WEEKEND RACING HIGHLIGHTS: 29 - 31 March

GROW YOUR BETTING BANKROLL FOR CHAMPIONS DAY

Saturday’s prize-rich Dubai World Cup meeting, a nine-race extravaganza packed with top international contenders, tops the bill this Easter Weekend alongside four local meetings and quality fare from the UK, Singapore and Hong Kong. We’re building towards Champions Day at Turffontein Saturday week, when a R2-million carryover is expected to fuel an R8-million Pick 6 pool and you can bet with TAB into Hong Kong’s mega global pools. Over the next few days there are many chances to grow your betting bankroll so stay locked into Racing 240.

FRIDAY HIGHLIGHT

FAIRVIEW: REFRESHED FOURIE AND GREEFF SET FOR MORE WINNERS

Title-chasing jockey Richard Fourie took a few days off to recharge on a fishing breakaway this week, but will be back in the irons on the Polytrack at Fairview on Good Friday with a promise to be “bigger and better”. Fourie and trainer Alan Greeff have a winning strike rate of 25% and could be in the winner’s box as early as Race 1 with the trainer’s new acquisition Battle Of Kursk, who has fair upcountry form.

There are two other Greeff runners to watch. For All We Know (Race 4) has the best draw of those with good recent form and has won over the course and distance. Greeff has booked Fourie on River Queraress (Race 7) one of five useful stable entries. She, too, is new to Gqeberha and reverts to 1000m, which could be significant as she won twice over this trip earlier.

SATURDAY HIGHLIGHTS

TAB: BET INTO HONG KONG’S MASSIVE GLOBAL POOLS AT 3 MEETINGS

TAB customers can bet into the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s massive World Pool tote on three race meetings this Saturday. The World Pool tote will be in operation on four selected races at two Australian meetings - Races 7 and 8 (Grade 1 TAB Australian Cup) at Flemington in Melbourne and Races 8 (Grade 1 Kia Tancred Stakes) and 9 at Rosehill in Sydney. TAB will offer the normal range of Tabcorp commingled pools on both meetings with Win, Place and Trifecta bets on the four races being commingled into the Hong Kong pools. Customers wanting to take advantage of the big pools need to get up early with the first of the World Pool races due off at 06:40.

Later in the day the World Pool tote will be in operation on Races 2 to 9 at the renowned Dubai World Cup meeting at Meydan. All Win, Place, Exacta, Quinella and Swinger bets taken with TAB on these races will be commingled into Hong Kong pools, giving customers the chance to take huge bets on the best horses on the planet without any fear of depressing payouts. The Meydan spectacular starts at 13:30 with the Dubai Kahayla Classic for Arabians the first act in five hours of electrifying action.

TURFFONTEIN: BANK ON MAGNER TO LIGHT UP YOUR PICK 6

Fourie travels to Turffontein’s Inside track on Saturday for seven quality rides, including a potential Pick 6 banker in trainer Roy Magner’s Theres A Light (Race 4). This three-year-old by Querari has impressed with two good seconds from as many runs since being gelded and looks cherry ripe. He has a plum draw and bumps a moderate field.

Fourie has three other good winning chances. Legend Of Arthur (Race 2) is a promising half-brother to 2018 SA Derby winner Hero’s Honour and looks ready to get off the mark. Pyromaniac (Race 6) has solid claims on a line of form through his rival Silent War. Libeccio (Race 7) is at the top of his game and perhaps still ahead of the handicapper, so expect him to run well again. Note that trainer Sean Tarry will scratch Mid Winter Wind from Race 8. He has opted to instead run this fast-improving gelding in the Byerley Turk at Greyville on Sunday.

SUGGESTED R3,880 PICK 6 (R388,80 for 10%):
Leg 1: 1
Leg 2: FIELD (1-9)
Leg 3: 1, 2, 8
Leg 4: 2, 7, 9
Leg 5: 2, 3, 4, 8
Leg 6: FIELD (1-12)

MEYDAN: FEAST OF GROUP RACES AT THE DUBAI WORLD CUP

There are nine star-studded feature races at Saturday’s 2024 Dubai World Cup meeting, headed by the ninth and last race - the $12-million Dubai World Cup over 2000m on dirt. Ushba Tesoro is back to defend his crown and faces Kabirkhan, the pride of Kazakhstan who has risen from humble beginnings to be a major player in the showpiece of Dubai racing. This unlikely contender has only been defeated once in 11 starts. The dark horse is last year’s terrific UAE Derby winner Derma Sotogake, a special talent who should be nearing his peak after a strong effort behind White Abarrio in the Breeders’ Cup Classic and a good warm-up run in the Saudi Cup.

Here are some of the other highlights:

* Race 2 - Group 2 Godolphin Mile 1600m: This looks a head-to-head clash between Saudi Crown, third in the recent Saudi Cup, and last year’s winner Isolate.

* Race 3 - Group 2 Dubai Gold Cup 3200m: A cracking renewal featuring many of Europe’s top stayers, including Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien’s Tower Of London, Godolphin’s Trawlerman and dual classic winner Elder Eladarov. Trainer Charlie Appleby’s Siskany, narrowly beaten last year, is a big contender too.

* Race 5 - Group 2 UAE Derby 1900m: Unbeaten Forever Young is the hot favourite, but faces a stiff task from a poor draw. An upset is possible.

* Race 6 - Group 1 Golden Shaheen 1200m: Sibelius scraped home last year under a powerful ride from Ryan Moore. He arrives back in good form and, with Moore engaged again, should put up a bold show.

* Race 7 - Group 1 Dubai Turf 1800m: A good international contest featuring the top Japanese pair Do Deuce and Danon Belgua along with Appleby’s unexposed and progressive Measured Time.

* Race 8 - Group 1 Sheema Classic 2400m: The clash of European star Auguste Rodin and Japanese Triple Crown winner Liberty Island is a prospect to savour. Don’t miss it!

SUNDAY HIGHLIGHT

HB GREYVILLE: SNAITH HOPES EARLY BIRDS CATCH WORMS

Two runners stand out in Grade 3 features over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Easter Sunday. Cape trainer Justin Snaith, who has trucked several runners to Summerveld earlier than normal to contest the first KZN features of the winter season, will saddle ace filly Double Grand Slam in the Umzimkhulu Stakes. A facile winner of the Splashout Prix Du Cap on Cape Derby Day, Double Grand Slam is 3,5kg worse off with Rascova for beating her by 3,40 lengths, but the Snaith filly appears to have more scope and should confirm the result.

With a merit rating of 116, Snaith’s smart Grade 1 Cape Guineas winner Snow Pilot is the highest-rated runner in the Byerley Turk, but  Gimmeanotherchance (rated 111) is well in with a pull of 6kg and is capable on his day. Snaith has booked Richard Fourie on Underworld, one to consider if you’re playing to beat the two top-rated runners.

LONG WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTS

UK: COUNT ON APPLEBY  IN LISTED BARRADON STAKES

The Listed BetMGM Barradon Stakes over 1600m is the opener and topliner at Newcastle’s Premier Race Day on the all-weather track on Good Friday. Trainer Charlie Appleby’s impeccably bred and unbeaten Silent Age (Dubawi) will go off favourite to post his third success in as many starts. He looks the part but is not without opposition, notably John and Thady Gosden’s runner Orne. There are Premier race days at Haydock (jumps) and Musselburgh (flat) in the UK on Saturday and racing fans can look forward to the customary quality action at Kranji (11 races, Saturday) and Sha Tin (10 races, Sunday).