WEEKEND RACING HIGHLIGHTS: 7 - 9 Feb 2025

TURFFONTEIN'S PICK 6 LOOKS SET TO DELIVER A BIG PAYOUT

This weekend offers a mixed bag of racing in South Africa and around the globe. The action starts with a meeting on turf at Fairview on Friday followed by a twilight fixture at Hollywoodbets Greyville and Dubai Racing Carnival fare from Meydan. Saturday’s Hollywoodbets Kenilworth meeting features five tricky Summer Championship contests and the Pick 6 at Turffontein on the same day offers a healthy return. And on Sunday there’s a proverbial good thing to start the BiPot at Hollywoodbets Scottsville.

FRIDAY HIGHLIGHTS

FAIRVIEW: CLIFF TOP SHOULD BE HARD TO BEAT IN PINNACLE STAKES

Former East Cape Nursery winner Cliff Top is suited by the Pinnacle Plate conditions in Race 2 over 1000m and could post his first victory since November 2023. “This is the right race and he ticks the right boxes. If he is going to come to the party, this will be the day,” said trainer Alan Greeff.

HOLLYWOODBETS GREYVILLE: LERENA HAS A GOOD BOOK OF RIDES

Gavin Lerena has a strong book of rides starting in Race 2 over 1200m with erratic Mr Master Starter. The six-year-old is long overdue and has been costly to follow, but this is his favourite course and distance and he runs off his lowest rating since May 2022. Lerena’s mount Mr Hotstepper (Race 4) is a progressive runner that enjoys the Polytrack and Numzaan (Race 5) was well backed last time after a rest and showed enough in defeat to be followed.

MEYDAN DUBAI: COUNT ON CHARLIE TO KEEP FIRING IN DUBAI TROPHY

Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby is firing on all cylinders. Following a four-timer at Meydan last week, Appleby looks set to go back-to-back in Race 3, the Dubai Trophy over 1200m on turf. He saddles grey Symbol Of Honour, winner of the recent Al Wasl Stakes. This three-year-old looks hard to oppose because the form of that race was boosted when runner-up West Acre defeated his elders in the Group 2 Blue Point Stakes.

SATURDAY HIGHLIGHTS

HOLLYWOODBETS KENILWORTH:  DOMEYER LOOKS WORTH FOLLOWING

There are five Cape Summer Championship races for lower-rated horses on the eight-race programme and heavyweight jockey Aldo Domeyer could win several of them. He rides recent runaway winner Okavango in Race 3 and Justin Snaith’s runner has turned the corner after gelding. Candice Bass-Robinson’s La Pulga (Race 4) is another coming to hand steadily after gelding and looks ready to win. Domeyer will have to contend with a wide draw on La Pulga’s stablemate What A Fortune in Race 5 over 1400m, but his mount has the form to be competitive. Rafa Bay (Race 6) and Tough Terrain (Race 7) are knocking at the door and look capable of winning.

TURFFONTEIN: NO BANKERS, HERE’S YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A BIG ONE

There are no apparent bankers in the Pick 6 which could produce a whopping dividend. If there is a race to go light, it could be the day’s feature over 2400m (Race 5), in which accomplished stayer Zeus is weighted to go close after a rest. Marauding Horde looks the best back-up. Let’s Go Now is not far off her next win and could land the spoils in Race 6, but she’ll be facing strong challenges from quality rivals Beating Wings and Willy Meet Again. One could go wide throughout and take a chance with 4kg claimer Samo-Burthia on speedy The Navy Lark in Race 8, but seven-time winner Samoa’s rider also gets a 4kg allowance and can’t be ignored. This Pick 6 can pay big, get involved!

SUGGESTED R120 (10%) PICK 6 PERM (Leg 1 Race 3 @ 13:45):

Leg 1: 1, 3, 4, 10, 11
Leg 2: 1,3, 4, 5, 9
Leg 3: 1, 4
Leg 4:  1, 3, 4
Leg 5: 2, 3, 5, 6
Leg 6:  1, 6

NEWBURY UK: FESTIVAL PROSPECT TO MAKE IT SEVEN FROM SEVEN

Nicky Henderson’s exciting unbeaten prospect Sir Gino runs  in Race 4, the Grade 2 William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Game Spirit Chase over 3300m. “He’s in good shape, he schooled last week and did a nice gallop on Saturday, he’s in good form,” the trainer said. Sir Gino has won six races from as many starts and is being prepared for the Cheltenham Festival in March.

SUNDAY HIGHLIGHTS

SHA TIN HONG KONG: RAGING BLIZZARD SET FOR A HAT TRICK

Hugh Bowman’s mount Raging Blizzard has emerged as a star sprinter this season and is chasing a hat trick of wins in Race 8, the TVBV Cup Handicap over 1200m. He has been dominant in his last two victories and must be the one to beat on current form. Gorgeous Win had to settle for second behind Raging Blizzard in two runs before franking that form with an eye-catching win last time. He should get closer to the pace from an inside draw and may give Raging Blizzard something to chase. The meeting starts at 06:30.

SELANGOR MALAYSIA: COUNT ON OLD-TIMER BILLY TO GET HIS THIRD WIN

Eight-year-old Billy Elliot still has enthusiasm for racing and looks primed for his third Malaysian success in Race 4 at Kuala Lumpur. Billy Elliot has been a model of consistency since scoring on his July 2024 debut, recording two wins and three placings from six local starts. He was a good third over this track and trip a fortnight ago, when he was slow away and a touch unlucky, and should prove hard to beat this time. The first race is off at 06:45.

HOLLYWOODBETS SCOTTSVILLE: ROYAL VICTORY SHOULD STROLL HOME

Royal Victory, rated 125, stands head and shoulders above his opposition in Race 2, the Thomboti Stakes over 1950m. The 2023 Betway Summer Cup winner was beaten when favourite in January’s Michael Roberts Stakes, but trainer Nathan Kotzen said he needed that run after a rest. “He was underdone and has come on a lot in his work since then. He is being prepared for the Premiers at Turffontein in March and doing very well.” This really should be a stroll in the park for him!