WEEKEND RACING HIGHLIGHTS: 3 - 6 May

FEATURE RACES GALORE PLUS A R1-MILLION PICK 6 CARRYOVER

A R1-million TAB Pick 6 carryover at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday is the cherry on top of a delightful weekend for racing connoisseurs. The meeting kicks off the KZN Champions Season and features three Grade 2 contests, including the WSB Guineas for males and the fillies’ equivalent, in which Sandringham Summit and Double Grand Slam rank Pick 6 bankers. There’s also a 10-race programme at Turffontein. In the UK, the flat season gets into top gear with the three-day QIPCO Guineas Festival at Newmarket and the first classic races of the British summer. So make sure your TAB account is loaded and ready to fire!

FRIDAY HIGHLIGHTS

FAIRVIEW: SMITH’S IN-FORM SPRINTER CAN TAKE CONTROL

Cruise Control, a 10-time winner from 16 career starts, will be hot favourite in Race 5 at Fairview this Friday and trainer Gavin Smith is confident about his charge will post an 11^th success. Smith said on Racing Today’s Track Talk (www.racingtoday.co.za): “Cruise Control is flying and looks an absolute picture. I’m always a little concerned about 1200m, but he has learnt to settle so I’m expecting a big run.” Smith is also optimistic about Queen of Jazz (Race 2) who will be fitted with blinkers and has an inside draw. Also note that trainer Alan Greeff is confident about his improving filly You Win Again (Race 6), a runaway winner of her last start.

NEWMARKET (UK): CHARLIE HAS AN ACE IN CASTLE WAY

Opening day of the Guineas Festival and trainer Charlie Appleby’s Castle Way, twice a stakes winner over the Rowley Mile and with the benefit of a recent run, looks the one to beat in the Group 2 William Hill Jockey Club Stakes over 2400m.

SATURDAY HIGHLIGHTS

KRANJI: MAKIN ON TRACK FOR FOUR WINS IN A ROW

Trainer Steven Burridge will saddle two Group 1 Kranji Mile nominees in Makin and Cavalry in Race 9 over 1600m. Burridge is yet to decide if they’ll run in the big race, two weeks away. In-form Makin has already won three in a row and his connections also have June’s Silver Bowl and the Stewards Cup in mind. “You have to choose your battles," said Burridge. "I definitely want Makin to have every chance in the four-year-old races. So, if that means missing out on the Kranji Mile, then so be it. We expect him to run well this Saturday.” Race 1 is at 0630.

TURFFONTEIN: TWO TO BANKER ON A TRICKY AFTERNOON

This is a challenging 10-race programme and big returns are virtually assured for those who put all the pieces of the puzzle together. There appear to be two runners to have some confidence about in Deception Pass (Race 5) and Where’s The Party (Race 9). Both are worth playing as bankers in small Pick 6 and Jackpot perms. Deception Pass is coming to hand fast and has his first run after gelding. Where’s The Party has produced some promising Western Cape runs against slightly stronger and could make a winning debut for Tony Peter.

GREYVILLE: THREE RUNNERS HARD TO BEAT ON RATINGS

Sandringham Summit (MR 123), the Highveld’s classic star, clashes with Cape-based Graded winners Snow Pilot and Green With Envy for the first time in Race 8, a quality renewal of the Grade 2 WSB Guineas over 1600m. On merit ratings Sandringham Summit is pretty much the proverbial certainty at the weights. And that he’s won a Grade 2 race over the course and distance is additional motivation to banker him in the carryover Pick 6.

It’s much the same story in Race 6, the Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m. Distance specialist Main Defender is rated 131 and is hard to oppose. Merit ratings also point to Double Grand Slam (MR118) as a likely easy winner of Race 7, the Grade 2 WSB Fillies Guineas. Make it simple - take a Pick 6 with three fields and three bankers, and a few Jackpots to cover.

SUGGESTED R1650 PICK 6 (R825 for 50%):

Leg 1: FIELD (1-10)

Leg 2: FIELD (1-11)

Leg 3: 3

Leg 4: 5

Leg 5: 2

Leg 6: FIELD (1-13)

NEWMARKET: O’BRIEN HAS ANOTHER CLASSIC IN HIS SIGHTS

The first of the big races of the English summer season and trainer Aidan O’Brien’s sensational colt City Of Troy makes his return to the track in the Group 1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas. He’s unbeaten in three career starts, all over 1400m, and his victories include the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes last year. He should be even better over 1600m and it will take a very good three-year-old to beat him in this famous English classic, first run in 1809. O’Brien has won the races 10 times!

And if you are in a betting mood, here’s your chance to have a full go with minimal impact on the payouts. All TAB Win, Place, Exacta, Quinella, Swinger and Trifecta bets on all seven races will be commingled through the UK Tote into the massive Hong Kong Jockey Club World Pool tote. Please remember no fractional bets can be taken on commingled pools.

SUNDAY HIGHLIGHTS

SHA TIN: TONY’S FIVE G PATCH HAS THE RIGHT CREDENTIALS

Trainer Douglas Whyte’s game stayer Russian Emperor must concede weight all round in the Queen Mother Memorial Cup over 2400m, which brings a few others into the fray. Best of the opposition is Tony Cruz’s runner Five G Patch, who was on the heels Of Romantic Warrior in last week’s Grade 1 QEII Cup over 2400m. He is Grade 1 placed over this distance and significantly better off with Russian Emperor for a 1.25-length beating in last season’s Standard Charter Champions & Chater Cup. The meeting starts at 6.30am.

KENILWORTH: ERRATIC PACAYA TO RESUME WINNING WAYS

Talented but erratic Pacaya raced wide and then encountered traffic problems in the Grade 3 Variety Club Mile won by Rascallion recently. He is capable of turning the tables in Sunday’s Grade 3 Legal Eagle Stakes over 1800m. Pacaya was beaten under a length in the Peninsula Handicap over the track and trip in December and then finished ahead of Rascallion when they were beaten by Durban July contender Mucho Dinero in January. With Richard Fourie back in the irons, Pacaya will fight it out if he gets a trouble-free run.

NEWMARKET (UK): OLD RIVALS SET TO DUEL IN 1000 GUINEAS

Third and final day of the Guineas Festival and stand by for a duel between top classic fillies Fallen Angel (Karl Burke) and Ylang Ylang (Aiden O’Brien) in the Group 1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas. Fallen Angel was well ahead of Ylang Ylang when winning last September’s Group 1 Moyglare Stakes at the Curragh. But Ylang Ylang showed that she may have had an off day there when she bagged the Group 1 bet365 Fillies a Mile at this track a month later. Their renewed rivalry will be good to watch! All TAB Win, Place, Exacta, Quinella, Swinger and Trifecta bets on the 1000 Guineas will be commingled into the Hong Kong Jockey Club World Pool tote.