TAB WEEKEND RACING HIGHLIGHTS: 6 - 8 MARCH

FEATURE RACES GALORE AND A PICK 6 CARRYOVER

Horseracing fans are in for a feast of quality action on a weekend headlined by a superb 12-race programme at Turffontein, featuring seven feature events and a carryover-boosted Pick 6 set to attract a pool of some R4 million. TAB customers can bet into the Hong Kong Jockey Club World Pool tote on the three Grade 1 contests carded (Races 6-8). There’s competitive Friday fare at Fairview and Meydan with a standalone Sunday meeting at Hollywoodbets Scottsville rounding off an engaging weekend.

FRIDAY HIGHLIGHTS

FAIRVIEW: SPLICETHEMAINBRACE LOOKS GREEFF’S ACE

Alan Greeff saddles five of the six runners in Race 3 over 1600m with 11-time winner Splicethemainbrace the stable elect. She shoulders 62kg due to her lofty rating but should have too much class for her rivals. “She’s honest and she’s shown she can carry weight,” said Greeff. The trainer also expressed some enthusiasm for Avernian Goddess, who makes her local turf debut and appeals as the likely runner-up. Play the Exacta.

MEYDAN: RUSSIAN IMPORT CAN GO IN AGAIN

The best bet on the card is Magic Art, a three-year-old imported from Russia. He is one of two Bhupat Seemar runners in Race 7 over 1200 on dirt and brings recent winning form to the race. He made all for an eight-length win over 1400m at this venue a fortnight ago, stepping up on a pleasing local debut to defeat Raasil and nine others. He’s a major player and will be tough to beat under Tadhg O’Shea.

SATURDAY HIGHLIGHTS

FLEMINGTON & RANDWICK: TOP RACING AND MEGA POOLS

TAB customers can bet into the massive pools of the World Pool tote on seven races this Saturday, starting with Races 8 and 9 at both Flemington and Randwick in Australia in the morning and then on the three Grade 1s at Turffontein in the afternoon.

The Matron Stakes (Race 8 @ 07:15) at Flemington in Melbourne kicks off the World Pool action followed by the Newmarket Handicap (Race 9), an AUS$2-million Grade 1 over 1200m. Godolphin three-year-old Tentyris, a five-time winner from eight starts, can post his second Grade 1 win under Mark Zahra.

It’s the last weekend before the start of the famed Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival and also the first leg of the Australian Triple Crown, which opens with The Agency Randwick Guineas for three-year-olds over 1600m. Nine runners are carded and Sheza Alibi, the only filly in the field, can outrun her male rivals. She has reeled off three victories in succession, including the Sandown Guineas, and that success suggests the boys will have to go to peg her back.

TAB Win, Place, Quinella and Swinger bets on the Guineas (Race 8 @ 07:35) and the Grade 1 Canterbury Stakes (Race 9), as well as the two Flemington races, will be commingled into the World Pool tote.

TURFFONTEIN: CLASSIC DAY SHOULD BE A BLOCKBUSTER

Classic Day is one of the biggest meetings on the calendar and the 2026 edition promises to be a cracker with the 12-race card offering three Jackpots, two BiPots, a mega Pick 6 pool and some of the best racing of the year. TAB Win, Place, Exacta, Quinella and Swinger bets on Races 6, 7 and 8 go into the World Pool tote. With pools that often reach over R100 million, it’s a great opportunity to win a packet.

The HKJC World Pool SA Classic and the Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic are the second legs of the TAB SA Triple Crown and Wilgerbosdrift SA Triple Tiara respectively and both first-leg winners will be in action.

Splittheeights won the first leg of the Triple Crown, last month’s TAB Gauteng Guineas, and is 3-1 joint favourite with stablemate Jan Van Goyen for the Classic with Trust (7-2), Grand Empire and Errol Flynn (6-1) the only others at single-figure odds. Triple Tiara first-leg winner Hazy Dazy dominates betting on the SA Fillies Classic at 12-10 with Charge It (3-1) and Golden Palm (5-1) her only real rivals in the fixed-odds market.

Here’s a race-by-race guide to the R1-million carryover Pick 6:

Leg 1 (13:15): Race 4 - 1000m WILGERBOSDRIFT RUFFIAN STAKES (Listed)

2 GRISELDA was impressive in her 1.25-length beating of 7 LANZAROTE (3kg better off) on 7 February. 1 CUSTODIAN and 3 QUEEN LEILA were further back. 4 SECRETARY BIRD was a short head behind Griselda when they were beaten by Volcanic Heat in January and then went on to defeat 9 STAGGERWING (3kg better off) by two lengths on 14 February. You should be safe with numbers 2, 4, 7 and 9.

Leg 2 (13:50): Race 5 - 1600m WILGERBOSDRIFT ACACIA STAKES (Listed)

A case can be made for all 13 contenders, suggesting the inclusion of the entire field as the safest approach. If you have to narrow it down, there is plenty to like about 10 ACCEPT COOKIES, who has the beating of 1 KISSHOTEN on their encounter at the Vaal last September and should reverse a recent beating by 12 WARNING SOUND at the weights. She also holds 5 DOITWITHDIAMONDS and 11 WOMAN’S WORLD on a line through Boom Boom, as well as 7 BAKWENA on a line through Littlemissmillion. Beyond that, 2 WILLY MEET AGAIN has a fighting chance on her course-and-distance form, 4 LADY FALLON was third in this race last year coming off a rest and 6 GERBERA placed in open company last time and will be staying on well. 9 WARM RECEPTION is much better than her last run.

