WEEKEND RACING HIGHLIGHTS: 26 - 28 April

LUCKY LAD LOOKS A RELIABLE BANKER IN CARRYOVER PICK 6!

A super 10-race card at Turffontein, featuring four Grade 2s, two Grade 3s and a Listed contest, brings down the curtain on 4Racing’s grand Summer-Autumn Feature Season this Saturday. And a R500,000 Pick 6 carryover set to trigger a total pool of over R3 million adds cream to an afternoon of delightful racing fare. Top three-year-old Lucky Lad looks a notch above his rivals in Race 8 and appeals as a pivotal runner for Pick 6 players.

FRIDAY HIGHLIGHTS

FAIRVIEW: RELOCATED FILLY CAN GET THE JAM IN TOPLINER

Four-year-old Jam Jam was considered a feature prospect when she started her career in Cape Town. She lost her way in Durban last season, but with a significant drop in rating, is well on the comeback trail for her new trainer Sharon Kotzen. Jam Jam is handily weighted in Race 7, the 1600m topliner, which has been thrown wide open following the scratching of United Express. In-form Tara Laing’s Chroniclesofnania poses a threat and Aerial View’s good record on the Polytrack brings her into contention. This is a challenging card in which Puerto Plata (Race 8) is the only runner with banker appeal.

SANDOWN: FITNESS IS ACCOMPLISHED LORD NORTH’S ACE

Lord North, the three-time Grade 1 Dubai Turf winner, has the benefit of two good recent runs going into Race 4, the Group 2 bet356 Mile, at this premier fixture. Main rivals Nostrum and Poker Face haven’t raced since the latter part of 2023, which leaves last month’s Listed winner Charyn as possibly the principal danger. It’s a really good race and is supported on either side by Group 3 contests over 2000m at a really good meeting.

SATURDAY HIGHLIGHTS

KRANJI: LE GRANGE HOLDS THE ACE IN SINGAPORE CLASSIC

South African Ricky Le Grange’s three-year-old colt Ace Of Diamonds is hot favourite for Saturday’s Group 2 Singapore Three-Year-Old Classic over 1400m on turf. He aims to secure back-to-back victories in the three-year-old series following a win in the Group 3 Singapore Three-Year-Old Sprint three weeks ago. He was caught wide and raced very green that day but still prevailed, suggesting that a step up to 1400m should suit. “He’s a serious racehorse,” said Le Grange, who has yet to win the Classic. “He did it very tough in the Sprint, but his turn of foot was exceptional. The extra 200m will be ideal. I’m excited to see what he can do on Saturday.” The meeting starts at 06.30.

TURFFONTEIN: DE KOCK OFFERS SAFE PASSAGE IN COLORADO KING

Safe Passage has shown erratic form since suffering a foot injury in January 2023, but trainer Mike de Kock reckons he is approaching his old self in work and that he’ll be a factor in the Grade 2 Colorado King Stakes over 2000m. His merit rating has dropped from a high of 124 to 115, undoubtedly a telling factor if he arrives near the top of his form.

Stablemate Aragosta is more consistent and in good shape with solid prospects on his third place in the Premier’s Champions Challenge. Older warrior Puerto Manzano, Future Pearl and SA Derby-placed three-year-old New Predator are others to consider in what shapes as a field leg in the Pick 6. The good news is that there is a potential Pick 6 banker in the Grade 2 Jehan Malherbe Senor Santa Sprint over 1160m. Top three-year-old Lucky Lad is unbeaten in two starts over track and trip, and looks hard to oppose in his peak run after a rest.

SUGGESTED R5,544 PICK 6 (R554,40 for 10%):

Leg 1: 1, 4, 5, 6

Leg 2: 1, 5, 6

Leg 3: 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9

Leg 4: FIELD (1-7)

Leg 5: 3

Leg 6: FIELD (1-11)

SANDOWN: GREAT DUEL EXPECTED IN CELEBRATION CHASE

Accomplished stayers El Fabiolo and Jonbon should fight out the finish of the Group 1 Celebration Chase at Sandown at the tail end of the jumps season. They’re both multiple Group 1 winners in top form and at level weights there is little to choose between them.

Interestingly, this race will decide whether El Fabiolo’s trainer Willie Mullins can secure both the British and Irish jump trainer titles, and become the first Irish winner of the UK title since Vincent O'Brien in 1954. The bet of the meeting looks to be Le Milos in the Gold Cup (Race 4). There are also flat meetings at Haydock, Ripon, Wolverhampton and Leicester, where Ey Up Its Jazz looks eachway value in the last after a promising comeback run recently.

SUNDAY HIGHLIGHTS

SHA TIN: HK CHAMP BIDS FOR RECORD 4TH CHAMPIONS MILE WIN

Hong Kong’s champion horse  Golden Sixty will attempt to land a record-extending fourth consecutive win in the R53- million G1 FWD Champions Mile. He became the first to complete a Champions Mile hat trick in 2023. He races for the first time in 2024, which will be his second run this season after claiming the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile last December, and has drawn a bit wide at 7. Trainer Francis Lui: “The draw is not a worry, only the weather will be. He’s very professional and he looks after himself. I think his condition has come up just in time.”

Meanwhile, progressive Invisible Sage is expected to take a step up to win the Grade 1 FWD Chairman’s Sprint and up-and-coming BMW Derby winner Massive Sovereign looks capable of landing the Grade 1 FWD QEII Cup over 2000m. The meeting gets underway at 06:45.

SCOTTSVILLE: VAN VUUREN SET TO TAKE HOME A DOUBLE

Trainer Johan Janse van Vuuren has two young and in-form raiders in two of the four feature races at this Hollywoodbets Scottsville fixture. Cliff Hanger looks the part in Race 4, the Listed In Full Flight Handicap over 1100m. He is unbeaten in two starts over the course and distance, including a win in the Grade 3 Godolphin Barb at this meeting almost a year ago. Stablemate Cymric runs in Race 7, this year’s renewal of the Godolphin Barb, and posted an impressive first win at the Vaal recently. Computaform have him at the top of the ratings and are expecting quick steps up the ladder for this son of Vercingetorix.

Just Reckless, an eye-catching in second to Little Ballerina in the Grade 2 SA Fillies Nursery recently, should be too good for her eight rivals in Race 5. Listed Olympic Duel Stakes winner Ripple Effect is not easy to follow, but will take a power of beating if she brings her A game to the Grade 3 Dennis Drier Poinsettia Stakes.