WEEKEND RACING HIGHLIGHTS: 15 - 17 November

A MUST-WATCH WEEKEND WITH MANY CHANCES TO WIN!

A lively weekend of racing kicks off this Friday with an action-packed schedule, comprising the usual afternoon fixture at Fairview followed by a rare twilight meeting at Turffontein. Kenilworth dominates the racing landscape on Saturday and Sunday gets off to a flying start with three Grade 2 races at Sha Tin in Hong Kong. Top up your TAB account and book an armchair!

FRIDAY HIGHLIGHTS

FAIRVIEW: LUNA HALO AIMS FOR DOUBLE-FIGURE TALLY

Local champion filly Luna Halo goes for her 10^th career success in the R175,000 November Stakes over 1400m. This is her favourite course and distance and trainer Alan Greeff pointed out that she’s proven she can take on male runners. “She lost by half a length here to Fairview Series winner King Regent in September. We’re hoping she holds her form and keeps going.” Luna Halo’s main threat is 120-rated Bingwa, who prefers further but is doing well for his new trainer Gavin Smith. “He’s enjoying himself and has been around the Polytrack in work,” Smith said.

TURFFONTEIN: LOOK OUT FOR SUKHUMVIT THIS SEASON

Sukhumvit was outpaced late when second to up-and-coming Olivia’s Way in the recent Grade 3 Yellowwood Handicap over 1800m. She was well fancied that day and could atone in the Listed Summer Pudding Handicap over 1600m. She is lightly raced and has always had the look of a feature winner. A daughter of Silvano, she is likely to come into her own as a four-year-old this season. The potential banker on a challenging card is Strewn Sky (Race 7), who has flattered only to deceive but turned in an improved performance in blinkers last time. He will sport blinkers again and could get it right this time.

SUGGESTED R129.60 (10%) PICK 6 PERM (Leg 1 @ 16:45):
Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 4

Leg 2: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7

Leg 3: 1, 7, 8

Leg 4: 2, 9, 10

Leg 5: 1

Leg 6: 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 10

ABU DHABI UAE: SUNY DE LOUP TO SHINE IN A STRONG FIELD

Racing in the UAE steps up a gear with the running of the HH The President Cup Prep over 2200m, a Listed contest for Arabians. It is a strong renewal with eight of the 13 runners rated above 110. Suny Du Loup, rated 118, gets the vote to follow up on a recent win in a minor event at the track. He overcame an awkward draw in that contest to record his third win at Abu Dhabi in his first start in seven months. The six-year-old French-bred Arabian should be sharper for that run and is the one to beat. 

CHELTENHAM UK: HENDERSON’S CHAMPION READY TO ROLL

Nicky Henderson’s champion eight-year-old Jonbon is set to make a winning comeback in the Grade 2 Shloer Chase over 3200m. He won this race last year and Henderson said his runner is ready for his first start since April. A 14-time winner from 17 starts, including eight wins at Grade 1 level, he looks the proverbial certainty in a four-horse field.

SATURDAY HIGHLIGHTS

HOLLYWOODBETS KENILWORTH: GIMME A PRINCE CAN BEAT 1600M ACES

The Grade 3 Cape Mile has drawn a high-quality field of course-and-distance specialists and every runner has a money chance on form. There’s a strong case to be made for top sprinter Gimme A Prince, the only contender who has not raced over 1600m. He returned from a lengthy layoff to finish fourth behind Questioning in the 1400m Matchem Stakes, in which he came from near last and posted the fastest 400m-to-finish time. And he has another excellent run over 1400m to his credit - a close second to star colt Charles Dickens in the 2023 edition of the Matchem, in which he also unleashed a strong finish. Gimme A Prince is supremely talented and may be up to beating the 1600m specialists at their own game.

CHELTENHAM UK: L’EAU DU SUD LOOKS SET TO GO IN AGAIN

Grey L’Eau du Sud, runner-up in last season's Betfair Hurdle & County Hurdle, opened his chasing account with the minimum of fuss at Stratford a fortnight ago. Progressive and clearly in good form after his seasonal break, he could continue on the winning path for trainer Dan Skelton and his brother Harry in the Grade 2 Paddy Power Arkle Challenge Trophy Trial Novices' Chase over 3200m.

JEBEL ALI DUBAI: IN-FORM COSTA HOLDS A STRONG HAND

Jebel Ali-based trainer Michael Costa has already saddled eight winners in the new UAE season. He has a strong team for this meeting with five runners across four of the seven races. Costa’s once-raced Marsoom, an impressive winner at Jebel Ali a year ago, looks the one to be with in Race 4, the 1000m first leg of the Emirates Sprint Series. He quickened clear to beat Turjman and four others in a maiden over 1000m in his debut and created a good impression. He’s open to heaps of improvement and Costa can be trusted to have the gelding fit and well after a lengthy absence.

SUNDAY HIGHLIGHTS

SHA TIN: STARS STAND OUT IN THREE RICH FEATURE RACES

This star-studded race meeting features three $HK5.35-million races, headed by the BOCHK Jockey Club over 2000m (Race 9), in which Romantic Warrior returns to action following his Yasuda Kinen victory in Japan in June. He’s looked sensational in his trials and it’s hard to find a credible threat to him in this field. Serial winner Galaxy Patch targets his fourth consecutive success in Race 8 and highest-rated Ka Ying Rising is favoured by the weight conditions in Race 7. The meeting starts at 06:30.

SELANGOR MALAYSIA: SPEEDY YES MAN CAN GO ONE BETTER

Three-year-old Yes Man makes his Class 4 debut in Race 3 over 1300m at Kuala Lumpur and has a strong chance of posting his second career win. The Simon Dunderdale-trained gelding has shown impressive progress since a narrow debut defeat on 22 September, including a stylish maiden win on 13 October when he beat subsequent winner Rocky’s Pegasus by 2.25 lengths. More recently Yes Man was caught late by talented Duma over 1300m when unfancied in the betting market. With his early speed, he could prove tough to beat. Race 1 is off at 07:15.

HOLLYWOODBETS GREYVILLE: TYRCONNELL HARD TO BEAT

Tyrconnell was heavily backed in a MR 80 Handicap over 1600m on 27 October, only to be pipped in a photo finish. Returning to the same course and distance, he’ll be tough to beat in a MR 74 Handicap. Although he’s carrying 62kg, the weight spread is just 4kg from top to bottom and top weight shouldn't hinder his chances. He looks a solid banker for the first leg of the Pick 6.