WEEKEND RACING HIGHLIGHTS: 18 - 20 October

WORLD’S RICHEST TURF RACE AND MASSIVE TAB POOLS

TAB customers are in for a treat this Saturday with top-quality global action and access to the largest tote pools in the world. The excitement kicks off early at 04:40 at Randwick, where the $20-million The Everest, the richest turf race on earth (Race 7), headlines the showcase meeting of the Sydney Spring Carnival. I Wish I Win nearly won last year and has the credentials to go one better tomorrow. TAB Win, Place, Quinella, and Swinger bets on Races 6 to 10 will be commingled through Tabcorp in Australia into the Hong Kong World Pool tote, enabling TAB customers to take massive bets without significantly reducing payouts. The normal commingled Tabcorp pools will be in operation on non-World Pool races and bet types, but there will be no Trifectas on Races 6 to 10.

Later, the spotlight shifts to Ascot for the Qipco British Champions Day, a six-event Group-racing extravaganza that marks the close of the British flat season. TAB Win, Place, Exacta, Quinella, Swinger, and Trifecta bets will be commingled into the World Pool tote, with local TAB Quartet, P/A and Jackpot pools. Race 1 is at 14:20.

Don’t miss out on thrilling local action either! The weekend starts with the Polytrack Challenge finale at Fairview on Friday, followed by good betting opportunities at Durbanville and Turffontein on Saturday and Greyville on Sunday!

FRIDAY HIGHLIGHTS

FAIRVIEW: DON’T OPPOSE THE KING IN POLYTRACK FINALE

King Regent is said to be in pleasing shape for Race 6, the third leg of the Nelson Mandela Bay Racing Poly Challenge over 1600m. He won the first two legs over 1200m and 1400m respectively and a R250,000 bonus awaits his connections if he can complete the series hat-trick. Trainer Glen Kotzen said in a recent interview that he expected King Regent to win if he breaks on terms. Equine behaviour therapist Malan du Toit reported yesterday that he has given King Regent a “refresher course” and that the Fairview starter is well aware of his quirks. Du Toit said: “He will be fitted with a hood, which will come off a split second before the jump. He is generally relaxed, but doesn’t like to stand in the gates too long.” From the plum draw, King Regent should be hard to beat.

HAYDOCK UK: FOLLOW THE TOP JOCKEYS AND GET THE CASH

Three of the top 10 jockeys in the 2024 British Flat Racing Championship will be in action at this six-race meeting. In-form Tom Marquand can open the meeting with a win on William Haggas-trained Yabher and should go close on James Ferguson’s Drama in Race 5 over 1200m. Hollie Doyle will be looking for her 71^st winner of the season aboard Forteleza in Race 3 over 1200m, and Rossa Ryan’s best chance is on Ed Dunlop’s Arthur’s Realm in Race 6 over 1600m.

SATURDAY HIGHLIGHTS

HOLLYWOODBETS DURBANVILLE: TRIP FAVOURS DOUBLE GRAND SLAM

Red Palace and Double Grand Slam, both near the top of last season’s three-year-old fillies, make their first appearances as four-year-olds in the topliner, Race 3 over 1400m. Red Palace is the only runner in the seven-horse field with a Grade 1 win to her name. Candice Bass-Robinson’s filly is unbeaten at Durbanville and has shown excellent pace in previous races over 1600m, but Double Grand Slam looks better suited to the course and distance. She has won four of five starts over 1400m and races well fresh.

TURFFONTEIN: GET YOUR PICK 6 OFF TO A FLYING START

Pick 6 punters have a runner to rely on in Race 3 over 1600m, the first leg of the popular bet. Trainer Weichong Marwing’s three-year-old Dance King finished third in one of the strongest Maiden Plates this season - a 1450m race won by classic prospect Heather’s Boy last month. There have already been two winners and a second-placed runner from the race and it’s worth noting that Dance King was two lengths ahead of Hair Trigger and 10 lengths clear of Zafar, the subsequent winners. That Dance King stayed on strongly that day suggests he will be suited to the extra 200m.

SUGGESTED R672 (50%) PICK 6 PERM (Leg 1 Race 3 @ 13:20):

Leg 1: 5

Leg 2: 2, 3, 4, 5

Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Leg 4: 2, 4, 5, 6

Leg 5: 2, 3, 7, 9

Leg 6: 3, 4, 8

ASCOT UK: STAR THREE-YEAR-OLDS SQUARE UP IN CHAMPION STAKES

There are four Group 1 races and a Group 2 contest on the British Champions Day programme, headlined by the QIPCO British Champion Stakes over 2000m (Race 5). This year’s renewal features two top-class three-year-olds in French raider Calandagan and local hero Economics going head to head for the first time. Calandagan gave superstar City Of Troy plenty of cheek in the Group 1 Juddmonte International at York before going down by a length, while Economics was as brave as they come in his win over Auguste Rodine in the Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes.

Other highlights include the Group 2 Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup, in which Kyprios is looking for his seventh successive win this season, and the expected duel between Charyn and Tamfana in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.

SUNDAY HIGHLIGHTS

SHA TIN HONG KONG: ILLUMINOUS TO SHINE WITH BOWMAN

Winning Gold aims for a fourth consecutive win in Race 9, the Creative Sprint 1600m Handicap. He steps up to 1600m in a competitive contest, which should not pose a problem, but the inside draw could see him hemmed in turning for home. Illuminous will be a fitter in his second start following a rest. He was a promising second first-up despite traffic problems and has the services of Hugh Bowman, second on the jockeys’ log with 15 winners this season. Race 1 is at 06:45.

HOLLYWOODBETS GREYVILLE: MR MASTER STARTER CAN BREAK DROUGHT

Mr Master Starter hasn’t won since June 2022, but his merit rating has dropped to its lowest level in more than two years. He looks ready to win again in Race 6, following a clear second a fortnight ago to fluent winner Formagear. A winner of three races over the course and distance, Mr Master Starter faces weaker opposition here and looks banker material in this line-up.

FORTHCOMING ATTRACTION

FAIRVIEW 25 OCTOBER: R500,000 TAB PICK 6 CARRYOVER!

There will be a R500,000 TAB Pick 6 carryover to next Friday’s Algoa Cup meeting at Fairview. A bumper pool of R3-million is expected on a traditionally competitive and exciting race day