Saturday's scheduled double-header is no more because the Hollywoodbets Durbanville meeting has been postponed to Monday. Nevertheless, local racing action comes thick and fast with this Friday's Fairview card followed by Saturday's nine-race programme at Turffontein and Sunday's Hollywoodbets Greyville fixture.
YOU CAN BANK ON TAIL OF THE COMET
Saturday's meeting on the Turffontein Inside track includes the return to action of several proven performers alongside a host of others with feature-race ambitions. Race 8, however, is likely to attract the most attention as dual Grade 1 winner Puerto Manzano makes his reappearance ahead of a potentially big spring campaign.
He’s unlikely to be at a peak following an 11-week absence, so it could pay to follow Mike de Kock-trained Trois Trois Quatre. He is named in honour of the record number of wins (334) achieved in a season by jockey Anthony Delpech, now the Racing Manager of the Hollywood Syndicate of owners.
This rapidly improving and lightly raced Rafeef gelding, although out at the weights, is race fit and gets 12kg from best-weighted Puerto Manzano. Those factors could give De Kock's charge the advantage.
Exciting three-year-old Tail Of The Comet, who confirmed the promise of his emphatic winning debut by finishing close-up in a two-year-old feature late last season, makes his eagerly anticipated comeback in Race 6. Trainer Sean Tarry's charge has a bright future and ranks the best bet on the card!
TURFFONTEIN PICK 6 (starts Race 4):
R600
Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 9
Leg 2: 1, 3, 5, 8, 9
Leg 3: 5
Leg 4: 1, 5
Leg 5: 1, 2
Leg 6: 1, 3, 4, 6, 7
Click/tap here for the best bets and the views of five tipsters on Saturday's Turffontein meeting.
MGUDLWA LOOKS SET FOR A BEAUTIFUL SUNDAY
Racing in KwaZulu-Natal returns to Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday for an eight-race card on the turf likely to be dominated by jockey Athandiwe Mgudlwa. His reputation continues to grow and he could win the opener on Vibe SA, who is good value to go one better after consecutive close seconds. The colt is trained by Gareth van Zyl with whom Mgudlwa has formed a potent partnership. They should also be on the mark in Race 3 with King Pelles, who suffered a narrow defeat when touched off into second on debut.
Tienie Prinsloo's Let The Flag Fly returned to form in a competitive handicap last time and the booking of Mgudlwa aboard the consistent three-year-old bodes well for the chances of this Flying The Flag gelding. He should represent generous eachway value in Race 7.
Click/tap here for the best bets and the views of five tipsters on Sunday's Hollywoodbets Greyville meeting.
HOLD OUT FOR A ROYAL HERO IN ST LEGER
Rumours are that the King and Queen of England could visit Doncaster on Saturday for the second time in 10 months, having travelled there in November to attend a ceremony bestowing city status on the former town. It will be an even bigger celebration if their Royal Ascot winner Desert Hero can get the job done in Saturday's Group 1 classic, the Betfred St Leger Stakes. And, coincidentally, it would also be a poignant victory as the late Queen Elizabeth II bred this son of Sea The Stars!
GET UP EARLY AND FOLLOW OUR JOCKEYS
South Africa's reigning champion jockey Keagan de Melo rode his first winner in Hong Kong at Happy Valley on Wednesday in just his second meeting there. More winners could be on the way for our Equus Champion when racing returns to Sha Tin on Sunday. Compatriots Lyle Hewitson and Luke Ferraris are more established riders in the region and both have a competitive book of rides at the meeting, so it could be worth waking up early and following our boys abroad.