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Horse Racing

Weekend Mailer

December 2023

BEST IN THE LAND IN ACTION IN THE CAPE

Fans are in for a great treat at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth this Saturday when some of the best horses in the country will be in action. To make the day even more absorbing, there’s a R1-million Pick 6 carryover with the pool likely to top R6 million.

DE KOCK TO PROVIDE SANCTUARY IN GUINEAS

The card at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth is topped by the Grade 1 World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas and is backed by the Grade 2 WSB Green Point Stakes and Southern Cross Stakes, as well as the Listed Spinawinna Slots Cape Summer Stayers Handicap. Mrs Geriatrix, Double Grand Slam and

Rascova, winner of the Grade 2 Western Cape Fillies Championship last time, are among the favourites for the R1.25-million Fillies Guineas. But the surprise package and value bet of the race could be Mike de Kock-trained Silver Sanctuary. This full-sister to Safe Passage has won three of her six races and two runs back was an unlucky loser against colts. She bounced back to winning ways in her last start to beat older fillies and mares in the Listed Summer Pudding Handicap over 1600m.

The Grade 2 Green Point Stakes over 1600m has attracted a small but superb field of eight runners and it is headed by Champion Miler Charles Dickens. He made a winning return to action in the Grade 3 Matchem Stakes over 1400m eight weeks ago and would have come on appreciably since that outing, so he’s the one they'll all have to beat. See It Again and Princess Calla head the opposition.

SUGGESTED PICK 6

R1800

Leg 1: 2, 4, 8, 10

Leg 2: 6, 8, 9, 11

Leg 3: 7

Leg 4: 1, 5, 8, 12, 13

Leg 5: 1, 2, 4

Leg 6: 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 15

Click/tap here to take Harry Ihassi Hollywoodbets Keniwlorth - Pick 6.

Click/tap here for the best bets and the views of five tipsters on Saturday's Hollywoodbets Kenilworth meeting.

EAGLE TO SOAR AT SCOTTSVILLE

Look out for some high-class racing action at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday and there are two runners who look hard to oppose. Cape Eagle was recently beaten by Betway Summer Cup winner Royal Victory and last time was second to July runner-up See It Again. That level of form is why he should be difficult to beat against the field he meets in Race 2, a Pinnacle Stakes over 1750m. Then in Race 6, a Pinnacle Stakes over 1200m, William Robertson stands head and shoulders above his field in terms of merit ratings. He comes in 6.5kg better off with nearest rival Strawberry Bear with others even further under sufferance.

Click/tap here for the best bets and the views of five tipsters on Sunday's Hollywoodbets Scottsville meeting.

CONSTITUTION HILL FOR ANOTHER G1 SUCCESS

It’s all racing over jumps in the UK this weekend, including the Grade 1 BetMGM Fighting Fifth Hurdle in which Champion Hurdle hero Constitution Hill has been declared to take on four rivals at Newcastle on Saturday. No trainer has won more renewals of this race than Nicky Henderson, who boasts eight victories. The master of Seven Barrows has won the 3200m Grade 1 with the likes of My Tent Or Yours, Buveur d’Air and Epatante as well as Constitution Hill 12 months ago. Henderson said: “Everything’s been going well. He’s had a couple of away days and we’re all ready. It’s a long season ahead so there’s some room for improvement but I’m very happy with where we are. We’ve used the Fighting Fifth as a starting point with our Champion Hurdle horses for many years now." Faced with the daunting task of trying to cause a huge upset are the quartet of Not So Sleepy, Love Envoi, You Wear It Well and the Scottish-trained Benson.

GOLD CUP FORM TO COUNT AT KRANJI

The spotlight at Kranji on Saturday falls on the final feature race of the Singapore calendar year - the $110,000 Group 3 Colonial Chief Stakes over 1700m on the Polytrack (Race 11) in which a competitive field is set to line up.  The recent Group 1 Singapore Gold Cup should offer a reliable form reference for this week’s main event. Both Raising Sixty-One and Saturno Spring drew attention with their late surges in the Gold Cup, securing fourth and fifth positions respectively. Merely 0.50 lengths separated them, marking them as formidable contenders as they step down to Group 3 level this time. Notably, they boast commendable records at this week’s course and distance.

There is a 10-race card at Sha Tin in Hong Kong on Sunday and trainer John Size can notch another winner when he sends out Meepmeep in Race 9 over 1400m. He was super impressive when finishing second on debut and can improve on that effort.

COSTA TO GET THE BALL ROLLING AT JEBEL ALI

The UAE season is in full swing and Jebel Ali-based trainer Michael Costa has dominated the opening weeks, saddling 12 winners and operating at impressive 32% strike-rate. The Australian can continue his bright start at Jebel Ali on Saturday with several strong chances on the seven-race card, starting with the New Zealand-bred Ghaaleb in Race 2, a 1400m maiden. Ghaaleb, winner of two barrier trials in New Zealand, made an encouraging start for Costa on his racecourse debut at Jebel Ali last month. He left the impression he would improve with the experience and the step up in distance. He has sound claims of opening his account under stable jockey Ben Coen.

FIRST CLASSS CHASES JEWEL CROWN DOUBLE

The AED 5m (R25.5m) Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown, the world’s richest race for Arabian horses, headlines the biggest day of the season at Abu Dhabi on Sunday. A top-class international field has assembled for the Group 1 event and last year’s winner First Classs, now under the care of Doug Watson, returns to defend his crown in the hands of Pat Dobbs. First Classs, winner of half of his eight races, has been off the track since trailing in a disappointing last of 10 behind mighty Al Ghadeer in Qatar Arabian World Cup on Arc day two months ago. On his favoured quick ground, he’s fancied to bounce back to form from a good draw for his new yard.

 

 

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