WEEKEND RACING HIGHLIGHTS: 8 - 10 November

LAIRD AIMS FOR MOON AND THERE’S A BANKER FOR SUNDAY

This weekend’s racing action spans exciting meetings across multiple local and international venues. At Fairview today we’re set for a thrilling duel between two leading fillies in the Guineas Plate, and on Saturday a recent Grade 3 winner is all the rage for Western Cape Fillies Championship at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth - but she will need all her class to overcome a wide draw. Meanwhile, trainer Alec Laird looks to have found the right race for an up-and-coming four-year-old, who takes on a host of Betway Summer Cup contenders in Turffontein’s Betway Victory Moon Stakes. And we have a standout banker on Sunday!

FRIDAY HIGHLIGHTS

FAIRVIEW: HAPPY HOLLY MAY THWART SPLICETHEMAINBRACE

Trainer Alan Greeff’s Splicetemainbrace, who has three Listed-race wins from just seven starts, needed the run on her seasonal debut when suffering her first career defeat in a handicap over 1000m in September. Fitter now, she reverts to 1400m in Race 6, her first start on the Polytrack. Splicethemainbrace is the class of the race, but under 60kg faces a formidable rival in Happy Holly, three times her bridesmaid and 8kg better off for two narrow beatings. While that makes a strong case for a reversal of their customary placings, trainer Gavin Smith noted that Happy Holly’s preparation was interrupted by rain and that she’s just short of her best. TAB customers are best advised to play it safe and include both fillies.

MEYDAN DUBAI: RESTED MESHTRI CAN SHINE FOR COSTA

The Dubai Racing Carnival, which comprises 16 race meetings November through March before concluding with the Dubai World Cup extravaganza next April, gets underway at 15:30. Australian Michael Costa, who saddled five winners at Jebel Ali last Saturday, holds a strong hand with four of the 14 runners in Race 5, the Emirates Airline Handicap over 1600m. Medaglia D’Oro’s four-year-old son Meshtri looks best of the Costa quartet. The form of his maiden win was given a major boost when the runner-up went on to reel off a hat-trick of wins. Meshtri hasn’t raced since finishing second to equally well-performed stablemate Sadaaty last December, but could be sharp enough to win considering the hot form of his trainer.

EXETER UK: TIZZARD FANCIES JPR ONE IN GOLD CUP CHASE

This premier jumps meeting features the Grade 2 Gold Cup Handicap Chase over 3900m and trainer Joe Tizzard’s JPR One has been priced up 2-1 favourite. Tizzard said: “I think he is a really talented horse and if he is going to take the next step, he should be very competitive off a mark of 149 in the Gold Cup. He won a novice hurdle around there, and I think it is a nice introductory race back for him.”

SATURDAY HIGHLIGHTS

SHA TIN HONG KONG: RELY ON 700-WIN TEETAN IN CUP

Karis Teetan this week joined an elite group of only six jockeys to have ridden 700 winners in Hong Kong. He could pick up another success on John Size-trained Young Champion in Race 7, the Panasonic Cup over 1400m. Young Champion had excuses when failing to justify favouritism first-up this season and pulling up with blood in the trachea. He has been given 47 days to recover and should make amends, despite being in a hot field from a wide draw. Race 1 is off at 07:00.

TURFFONTEIN: GREETING MY MASTER LOOKS A VALUE BET

There are 11 Grade 1 Betway Summer Cup entries in the topliner, the Grade 3 Victory Moon Stakes over 1800m. Main Defender, Purple Pitcher, Puerto Manzano, Pure Predator, Future Pearl, Atticus Finch, Safe Passage and My Soul Mate are in the top 20 on the latest Summer Cup log, while Aragosta, Shoemaker and Thunee Playa will have to turn in their best performances to have chances of getting into Africa’s richest race on 30 November.

Trainer Alec Laird has not entered well-performed four-year-old Greeting My Master for the R6-million Summer Cup, probably due to concerns that he won’t see out 2000m. But the Master Of My Fate gelding comes into the Victory Moon in top form and 1800m looks within his reach following a runaway win over the tough 1600m on Turffontein’s Standside track recently.

He receives chunks of weight from most of his rivals, is ideally drawn and with the Cup not on his radar, has been prepared specifically for this race. He looks reasonable value at 4-1 with Betway. Laird’s Command Pilot, similarly handily weighted, looks hard to beat in Race 8.

SUGGESTED R420 (50%) PICK 6 PERM - Leg 1 Race 4 @ 13:25:

Leg 1: 2, 4

Leg 2: 1, 2, 7

Leg 3: 1, 3, 4, 6

Leg 4: 1, 2, 4, 7, 9, 12, 14

Leg 5: 7

Leg 6: 1, 2, 3, 4, 7

DONCASTER UK: ROOM SERVICE IS KNOCKING AT THE DOOR

Kevin Ryan and Tom Eaves have good prospects with Room Service in Race 4, the Listed Livescore Bet Wentworth Stakes. The partnership was successful in Room Service’s only previous visit to Doncaster, and his recent run at York suggests the three-year-old is close to his peak. He should go very well in this contest.

HOLLYWOODBETS KENILWORTH: GIMMIE’S COUNTESS CAN BEAT THE DRAW

Trainers interviewed for the Grade 2 Western Cape Fillies Championship over 1400m agree that Dean Kannemeyer’s Grade 3 Diana Stakes winner Gimmie’s Countess is the one to beat. She’s done everything asked of her so far and is regarded as a potential Fillies Guineas winner. But trainer Justin Snaith feels he has a chance to sneak in with Little Suzie: “The draw may prove to be vital. We are drawn one, we’re out at the ratings but we’ll take our chances. She’s a beautiful mover, one to follow.” Jockey Richard Fourie was confident of a good run from Mon Petit Cherie, but she’s also drawn wide. He said: “They may canter early and sprint later, which will make it hard for horses drawn wide.” Gimmie’s Countess, however, looks good enough to beat her draw. She’s won over 1400m at the tight Durbanville track and Kenilworth will suit her. This is her race to lose.

SUNDAY HIGHLIGHTS

SELANGOR MALAYSIA: VERY SURPRISE TO COMPLETE A HAT-TRICK

Joseph Leck’s six-year-old gelding Very Surprise is poised to complete a hat-trick in Race 10 over 1800m at Kuala Lumpur. Since joining Leck's Selangor stables, he has impressed with two wins and a second from four starts. He comes off back-to-back victories over 1600m, the latest a commanding 4.75-length triumph at this track a fortnight ago. He should be well suited to the extra 200m. The meeting starts at 06:45.

HOLLYWOODBETS GREYVILLE: CAPE EAGLE SET TO FLY HIGH

Cape Eagle is a standout bet in Race 6, a Pinnacle Stakes over 2200m. This in-form eight-time winner is very well weighted off a 110 rating and is 3kg better off with main rival Natyam for their narrow beating by Madison Valley in last month’s Michaelmas Handicap over 1900m. Well suited to the course and distance, Cape Eagle is hard to oppose.

FORTHCOMING ATTRACTION - MAKE A DATE NOW!

Amazing racing action, grand entertainment and great chances to win - the R6-million Betway Summer Cup meeting on Saturday 30 November is going to be a cracker! The Pick 6 will kick off with a R2-million carryover and a R1-million carryover to the Quartet on the Cup will ensure a bumper payout if you pick the first four home. Don’t miss out - make a plan to get to the track or a TAB, or book your seat in front of the TV at home!