Get set for a blockbuster weekend of local and international racing, starting with Friday’s meeting at Fairview which has been switched to the Polytrack. At Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday the odds-on Daily News 2000 favourite may have to deal with a real challenge from a potentially top-drawer contemporary and on Sunday Hollywoodbets Kenilworth hosts the last legs of the Winter Series for colts and fillies respectively. Saturday’s menu includes a Hong Kong Jockey Club World Pool doubleheader at Doomben in Australia and the Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh, plus a Premier race day at Haydock.
Most runners in Race 7, the Listed Milkwood Stakes over 1000m, are proven on turf and Polytrack, so the surface switch is unlikely to impact their chances. But the draw becomes a more decisive factor now, which favours Gimme’s Lassie (draw 1) and Trip To Maputo (draw 4). That said, the Greeff-Fourie team commands attention once more with classy seven-time winner Three Rocks. She’s weighted to turn the tables on last year’s winner Paris Lass, drops to her lowest mark since December 2023 and looks the one to beat, despite draw 11.
The card is headlined by Race 8, the Group 1 Doomben Cup over 2000m and one of the highlights of the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival. Antino and Pride Of Jenni are disputing top spot in ante-post markets. Antino, two from two at this track, gets the services of triple Doomben Cup winning jockey Blake Shinn, who is chasing back-to-back victories following his success on Bois D’Argent last year. TAB Win, Place, Swinger, and Quinella bets on Races 6-9 will be commingled into the World Pool tote.
Six-year-old galloper Leong Ma Biscuit looks much more competitive in Race 5, a level C contest over 1200m. He bounced back to form with a strong second over 1400m here a month ago, appears ideally placed under the weight conditions and is likely to make his presence felt. The meeting starts at 07:00.
John and Thady Gosden’s Field Of Gold will face just eight rivals in the Group 1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas. The Group 3 Craven Stakes winner suffered a surprise defeat in the Betfair 2000 Guineas at Newmarket this month, when beaten 0.50 lengths by Ruling Court who sits this one out. Kieran Shoemark has been replaced by Colin Keane, who rides Field Of Gold for the first time. The grey colt aims to emulate his sire Kingman, who won the race 11 years ago.
TAB Win, Place, Exacta, Swinger, Quinella and Trifecta bets on all races will be commingled into the Hong Kong World Pool, while Quartets will be commingled with the Irish tote.
Race 5, the Group 2 Betfred Temple Stakes over 1000m, is headed by last year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner Starlust, who’ll be giving weight away all round on his comeback. This is his final season before going to stud in Australia and he is set to face off against some tough rivals including Palace House Stakes hero Rumstar, fast-improving American Affair and Mgheera, a French Group 3 winner.
Grade 1 World Sports Betting Cape Met and Cape Derby winner Eight On Eighteen will be all the rage in the Grade 1 Daily News 2000 (Race 7) for three-year-olds. He faces just six rivals, all with significantly lower merit ratings, but here’s something to consider: Confederate (118 merit rating) defeated now 126-rated Fire Attack (a subsequent Grade 1 winner) with a commanding start-to-finish performance in the Grade 1 SA Classic. On that evidence, Fabian Habib’s runner may be several points better than his official rating and could pose a threat to the ante-post favourite.
In the supporting feature, the Grade 2 Tote Woolavington 2000, Dean Kannemeyer’s progressive filly Give Me Everything looks primed for her biggest win to date. She caught the eye with a strong late run from a wide draw in the Grade 2 WSB Fillies Guineas and will be hard to beat this time.
SUGGESTED R360 (25%) PICK 6 PERM (Leg 1 Race 4 @13:20):
Leg 1: 2, 3, 6, 8, 14
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8
Leg 3: 9
Leg 4: 3, 7
Leg 5: 1, 3, 10
Leg 6: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 15
After Group 1 victories in the Stewards’ Cup and Hong Kong Gold Cup, star gelding Voyage Bubble runs in the Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup over 2400m and is expected to make a bold bid to become just the second Hong Kong Triple Crown winner. Voyage Bubble is yet to prove he has the stamina to win over this distance, but trainer Ricky Yiu said this week: “The closer to the race and the more I look at this horse, I think he can absolutely handle the trip.” With James McDonald on board from a good gate, Yiu may be right. The meeting starts at 06:30.
Four-year-old Don’t Forget Boss lines up in Race 6 over 2000m and could have his consistency rewarded. With a win and four placings from eight starts in Malaysia, he heads into the race in solid form. He has proven stamina, having scored over 2000m at Kranji in August last year, and has shown a good turn of foot. The first race is off at 06:45.
Piet Steyn, who won the 2020 Cape Winter Series with smart galloper Katak, has purposefully bypassed the 2025 KZN Champions Season for another tilt at the three-race series with Garrix, a three-year-old with similar potential. Having won the first two legs, Garrix looks set to capture the Listed Pocket Power Stakes over 1950m, the final leg of this year’s Winter Series.
Time For Love is out to win two legs of the fillies and mares’ equivalent in Race 7, the Listed Stormsvlei Stakes over 1950m, but the younger and improving Beware The Bomb looks a serious danger. She ran into traffic problems when beaten just 1.25 lengths by her older rival in the Listed Ladies Mile and could turn the tables.
Lake Victoria, four for four as a juvenile last year, suffered her first defeat when 6-10 favourite and outgunned by Desert Flower in the English 1000 Guineas recently. She will be out to make amends in the Irish 1000 Guineas (Race 5), but faces some promising rivals including unbeaten Swelter. TAB Win, Place, Exacta, Swinger, Quinella and Trifecta bets on Races 4 and 5 will be commingled into the Hong Kong World Pool.