WEEKEND RACING HIGHLIGHTS: 22 - 24 March

R40,183 PICK 6 TIPPED X 2, MORE BIG LOOT TO BE WON!

The average exotic-bet payouts for the last three meetings at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth tell a story: Bi-Pot = R1,344; Jackpots One and Two = R7,200 and R4,400;  Pick 6 = R238,000. They reflect the potential of Cape Town’s out-of-season races for high dividends and this Saturday’s meeting looks likely to maintain the trend. So load up your TAB account, have a few bets and take some of the big loot likely to come from this meeting. There is also racing at Turffontein, where things look easier with two standout bets. We tipped last week’s R40,183 Pick 6 twice in this mailer and aim to follow up here!

FRIDAY HIGHLIGHT

FAIRVIEW: BANK ON LOCAL ACE IN LISTED FEATURE

Trainers Justin Snaith, Brett Crawford and Glen Kotzen are sending well-performed Western Cape raiders to Gqeberha for two Listed features at Fairview’s turf meeting on Friday. Crawford’s three-year-old Zoomie resumes rivalry with local ace Fairy Knight in the East Cape Guineas. Zoomie was 0.25 lengths ahead of Fairy Knight when they met over the course and distance last November. But Zoomie now returns from a two month-break, while Fairy Knight was gelded after that defeat and is unbeaten in three subsequent starts. He’s at the top of his game and should reverse the result.

Snaith’s five-year-old Silver Falcon will contest the East Cape Sprint Cup over 1200m. He is at best over 1250m and further, but has enough pace to get into the mix. As an eight-time winner, his class could see him through under in-form jockey JP van der Merwe.

SATURDAY HIGHLIGHTS

KRANJI: SINGAPORE’S CHAMP IS FIT ENOUGH TO WIN

Singapore’s champion, Lim’s Kosciuszko, returns to racing in the Kranji Stakes over 1200m on the Polytrack. He hasn’t raced here since last November, when he won the Group 1 Singapore Gold Cup over 2000m before running a competitive ninth to superstar Golden Sixty in the Group 1 Longines Hong Kong Mile in December. Trainer Daniel Meagher is aiming Lim’s Kosciusko at the Group 1 Kranji mile on 18 May and said this week that his charge will need the run, but is well in at the weights, adding: “Lim’s Kosciuszko is fit enough. He’s had two trials and I was pretty happy.” The meeting starts at 06:00.

ABU DHABI: RELY ON THE RATINGS IN TWO CLASSICS

UAE-bred Arabians take centre stage at Abu Dhabi’s penultimate fixture of the season on Saturday with the Emirates Colts Classic and fillies’ equivalent for four-year-olds, both over 1600m. It is easy to make a case for Mubeed, winner of the Al Ain Derby and the highest-rated runner in the Colts Classic. He stayed on strongly to win last time after missing the break and racing wide. On ratings Jap Eshraq sets the standard in the Fillies Classic. A wide-margin winner of the Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic in January, she was soundly beaten at the track last month, but is expected to bounce back to best here. This meeting gets underway at 12:30.

TURFFONTEIN: TWO RUNNERS TO BANK ON IN THE PICK 6

Trainer Mike de Kock’s charge Marauding Horde looks a blinder in Race 6 on the Standside track at Turffontein this Saturday. An effortless winner of the recent Listed Hawwaam Stakes over track and trip, he has already been priced up third favourite for the TAB SA Derby on Champions Day. While De Kock has not confirmed his Derby participation due to his low rating, punters are able to cash in as this smart colt wins a few handicaps on his way through the divisions.

Trainer Johan Janse van Vuuren reckoned his filly Happy Mo was special before she left her rivals punch-drunk in a Maiden Plate a fortnight ago. She will have come on from that win and should take a power of beating in Race 8 over 1600m. Stablemate Time Fo Orchids (Race 5) is bang in form and is another with potential banker status, but the handicappers have upped her rating to 100, a mark at which she found a few equals earlier in her career. For safety, consider adding Global Thunder, Ice Star and Woman Of Power in this second leg of the Pick 6.

SUGGESTED R3,024 PICK 6 (R400 for 20%):
Leg 1: FIELD (1-10)
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 8
Leg 3: 3
Leg 4: 2, 3, 4, 5, 9
Leg 5: 3
Leg 6: FIELD (1-10)

HB KENILWORTH: KANNEMEYER, ZAKI CAN SHINE ON A CHALLENGING DAY

Saturday’s nine-race programme at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth is competitive and there will be divided opinions on which runners to rely on, but here are a few pointers. Dean Kannemeyer and Craig Zackey are in good form and their runners Moremi Gorge (Race 5 - tries further after running on well last time); Pas De Nom (Race 6 - dropped rating, coming to form); Cheeky Laddie (Race 8 - well weighted) and Mia’s Harper (Race 9 - dropped rating, chance on recent collateral form), can all surprise at value odds. And Adam Marcus-trained Oliver (excuses last time) looks ready to win again in Race 7. Consider taking Pick 3 bets to cover your Pick 6 and Jackpot bets because this is a challenging card.

DONCASTER: HERE’S A LONGSHOT FOR FLAT SEASON OPENER

It’s a big meeting at Doncaster this Saturday, when the 2024 British flat racing season gets under way with the Lincoln Handicap (Race 5), a 1600m contest down the straight course that has traditionally ushered in the flat season for centuries. As usual, there’s a big field of 22 runners and Liberty Lane, a course-and-distance winner last season, is likely to start favourite. If you want to back a longshot, try David Egan’s ride Mr Professor who has claims at the weights if he’s fully tuned.

There are also two Listed races, in which the runners are also coming off extended layoffs. Using class as the best guide, Roger Varian’s grey colt Charyn, placed in two Group 1 clashes last year, could start his 2024 campaign on a winning note in the Doncaster Mile Stakes (Race 1 @ 15:20). Group 3 Prix Sigy winner Marshman should give a good account of himself in the Cammidge Trophy Stakes (Race 4).

SUNDAY HIGHLIGHTS

SHA TIN: DRAW FAVOURS MASSIVE SOVEREIGN IN DERBY

The Yung family won the Grade 1 BMW Hong Kong Derby over 2000m with Oriental Express (1997) and Olympic Express (2002). They are hoping for a historic third win in the city’s most sought-after race for stayers with leading runner Helios Express at Sha Tin on Sunday. But his bid has been complicated by a challenging barrier draw, while main rival Galaxy Patch also has to jump from a wide berth. This opens the door for well-drawn Massive Sovereign, who is looking to become the first horse since 1997 to win the Derby in just his second start in the city. Formerly known as Broadhurst, Massive Sovereign made light work of 13 rivals at Sha Tin on 3 March and has big prospects with Zac Purton riding.

HB GREYVILLE: TARRY RUNNER HANDILY WEIGHTED IN KINGS CUP

Celestial City looks perfectly placed by trainer Sean Tarry in Sunday’s Listed Kings Cup over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville. This useful full-brother to Hawwaam has won four of five races over the trip in Gauteng, stepping up a notch every time. He proved his wellbeing after a rest with a good fourth from a wide draw at Turffontein last month, and jumps from the inside barrier this time. More than anything, his handy 53,5kg could be the telling factor. This puts him in receipt of 6.5kg from Imilenzeyokududuma, his most formidable local rival. Another Gauteng challenger Celestial City rates the biggest danger to Tarry’s runner.