WEEKEND RACING HIGHLIGHTS: 28 - 30 June

FAIRVIEW PICK 6 BONANZA AND TOP RACING IN IRELAND

A R500,000 carryover is expected to generate a whopping R3-million Pick 6 Pool at the Fairview turf meeting this Friday afternoon and with no standout bankers a good dividend is likely. Champion filly Mrs Geriatrix takes on male rivals in Saturday’s KZN Breeders Mile at Hollywoodbets Greyville. There is quality racing at the Curragh in Ireland on Saturday and Sunday with the added attraction of TAB Win, Place, Exacta, Quinella, Swinger and Trifecta bets on all races at Sunday’s Irish Derby meeting going into Hong Kong world pools. It’s a racing weekend full of excitement and chances to win!

FRIDAY HIGHLIGHTS

FAIRVIEW: HOW THE KEY TRAINERS VIEW THEIR RUNNERS

The challenging carryover Pick 6 starts in Race 3 at 13:35. We have compiled a few trainers’ comments to serve as pointers:

Race 3 - Kelly Mitchley: “Torix Night is in a good space and Richard Fourie has a good strike rate for us.”

Race 4 - Kelly Mitchley: “Beau Kala may just need it, but should run a good race.”

Sharon Kotzen: “Get It Done faces a similar field to when she won last time, a good run is expected.”

Gavin Smith: “Hugsandhighfives should hold her own here.”

Alan Greeff: “Arabian Red could follow up on her last win.”

Race 5 - Gavin Smith: “Both First Origin and The Winter Lake warrant respect. Vegas Gold loves the course and distance.”

Juan Nel: “Evie’s First should be in the first three.”

Alan Greeff: “Whatever Next is dropping in ratings, he’s going to find his best form soon.”

Race 6 - Alan Greeff: “Inherit The Rain likes to unwind and has a chance again despite his wide draw.”

Zietsman Oosthuizen: “Funky Music faces the same field as last time, has a chance.”

Kelly Mitchley: “Brenden James always tries his best, he is all heart.”

Race 7 - Alan Greeff: “Three Rocks is our star sprinter, unbeaten over the course and distance. I was in two minds whether to run Luna Halo but our jockeys convinced me she has the pace to be competitive. She is deadly over 1400m to 1600m and she won twice over 1200m earlier in her career.”

Race 8 - Alan Greeff: “Coastal Path is best over 1200m and will be competitive.”

Sharon Kotzen: “We’re expecting a good run from Guarding The Wall.” SUGGESTED R2,400 PICK 6 (R240 for 10%):

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

Leg 2: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6

Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 4, 11, 16

Leg 4: 3, 4, 9, 10

Leg 5: 1, 2

Leg 6: 4, 8

NEWCASTLE UK: TIFFANY COULD EXCEL ON ALL-WEATHER

Back-to-back Listed winner Tiffany has her first outing on Newcastle’s all-weather track in a Group 3 clash over 2000m. She’s in the hands of regular jockey Luke Morris, the multiple all-weather champion. Tiffany has been sparingly raced by Sir Mark Prescott, posting five wins from eight starts, and on the strength of her runaway success in Germany last month, should be at the peak of her powers.

SATURDAY HIGHLIGHTS

HOLLYWOODBETS GREYVILLE: MRS GERIATRIX IS BEST WEIGHTED

With a spread of only 4kg from the top to the bottom of the handicap and a rating of 112, Grade 1 winner Mrs Geriatrix could trounce her rivals in Race 7, the R600,000 KZN Breeders Mile. Last season’s Equus Champion Two-Year-Old has not won since last October, but has raced competitively in significantly stronger company. Her places in two Grade 1 classics over 1600m suggest she is capable of winning over this trip. She prepped well over 1450m this month and should get back in the winner’s circle.

CURRAGH IRELAND: EMILY UPJOHN MAKES MOST APPEAL

The Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes over 2000m, the Group 2 Airlie Stud Stakes over 1200m and the Group 3 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai International Stakes over 2000m top the bill on an eight-race card. Star filly Emily Upjohn was just short of her best when fourth to Luxembourg in last month’s Group 1 Coronation Cup. She’ll be better off for the run and looks hard to beat.

SUNDAY HIGHLIGHTS

KRANJI SINGAPORE: LIM’S SALTORO SEEKS FEATURE HAT TRICK

On a hat -trick of feature-race wins, and only once defeated in eight starts, Lim’s Saltoro is fancied to land Race 9, a Group 2 contest over 1600m. While Lim’s Saltoro hasn’t been tested at the distance, he is the class of the race. His only loss was by a short head to stablemate and two-time Singapore Horse of the Year Lim's Kosciuszko in the Group 2 EW Barker in April. Jockey Marc Learner believes Lim’s Saltoro will like the extra and said: "I think it's all about timing with this horse. The way he won the Silver Bowl over 1400m gave me confidence that the mile will not be a problem.” The first race is off at 06:30.

TURFONTEIN: TROMPIE COULD BE TOO FAST FOR HIS RIVALS

Brett Crawford’s speedy four-year-old Trompie is on the comeback trail following a rest and gelding. He showed up well in his most recent race, a quality handicap won by champion sprinter Thunderstruck, and could get back to winning ways against lesser opposition in Race 7 over 1000m. There are two other betting prospects on the day in Sean Tarry’s Rodeo Drive (Race 2), narrowly beaten in the Grade 1 Allan Robertson Championship, and Pistol Pete (Race 3), fifth in the Grade 1 Gold Medallion after having to ease and switch at a critical stage of the contest. Both tumble in class.

CURRAGH IRELAND: AMBIENTE FRIENDLY AND LOS ANGELES SET TO DUEL

Ambiente Friendly and Los Angeles, second and third respectively in the Group 1 Betfred Derby to City Of Troy at Epsom, renew rivalry in the Group 1 Irish Derby over 2400m. Ambiente Friendly was 0.50 lengths ahead of Los Angeles that day, but with home ground advantage Los Angeles could have the edge this time and an exciting duel is on the cards. Whichever one you fancy you can have a full go because all TAB Win, Place, Exacta, Quinella, Swinger and Trifecta bets go into the massive Hong Kong pools.

FORTHCOMING ATTRACTIONS

MONDAY 1 JULY: Here’s a Monday with a difference with a Sha Tin race meeting in Hong Kong headlining proceedings. It’s an 11-race programme on Hong Kong Reunification Raceday and starts at 10:00.

GREYVILLE SATURDAY 6 JULY: Africa’s biggest betting day. The Hollywoodbets Durban July tops a 12-race card with three mega TAB carryovers: a R2-million Pick 6 carryover (likely pool R20 million), a R1-million Quartet carryover on the big one (likely pool R12 million) and a R500,000 Jackpot THREE carryover (likely pool R3 million). Champagne racing and your chance to win a small fortune!