The good times roll on for horseracing fans this weekend with the last two days of the 2024 Royal Ascot Festival in the UK and a local double header at Turffontein and Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday. Trainer Aidan O’Brien is set to add to his phenomenal list of big-race triumphs at Ascot, where TAB customers can bet into Hong Kong’s World Pool tote on all races. And in the topliner at Turffontein, there’s a value bet that could pump loads of cash into your TAB account!
Trainer Alan Greeff saddles in-form runners For All We Know and Unyielding in Race 7 over 1600m on turf and says both are expected to be competitive. They have a strong rival in Juan Nel’s mare Treasure Hunt, who won four races for Piet Botha in the Western Cape and has been threatening to hit the board in her new home. Nel said: “She ran very well in a Pinnacle Plate last time and under handicap conditions has a big chance here. She is fit and well, a real soldier.” Treasure Hunt will race in the hands of promising 4kg-claimer Nirvan Nastili, who has three wins and six places from his last 21 rides.
Make a note to start studying early for next Friday’s meeting at Fairview. The 28 June TAB Pick 6 at the Gqeberha track starts with a R500,000 carryover and will give you the chance to land a huge win ahead of South Africa’s most famous raceday.
There are four Group races on Day Four of the Royal Ascot Festival. Kevin Ryan’s Inisheren, a commanding winner of the recent Group 2 Sandy Lane Stakes over 1200m at York, looks the most progressive of the three-year-old colts in Race 2, the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup over 1200m. Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore could continue their winning streak with Justify’s three-year-old daughter, Opera Singer, in Race 3, the Group 1 Coronation Cup over 1600m. A Group 1 winner in France last October, Opera Singer finished a respectable third in her preparation run in the Irish 1000 Guineas on 26 May. She should be spot on now.
Tim Fitzsimmons said that he had to rush his highly regarded Australian import Tommy Gun into his winning Kranji debut on 4 May due to a lack of other suitable races. That may explain his flat and disappointing run on 25 May. It was also thought that Tommy Gun didn’t enjoy the adverse conditions that day. He should be at a peak in the topliner at this meeting (Race 2). “He’s a nice horse. He was underdone, only 70% ready when he won his local debut,” said Fitzsimmons. Tommy Gun looked well when finishing second in a recent trial. The meeting starts at 06:30.
Speedy powerhouse One Stripe is expected to confirm his reputation as the best two-year-old in the Western Cape when he lines up in Race 7, the R500,000 Grade 3 Langerman over 1500m. He already has two Grade 3 wins over 1100m and 1200m from his four starts, and indications are he’ll be just as effective over the extra ground. His sire, the sensational freshman One World, won this standard-setting feature in 2018 and went on to a star-studded career. One Stripe should be a reliable Pick 6 banker on an otherwise trappy card, which includes the competitive Winter Mile.
SUGGESTED R3,840 PICK 6 (R384 for 10%):
Leg 1: 4, 5, 7, 8, 11
Leg 2: 1, 2, 5, 7
Leg 3: FIELD (1-12)
Leg 4: 1
Leg 5: 2, 3, 4, 5
Leg 6: 3, 5, 6, 9
Trainer Alson Ndzilana is enjoying consistent success with a small string and has a chance of winning Race 6 over 1600m at Turffontein on Saturday with lightly-raced five-year-old Trident King. The gelding looked destined for the higher divisions when winning four of his first 13 starts to April 2023, but he’s had a few setbacks since and it has taken time and patience to get him back on the boil. He signalled a return to form with two good recent preparation runs against slightly stronger and Ndzilana said: “He had an ulcer but is over his problems. He is sound and we’re expecting a good run from him.” Trident King re-unites with Muzi Yeni, who rode him in two previous wins, and looks a good value bet from an inside draw.
The Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes over 1200m (Race 3) tops the bill on the final day of Royal Ascot. A lack of any runs this year may relegate Ralph Beckett’s quality seven-year-old sprinter Kinross to playing second fiddle to Jane Chapple-Hyam’s four-year-old Mill Stream, who gave a good indication of his well-being when winning the recent Group 2 Duke Of York Clipper Stakes. With William Buick back in the irons, he is the horse to beat. The Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes and the Group 3 Jersey Stakes add plenty of lustre to another day of showcase racing.
California Spangle, the only Group 1 winner in the Group 3 Premier Cup (Race 8), is fancied to be the first top weight in seven years to win the race. Tony Cruz is hoping that Hong Kong’s forecast wet weather stays away long enough to give his star every chance of finishing a good season in style. “He’s ready for this race and I hope the ground is good,” said the trainer. Galaxy Patch, fresh from a superb Group 3 Lion Rock Trophy success on 2 June, looks set to land Race 9, the Premier Plate over 1800m. His trainer Pierre Ng confirmed that his stable star had pulled up well after that race and Vincent Ho is back on board. “He looks perfect,” said Ng. The meeting starts at 10:00.
There are two potential Pick 6 bankers on this eight-race card. Dean Kannemeyer’s Rhydian (Race 3) has attracted strong betting support in his last two, but found one better on both occasions. Jockey Craig Zackey will play to Rhydian’s strengths from a more favourable draw and the longer run-in at the Maritzburg track will suit him. Andre Nel’s Landseer looks ready to win in Race 4 over 1600m. He’s a good-looking son of Lancaster Bomber and the distance should be right up his alley on the evidence of two eye-catching runs over 1200m.
The Listed Pontefract Castle Fillies' Stakes over 2400m (Race 3) is the Sunday highlight in the UK. Ralph Beckett’s well-performed stayer River Of Stars acquitted herself well when finishing third in the Group 3 Bronte Stakes recently after a nine-month break. She’s the class act in a big field, have a bet!
FAIRVIEW FRIDAY 28 JUNE: Get set for fireworks - the East Cape Breeders Stakes tops a challenging card and there’s a R500,000 Pick 6 carryover that should generate a total pool of over R3 million. What a chance to win huge bucks with TAB!
GREYVILLE SATURDAY 6 JULY: South Africa’s biggest betting day. The Hollywoodbets Durban July tops a 12-race card that boasts 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 with loads of chances to win a small fortune!