WEEKEND RACING HIGHLIGHTS: 03 - 05 Jan 2025

LIKELY R5-MILLION PICK 6 BONANZA ON KING’S PLATE DAY

A R1-million TAB Pick 6 carryover to this Saturday’s L’Ormarins King’s Plate meeting at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth kick-starts a pool expected to reach R5 million. There are two Grade 1 races, two Grade 2s and a Grade 3 on a quality card, and a potential Pick 6 banker in the last leg. This is Cape racing at its best, don’t miss it. On Sunday, Turffontein hosts two Grade 3 races and a Listed contest, and a reliable “soldier” goes to Hollywoodbets Scottsville seeking his 13th victory. The local action is backed by colourful international fare from the UAE, the UK, Australia, Malaysia and Hong Kong.

FRIDAY HIGHLIGHTS

FAIRVIEW: SNAITH’S RAIDERS CAN STEAL THE SHOW

Justin Snaith has saddled five winners and six places from his last 13 runners in the Eastern Cape, stats that could look even more impressive after this meeting. Snaith has six runners including Crowned Hornbill (Race 3), who over-raced in a competitive Maiden Plate in Cape Town last time, and Run The World (Race 4), who has his third run after gelding and will be fitted with blinkers. Dafnes Daughter (Race 8) disliked the soft in her last start and has a big chance on her previous form.

MEYDAN DUBAI: EIGHT-YEAR-OLD CHAMP AS GOOD AS EVER

Tuz, the UAE’s champion sprinter, defends his title in the Group 3 Dubawi Stakes over 1200m on dirt. The eight-year-old is rated 119 and hasn’t lost his sparkle, evident in his slamming of six rivals in a stunning comeback in the Al Garhoud Sprint last month. He can provide Bhupat Seemar with his third successive win in this contest.

SATURDAY HIGHLIGHTS

SELANGOR MALAYSIA: VOLCANIC TO ERUPT AT WEIGHTS

Volcanic finished on the heels of Pacific Delight when they were beaten in a 1020m contest recently, and they clash again in Race 6 over 1150m at Kuala Lumpur. At the weights Volcanic, who has scored twice in four local outings, looks set to turn the tables. The meeting starts at 07:30.

HOLLYWOODBETS KENILWORTH: RACE-BY-RACE GUIDE TO BIG PICK 6

Leg 1: Race 4 - 1200m Cartier Sceptre Stakes (Grade 2): Five-year-old mare Asiye Phambili had Marguerite and Summer Lily soundly beaten when winning last month’s Grade 3 Southern Cross Stakes. Dangers from the younger generation include highly rated Gimmie’s Countess, who will probably enjoy 1200m at this track, and Symphony In White. Both represent good form to champion filly, Quid Pro Quo.

Leg 2: Race 5 - 1800m Anthonij Rupert Wyne Premier Trophy (Grade 2): On their most recent encounter in the Grade 3 Cape Mile, top-class Rascallion holds Zapatillas and Sugar Mountain at the weights. Future Swing and Without Question will be running hard at them late. Litigation could be involved too.

Leg 3: Race 6 - 1800m Cartier Paddock Stakes (WFA) (Grade 1): Red Palace (changed stables), Double Grand Slam (unproven beyond 1600m), Rascova and Silver Sanctuary (drawn wide) featured consistently in last season’s classics and all warrant consideration. Talented older mare Saartjie is a strong contender over this course and distance, while three-year-old World Of Alice is handily weighted and improving with every run.

Leg 4: Race 7 - 1600m L’Ormarins King’s Plate (WFA) (Grade 1): High-class milers One Stripe and Snow Pilot resume rivalry in a quality renewal of the race. From a better draw, the advantage lies with One Stripe, who is 6kg better off for a one-length beating and still improving. Versatile Oriental Charm, Royal Aussie and last year’s runner-up See It Again (peak run after gelding) should ensure a grandstand finish. Gimme A Prince is supremely talented and could be the joker in the pack.

Leg 5: Race 8 - 2500m Glorious Goodwood Chairman’s Cup (Grade 3): The handicapper hasn’t yet caught up with Daimyo, who may have found his niche in marathons, evident in a start-to-finish win over Love Is A Rose, Vihaan’s Bomb and Holding Thumbs in the Listed Woolavington Stakes. He meets them on similar terms and should confirm the form, but faces a serious challenge from top-weight Mucho Dinero, a classy customer approaching his capable best. Navy Strength completes a strong hand for Justin Snaith.

Leg 6: Race 9 - 1400m A Case Of You Middle Stakes: On a line through O’Tenikwa and Garrix, Let It Be Said is potentially much better than his rating of 89. He is weighted to win, gets the services of in-form Craig Zackey and rates a banker on a competitive card.

SUGGESTED R336 (10%) PICK 6 PERM (Leg 1, Race 4 @ 14:15):

Leg 1: 4, 5, 8, 11
Leg 2: 6, 7, 8, 9, 12
Leg 3: 1, 3, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12
Leg 4: 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 13
Leg 5: 1, 4, 6, 7
Leg 6: 6

SANDOWN UK: HONKY TONK HIGHWAY ON TRACK FOR DOUBLE

Dan Skelton’s mare Honky Tonk Highway defeated a few well-performed male jumpers when she won the Listed Clairmont Novices Hurdle over 3200m at this course last month. She could make it a double in Race 7, a 3200m handicap over hurdles, in which Oh My Johnny poses the main threat on recent form.

JEBEL ALI DUBAI: ELUSIVE TERRY HAS RIGHT CREDENTIALS

Tadhg O’Shea’s rides lightly-raced Elusive Terry in Race 5 over 1000m on dirt. Elusive Terry won two of his five races last year and the form of his second to Morning in a valuable race at Sharjah seven weeks ago, has been given a major boost. The winner finished third in the Listed Dubawi Stakes and then posted another success on Festive Friday.

SUNDAY HIGHLIGHTS

SHA TIN HONG KONG: WUNDERBAR CAN SHINE FROM A GOOD DRAW

Zack Purton’s mount Wunderbar was unlucky when having to race three deep in his most recent start, but managed to finish fifth behind Raging Blizzard, just over four lengths adrift. He has a much kinder draw in Race 7 over 1200m and is 5kg better off with his conqueror, which sets the stage for him to turn the tables. Race 1 is at 07:00

TURFFONTEIN: VULCANITE AND GREATERIX TO RULE THE ROOST

Powerful front-runner Vulcanite is the one to beat in the Grade 3 Betway Mother Russia Stakes over 1400m on the Standside track. While her best form has been over 1600m, her high cruising speed could prove decisive over this shorter trip. In the Grade 3 Betway Got The Greenlight Stakes over 1400m, highest-rated runners Cosmic Speed and Fire Attack are both drawn wide. This could give well-drawn and speedy Greaterix the opportunity to break away from the pack.

HOLLYWOODBETS SCOTTSVILLE: WILLIAM ROBERTSON FOR 13TH WIN

Powerhouse sprinter William Robertson, with five wins from his last 10 starts, looks a cut above his rivals in Race 7 over 1100m. Sun Blushed could give the six-year-old some cheek at the weights, but 12-time winning William Robertson’s races are hand-picked these days and trainer Corne Spies looks to have him placed in the right contest once more.