WEEKEND RACING HIGHLIGHTS: 12 - 14 July

TWO BANKERS FOR YOUR TURFFONTEIN PICK 6 BET

The highlight of local racing this weekend is a meeting on the Standside track at Turffontein. With competitive mid-winter fields, expect a good Pick 6 pool and dividend. We have two bankers in our suggested permutation, but the wise move will be to cover your Pick 6 choices with Jackpots. There is some excellent Group-race action at Newmarket in the UK on Friday and Saturday. Don’t get left - to have a chance of winning serious cash, you must have a ticket!

FRIDAY HIGHLIGHTS

FAIRVIEW: LUCKY’S RAID WITH BATTLEGROUND TO PAY OFF

Trainer Lucky Houdalakis pays a rare visit to Fairview to saddle four-year-old stayer Battleground in the EP Gold Cup over 3200m. He is confident of winning. Battleground is the only runner in the eight-horse field to have run, and placed, over the testing trip. He brings consistent Highveld staying form into the race, including a third place to Crimson King in the recent Listed TAB Gold Bowl. His danger is Bournemouth, who fluffed his lines last time. But according to his trainer Alan Greeff, he will enjoy the marathon trip and “could be back with a vengeance”.

NEWMARKET UK: O’BRIEN VERSUS THE GOSDENS IN FALMOUTH

The Group 1 Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes over 1600m on the July course has illustrious names including Goldikova, Soviet Song and Alice Springs on its roll of honour. Trainer Aidan O’Brien’s Porta Fortuna is the strongest contender on her win in last month’s Group 1 Coronation Stakes, but she can expect opposition from John and Thady Gosden’s Running Lion. The Gosdens won the race with Nashwa last year and Running Lion looks a filly of similar calibre on the strength of her win in the Group 2 Duke of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot.

SATURDAY HIGHLIGHTS

KRANJI SINGAPORE: EJAZ SET FOR ANOTHER POLYTRACK WIN

Talented four-year-old Ejaz has won twice since returning from a leg operation last March and looks the right choice in the topliner, Race 9 over 1000m on the Polytrack. Trainer Steven Burridge said: “He had a year off racing when he had a pin put into a knee. We have to watch him carefully, but I think the Polytrack takes the jar out of his legs. He enjoys the track.” Jockey Manoel Nunes commented: "He's a smart horse. Without his leg issues, he would be a Class 1 horse.”

TURFFONTEIN: CHYAVANA LOOKS THE GOODS IN SPRINT

Trainer Johan Janse van Vuuren’s smart six-time winner Chyavana looks the obvious choice in Race 7, the GG Gaming Middle Stakes over 1160m. He should continue to frank the form of a race won by now retired sprinting star Thunderstruck on 18 May, which has already produced a fluent subsequent winner in Trompie.

Stablemate Rainbow Reward is a perennial under-achiever, but he’s one to consider if you’re playing to beat Chyavana. On a trappy programme, it may be worth taking a chance on After Hours as a second Pick 6 banker in Race 9 over 1160m. The consideration here is that trainer St John Gray has re-engaged Piere Strydom and that After Hours will race off his lowest-yet merit rating in a weak field.

SUGGESTED R960 PICK 6 (R96 for 10%):

Leg 1: 1, 2, 9, 12

Leg 2: 1, 3, 4, 7, 8

Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 9

Leg 4: 1

Leg 5: FIELD (1-12)

Leg 6: 1

NOTE: The Kenilworth race meeting scheduled for Saturday has been postponed to Monday 15 July.

SUNDAY HIGHLIGHTS

SHA TIN HK: LUI HAS STRONG HAND AT SEASON FINALE

Trainer Francis Lui is a single winner behind Pierre Ng in the 2023-24 Hong Kong trainers’ championship heading into this final meeting of the season. There are 11 races and Lui has entered 10 runners, including ace galloper Chancheng Glory, the early favourite for Race 8 over 1600m. Chancheng Glory was collared late by champion Galaxy Patch in a Group 3 race at the end of June and seeks to go one better in a weaker race. “I think he could be the one to beat,” said Lui, who also holds good winning chances with Call Me Glorious (Race 2), Packing Hermod (Race 9) and Patch of Theta (Race 11).

HOLLYWOODBETS GREYVILLE: IN-FORM ALYSON OUT TO ADD TO CAREER-BEST TALLY

Alyson Wright has saddled a career-best 53 winners so far this season and she’ll be hoping to add to her tally on a challenging eight-race card on the Polytrack. Wave Warrior (Race 3, 1600m) has dropped to a competitive mark and looks a strong contender over his favourite course and distance. Far Horizon (Race 4, 1000m) has taken a big drop in her rating since winning a maiden last year and has caught the eye with fair runs in slightly stronger company recently. She could surprise from a good draw.

Love In Winter is slowly returning to the kind of form he showed as a three-year-old and he, too, is favoured by an inside draw in Race 5 over 1000m. Fate Of Fortune (Race 7, 1400m), was touched off after a rest recently and could be hard to beat if he maintains that level of form.