WEEKEND RACING HIGHLIGHTS: 13 - 15 December

R4-MILLION PICK 6 AND GRADE 1 CLASH HEADLINE LONG WEEKEND

It’s a grand long weekend for TAB horseracing customers. A South African doubleheader kicks it off this Friday followed on Saturday by the Grade 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas for three-year-olds at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. Many a winner of this famous classic has gone on to fame and fortune, and the TAB Pick 6 pool at this marquee meeting is expected to soar to a whopping R4-million as a result of a R1-million carryover. Here’s a must-play bet that gives the chance to turn a small bet into mega money as the country goes into holiday mode. The local action continues in KZN on Sunday and a holiday meeting at Turffontein on Monday. Top up your TAB account and join in the excitement.

FRIDAY HIGHLIGHTS

FAIRVIEW: SWINGERS AND DOUBLES WAY TO GO IN RACE 7

This is a challenging card with the best opportunities to make a pile of cash in Races 7 and 8. Trainer Alan Greeff’s duo of Catch Your Breath and You Win Again are the principal contenders in Race 7 over 1400m. Greeff gives winning chances to both: “Catch Your Breath won a cracking race last time and is holding form. You Win Again has been scratched three times after playing up at the start. We’ve called in a horse therapist who has done a lot of work with her. If she goes into the gates and jumps, she’ll be a big runner.” The swinger looks a good bet, plus the last TAB double, combining both Greeff fillies with Cliffie Miller’s improving gelding Roll Of The Dice, who goes for a hat-trick in Race 8. “He loves the Polytrack and has turned the corner, he has a good chance of making it three in a row,” Miller said.

MEYDAN DUBAI: STROBE SHOULD GO WELL ON DUBAI DIRT

Simon and Ed Crisford have found Dubai a happy hunting ground and Strobe can give them their first winner of the season in Race 7 over 1400m on dirt. Strobe began his career in the USA with Brad Cox and was a useful performer, winning four times on dirt. He caught the eye when second in a competitive handicap on his British debut at Kempton last month after racing prominently. By top USA dirt sire Into Mischief, Strobe is well treated at the weights and will take plenty of beating on his UAE debut. Race 1 is at 15:30.

HOLLYWOODBETS GREYVILLE: MBUTHO’S 4KG CLAIM MAY PROVE KEY

Apprentice Mxolisi Mbutho has two winners to show from 24 career rides and his 4kg claim will come in handy in Race 6 over 1200m, a competitive sprint handicap with several hard knockers in the line-up. His mount Quandary is a speedy sort and a three-time winner over the distance. Trainer Gareth van Zyl may instruct the young rider to make his allowance count from an inside draw and to try and make all. Useful late closers Mexican Pete and Mr Master Starter are the dangers.

SATURDAY HIGHLIGHTS

HOLLYWOODBETS KENILWORTH: ONE STRIPE LOOKS THE PART BUT BEWARE DE KOCK

Horseracing fans are waiting to see if trainer Vaughan Marshall’s rising star One Stripe can confirm he’s the best three-year-old in the country in Cape Guineas (Race 7). He’s done everything right in a most impressive preparation, will jump from pole position and, on ratings, is at least three lengths better than any of his classic rivals.One Stripe is likely to be a banker in most Pick 6 bets, but it might pay to consider Mike de Kock’s unbeaten raider Heather’s Boy and Candice Bass-Robinson’s well-bred improver Boundless Energy in this carryover pool. De Kock, like Marshall, has won the race five times, toppling 1-5 favourite Dynasty in 2003 with Domino Man and 7-10 favourite Sugar Mountain with Noah From Goa in 2011. Boundless Energy runs on powerfully over 1400m and is the wild card in the pack over the extra 200m. This is a race not to be missed.

SUGGESTED R226.80 (10%) PICK 6 PERM (Leg 1, Race 4 @ 14:05):

Leg 1: 3, 4, 6

Leg 2: 3, 4

Leg 3: 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10

Leg 4: 1, 4, 9

Leg 5: 2, 6, 10

Leg 6: 1, 3, 4, 8, 9, 16

CHELTENHAM UK: SKYJACK HIJACK RIGHT ONE IF HE RUNS 

Skyjack Hijack has been priced up ante-post favourite for Race 6, the Grade 2 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle over 4800m at this Premier jump meeting and could win his seventh successive race this season. Trainer Jennie Candlish said: “He was a speculative entry. I thought it would be a lot more competitive than it actually is. We’ll make a decision after we’ve weighed it all up. The ground will help us decide.”

SUNDAY HIGHLIGHTS

SHA TIN HONG KONG: IMPROVING FAST NETWORK HARD TO OPPOSE

Dennis Yip’s four-year-old Fast Network is on an upward trajectory with two stunning wins from three starts this season. He looks difficult to oppose in Race 7, the 1000m Lukfook Jewellery Cup Handicap, after demolishing his rivals by over four lengths in a fast time on 17 November. Race 1 is at 07:00.

SELANGOR MALAYSIA: LIM’S SINAI IS HOLDING FORM WELL

Ultra-consistent Lim’s Sinai has finished no worse than second in five runs for trainer Lawson Moy since arriving from Singapore. A reliable beginner who prefers to race on the speed, Lim’s Sinai will take all the beating in Race 2 over 1300m. If the race unfolds in his favour, he should get the better of Perfect Mission and Naughty Kid. Race 1 is off at 07:15.

HOLLYWOODBETS SCOTTSVILLE: LERENA CAN ADD TO HIS TALLY

Title-chasing Gavin Lerena has a promising book of rides, including two for leading trainer Peter Muscutt. Bristol Hercules (Race 5) is a quality sort who hasn’t been easy to follow, but has faced stronger and enjoys the track and trip. Cold Shine (Race 8) drops in the ratings to a career-low 89 and has also performed with merit against stronger. Lerena’s other winning chance comes in Race 6 over 1400m on Tyrconnell, who is overdue and reverts to the distance of his only win.

ON THE WAY: R800,000 TAB FESTIVE-SEASON JACKPOT BONANZA!

Whether you are staying at home or heading off on holiday, don’t miss your chance to cash in on TAB’s three-day Jackpot feast next weekend. Jackpot ONE at the two SA meetings on Friday 20 December, the Grand Heritage meeting at the Vaal on Saturday and Sunday’s Cape meeting will all start with a R200,000 carryover. With expected Jackpot ONE total pools of about R1 million at each of the four meetings, it’s a grand opportunity to boost your bank balance in time for Christmas!