TAB WEEKEND RACING HIGHLIGHTS: 5 - 7 December 2025

GQEBERHA VISITOR LOOKS A BANKER IN CARRYOVER PICK 6!

The Cape summer season shifts into full gear with the Grade 1 World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday, when a champion filly from Gqeberha takes on two up-and-coming locals. On the strength of her comeback performance, she is a strong banker proposition in the afternoon’s carryover TAB Pick 6, for which a R3-million pool is expected. It’s a quality card all round with a Grade 3 contest and a Listed event heading the undercard. All in all a weekend rich in racing variety with four local meetings complemented by good international fare from Meydan, Sha Tin and Sandown.

FRIDAY HIGHLIGHTS

FAIRVIEW: GUY GIBSON CAN BUILD ON POLYTRACK WIN

Grey gelding Guy Gibson has shown a liking for the Polytrack since relocating to Alan Greeff’s yard at Fairview. With no penalty incurred for his long overdue Graduation win in October, the five-year-old could bag his first feature success in Race 7, the Founders Trophy over 1600m. He is handily weighted and could now fulfil the promise he showed as a younger horse.

HOLLYWOODBETS GREYVILLE: SOHO STAR CAN MAKE ALL

Yogas Govender’s progressive four-year-old Soho Star has the best recent form in Race 6 over 1200m, the feature sprint at this day-night meeting. He finished on the heels of the formidable Gladatorian in a conditions race over the course and distance last month and had Dave The King behind him. He has drawn widest of all and apprentice Damyan Pillay may have to commit early by racing around the field, but Soho Star looks classy enough to get away with front-running tactics over his favourite distance.

MEYDAN: UNION SECURITY CAN CONFIRM DEBUT PROMISE

Trainer Ahmad Bin Harmash’s two-year-old colt Union Security emerged as an exciting juvenile when scoring on his debut at Meydan four weeks ago. He had to overcome minor trouble in running before readily dashing clear of six rivals in the closing stages. He returns to action in Race 1 over 1200m on dirt and will be hard to beat under a penalty of only 1kg.

SANDOWN: BANK ON THE SKELTON TEAM IN GRADE 2 CHASE

There are two Grade 2 races at this jumps meeting including Race 4, the Betfair Esher Novices' Chase over 4800m. Dan and Harry Skelton have a big chance with Doyen Quest, who has won three of his five starts this year and looks the clear pick in a small field.

SATURDAY HIGHLIGHTS

PERAK (MALAYSIA): COLONEL SON CAN CALL THE SHOTS

Consistent six-year-old galloper Colonel Son has a tidy record of three wins and three placings from nine starts in Malaysia and looks set for a winning return in Race 8 over 1100m at Ipoh. Already a winner over this track and trip in August, he also boasts a good second to classy performer Yes Man in September. That form looks solid and Colonel Son will be hard to beat fresh after a short break. The meeting starts at 06:45.

HOLLYWOODBETS KENILWORTH: BANK ON GREEFF ACE IN FILLIES GUINEAS

Star filly Golden Palm makes her first Cape Town appearance in the Grade 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas, in which she takes on smart stakes winner Princess Gaul and unbeaten Reef Petite for the first time. Golden Palm should be too good for both those rivals if she reproduces her lofty 115 rating. Her form is outstanding and she thrashed useful colt All Systems Go in October’s Listed ROA Stakes with the runner-up going on to finish third in last Saturday’s high-quality Grade 2 Dingaans on Betway Summer Cup Day. Trainer Alan Greeff’s charge looks a safe banker.

SUGGESTED R201,60 (10 %) PICK 6 PERM (Leg 1 Race 4 @ 14:25):

Leg 1: 2, 3, 7, 9

Leg 2: 1, 2, 4, 7

Leg 3: 1, 3, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12

Leg 4: 7

Leg 5: 1, 5, 8

Leg 6: 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10

SANDOWN: THREE TOP JUMPERS CLASH IN GRADE 1 CHASE

This Premier jumps meeting is headlined by Race 6, the Grade 1 Betfair Tingle Creek Chase over 3100m for which star jumpers Il Etait Temps, Jonbon and L'Eau Du Sud have all been declared. Il Etait Temps secured an impressive 18-length victory in a Grade 2 Chase on 6 November on his seasonal return. He could give jockey Paul Townend his first success in the race, one of the few majors the Irish rider has not yet added to his CV.

SUNDAY HIGHLIGHTS

SELANGOR: LUCKY MAGIC CAN DAZZLE GOOD STAR

Standout performer Lucky Magic and rising star Good Star dominate Race 9, a Group 1 contest over 2000m. This is the final leg of the Malaysian Triple Crown and it should produce a grandstand finish between the pair. Lucky Magic, the proven heavyweight with three Group 1 wins including two over this distance, holds the advantage. The meeting starts at 06:15.

SHA TIN: DRAW MAY GIVE TALENTS AMBITION AN EDGE

Bottomuptogether is likely to start favourite in Race 8 over 1200m, in which he drops in grade on his return to a track and trip over which he boasts a perfect record. But an awkward draw may force him to burn petrol early, which could open the door for Lyle Hewitson’s mount Talents Ambition drawn in barrier two. His only previous attempt at this course and distance was excellent, finishing third against some of today’s rivals, and his late-charging style could prove decisive. The meeting starts at 07:00.

TURFFONTEIN: TARRY AND ZACKEY CAN LAND HAT-TRICK

Sean Tarry and Craig Zackey combine in six races and have bright chances with three runners. Turn It Up (Race 2, 800m) was a good second to Heath House in a big and competitive maiden juvenile field last Saturday and looks set to go one better. Inspiration (Race 4, 1160m), was collared late over the course and distance recently and the form of that contest has already been franked by one of the also rans. War Of Kingdoms (Race 7, 1160m) drops back in distance after a below-par 1400m effort and should deliver a much better run here.