race 7). He will take all the beating. Greg Ennion holds a pair of aces in the supporting feature, the Listed Southeaster Sprint over 1100m, with Arctic Wizard and up-and-coming Sardinia Bay.