Leg 3 (14:25): Race 6 - 1800m WILGERBOSDRIFT SA FILLIES CLASSIC (Grade 1)

1 HAZY DAZY has done everything right ahead of this contest and is the only Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara contender following her easy Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas win. She’s a versatile filly with a telling turn of foot and clearly holds most of her rivals on recent form. From a favourable draw, there is no obvious reason why she should not confirm her superiority. If it’s a race for second, there are at least five strong contenders, among which classy 7 DRUMNADROCHIT has the most scope for improvement and presents the best value for Exactas and Swingers.

Leg 4 (15:00): Race 7 - 1800m HKJC WORLD POOL SA CLASSIC (Grade 1)

Dual Grade 1 winner 1 JAN VAN GOYEN holds his rivals stone cold at the ratings, though those figures have recently been the subject of heated debate and may not reflect the actual ability of runners like 2 SPLITTHEEIGHTS, 3 GRAND EMPIRE and 4 TRUST. Outside of this group of established top-level performers, highly-regarded 8 ERROL FLYNN steps up to Graded company and could be good enough to win. But comparative race times from the 7 February meeting suggest that SPLITTHEEIGHTS is superior to him at this stage of his career. An interesting contest that will answer several questions.

Leg 5 (15:35): Race 8 - 1600m WILGERBOSDRIFT HF OPPENHEIMER HORSE CHESTNUT STAKES (Grade 1)

This shapes as a duel between big guns 2 SEE IT AGAIN and 3 THE REAL PRINCE. Trainer Justin Snaith said this week that See It Again has enjoyed a flawless preparation and is in identical shape to when he won the Grade 1 WSB Cape Town Met, in which he beat The Real Prince by 1.25 lengths. Their rivalry stretches back to other features, however, and Dean Kannemeyer’s runner held the upper hand in the Grade 1 Champions Cup (1800m) and more recently the Grade 1 King’s Plate (1600m). See It Again, however, now appears to be at the peak of his powers following an extended period of reschooling under horse-behaviour expert Malan du Toit. The two now renew rivalry over the toughest 1600m in the land and could produce a finish to savour.

Leg 6 (16:15): Race 9 - 1000m TAB JJ THE JET PLANE STAKES (Grade 3)

Numerous collateral form lines point to realistic chances for nearly half the field. 2 TRUTH has a 4.5kg pull for a narrow 0.50-length defeat by speedy 3 TAXI TO THE MOON in December’s Grade 3 Lebelo Handicap. Powerhouse 1 WILLIAM ROBERTSON recently ran his heart out when taking on Taxi To The Moon’s more accomplished stable companion Buffalo Storm Cody. Now back in top form, this 16-time winner looks the one to beat, although his inside draw is considered a disadvantage. This could bring the better-drawn and favourably weighted younger brigade firmly into contention, including 6 CONSTELLATION, 7 MOUNT PINATUBO, 10 WHISTLE THE TUNE and 13 GREEN DIAMOND. Expect a blanket finish and play accordingly.

SUGGESTED R201.60 (10%) PICK 6 PERM (Leg 1 Race 4 @13:15):

Leg 1: 2, 4, 7, 9

Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Leg 3: 1

Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 4

Leg 5: 2, 3

Leg 6: 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 13

SUNDAY HIGHLIGHTS

SELANGOR: BANKER’S TWO SIX TARGETS HAT-TRICK

Talented five-year-old Banker’s Two Six has emerged as one of the more progressive performers this season and looks on track to complete a hat-trick in Race 9 over 1800m. Formerly trained in Australia, Johnny Lim’s gelding recently posted two dominant victories over 1600m, scoring by 8.25 lengths and 4.75 lengths respectively after leading throughout in both occasions. He looks ideally placed to secure his fourth Malaysian win. The meeting starts at 06:10.

SHA TIN: FAST NETWORK TO CAPITALISE ON DROP IN CLASS

Fast Network drops back from Group company after finishing behind Ka Ying Rising in his last three starts. He has top weight, but is the one to beat in Race 10 over 1200m. Beauty Waves rates a threat. He has trialled well between runs since bouncing back to winning ways in a Class 2 over 1200m. The meeting starts at 06:30.

HOLLYWOODBETS GREYVILLE: LOTS TO LIKE ABOUT CONVOCATION

Tienie Prinsloo’s six-year-old mare Convocation drops in class in Race 4 over 1200m, the feature event on the card. Neatly drawn and well performed on the Polytrack, she is also better off at the weights with Back At The George, Magical View and Buttercup Baby for their run behind Tara’s Star on 18 February. Another factor in Convocation’s favour is that her rider, S’manga Khumalo, boasts a 24% win strike rate from his last 30 mounts.