TAB WEEKEND RACING HIGHLIGHTS: 6 - 8 May

BET ON THE BEST ON TWO CONTINENTS WITH TAB

It’s all systems go for a blockbuster weekend of local and international racing, headlined by Group 1 events on two continents with selected TAB bets going into the HKJC World Pool. The R2-million G1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge is the main event on a high-quality card at HWB Greyville, while the G1 Betfred Epsom Derby - often billed as the greatest horserace on earth - takes centre stage in the UK.

At HWB Greyville TAB Win, Place, Exacta, Quinella, and Swinger bets in Races 7 to 10 will be commingled into the World Pool. You can add the Trifecta to those five bet types at Epsom, where all eight races will be commingled into the World Pool. The action kicks off in style on Friday with the Betfred Epsom Oaks, in which a potential superstar filly bids to remain unbeaten. It’s a thrilling weekend, get involved.

FRIDAY HIGHLIGHTS

FAIRVIEW: RED-HOT GREEFF LOOKS SET FOR 150 NOT OUT

Alan Greeff’s incredible season continued with four winners last weekend, including the Grade 1 Alan Robertson Championship. He is one winner away from 150 for the season and occupies second position of the national log with the highest winning strike rate of the top 30. Greeff looks set for another smashing meeting and should land a treble with star three-year-old My Best Shot (Race 7), feature-placed First Wish (Race 8) and leading local filly Luna Halo (Race 9). All look banker bets.

EPSOM: DESERT FLOWER AIMS TO GO 6 FOR 6 IN THE OAKS

Trainer Charlie Appleby’s Desert Flower took her unbeaten record to five when landing last month’s 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, her first start since ending her two-year-old campaign with a victory in the Group 1 Fillies' Mile. She looks ready for the step up to 2400m in the Group 1 Betfred Oaks (Race 5) and could complete a full set of Britain’s classics for Appleby - the Oaks being the only one missing from his résumé. “Physically she’s done very well, she’s a very powerful filly and you could not be more impressed by her this morning,” Appleby said after Desert Flower’s gallop on Wednesday.

SATURDAY HIGHLIGHTS

SELANGOR: HEALTHY BABY THE ONE FROM A BETTER DRAW

Following a narrow defeat last weekend, six-year-old Healthy Baby looks ready to atone in Race 10 over 1500m at Kuala Lumpur. Despite registering just one win in Malaysia so far, Healthy Baby has been a model of consistency. The Jason Ong-trained gelding has finished runner-up from wide draws in both starts since a 1200m success. Healthy Baby has a more favourable draw this time and should prove hard to beat. The meeting starts at 06:45.

HOLLYWOODBETS GREYVILLE: DAVE THE KING SET TO RULE THROUGHOUT

Dave The King is a worthy favourite to defend his title in the Grade 1 HWB Gold Challenge - a race he won convincingly last year when comfortably seeing off See It Again and Gladatorian. According to Mathew de Kock, Dave The King has enjoyed a “smooth preparation” and there’s little doubt he will aim to go pillar to post again. What’s different this time is that it’s only his second run back after a lengthy layoff, a factor that might give some punters pause.

Adding intrigue to the contest is the return to form of See It Again, who appears to be working his way back to his brilliant best. It may be wise to include the Michael Roberts-trained runner and perhaps even outsider Montien, who has been aimed at this contest and is rated higher than both his Grade 1-winning rivals.

You can look to Race 8 for an unusual Pick 6 banker in Minoque, a talented longshot returning to her preferred course and distance. Riding arrangements indicate she is the pick of Richard Fourie, ahead of Justin Snaith’s shorter-priced Be Merry.

SUGGESTED R264 (25%) PICK 6 PERM (Leg 1 Race 4 @14:50):

Leg 1: 6, 7, 8, 9

Leg 2: 1, 3, 4, 5

Leg 3: FIELD (1-11)

Leg 4:  2, 3, 11

Leg 5: 10

Leg 6: 4, 9

EPSOM: O’BRIEN BIDS FOR RECORD 11THDERBY VICTORY

Britain’s richest and most prestigious flat race, the Betfred Derby (Race 5), is the highlight of the two-day Derby Festival at Epsom Downs. It’s always a defining moment in the careers of aspiring champions and this year will be no different.

The 2400m classic is predicted to be a four-cornered contest among Aidan O’Brien’s Delacroix and stablemate The Lion in Winter, as well as Charlie Appleby’s 2000 Guineas hero Ruling Court and Ralph Beckett’s Pride Of Arras. Delacroix shortened in the betting when it was announced that stable jockey Ryan Moore would be aboard and is the one most likely to give O’Brien a record-extending 11th win in the great race.

Delacroix has won two Derby trials at Leopardstown in promising style and O’Brien said: “Everything has been good. We always viewed him as a Derby horse last year and he got a mile well as a two-year-old.”

SUNDAY HIGHLIGHTS:

SHA TIN: IMPROVING LIGHT YEAR’S CHARM CAN WIN AGAIN

The Lee On Handicap over 1400m (Race 7) is the highlight on the first day of Hong Kong’s Summer Series, comprising seven twilight meetings in June and July. Powerful front-runner Drombeg Banner is likely to lead into the home straight, but has a few tough rivals including Zac Purton’s mount Light Year’s Charm. He steps into Class 2 following his second win there, which was earned the hard way after encountering trouble in the straight. He has more to offer and this shapes as a good test for him against seasoned performers. The meeting starts at 10:00.

TURFFONTEIN: TONY PETER MAY UNVEIL A STAR IN JUBILEE

Irish-bred The Equator, a son of Galileo, makes his South African debut in the Grade 3 topliner, the 4Racing Jubilee Stakes over 1800m (Race 8). Group 3 placed in the UK, he holds a Durban July entry and trainer Tony Peter’s runner is expected to make a big impression off a handy weight of 56kg. The Equator’s owners released a statement earlier this week, noting that he easily beat a Grade 1 winner in his final preparatory gallop last Sunday. That’s impressive! Don’t miss the race - The Equator could be something special!

GENERAL REMINDER: FIRST-TIMER RULE NOW APPLIES TO THE BIPOT

TAB customers are reminded again that the Pick 6 first-timer rule now also applies to the Bipot. So, if first-timers run first and second, the first horse to finish of those to have raced before also qualifies for the BiPot.

The purpose of applying the first-timer rule to the BiPot is to prevent customers from being disadvantaged by first-timers. Consequently, the first-timer rule does not apply in the BiPot if a raced horse finishes first or second. As with the Pick 6, the first-timer rule only applies to BiPots on South African race meetings. In QuickMix bets it applies to South African races only. Obviously the first-timer rule is of no effect in either the Pick 6 or BiPot if all runners are first-timers.