WEEKEND RACING HIGHLIGHTS: 14 - 16 Feb 2025

GET YOUR PICK 6 MONEY FOR SATURDAY AT FAIRVIEW

Last Saturday’s Pick 6 at Turffontein returned over R47,000 to 13.49 winners, and this popular bet looks even trickier at the city track this weekend. If you haven’t got a ticket, you haven’t got a chance, and you can build a kitty for Saturday with bets taken around classy filly Luna Halo at Fairview this Friday. And on Sunday a South African-bred runner with an in-form SA jockey is the early favourite for a rich feature at Sha Tin. Make the right choices, get the cash!

FRIDAY HIGHLIGHTS

FAIRVIEW: FORM FAVOURS LUNA HALO OVER KHAYA’S HOPE

Luna Halo and Khaya’s Hope are the main contenders in Race 6 over 1400m, the topliner on the day. Gavin Smith’s Khaya’s Hope is most effective over this distance and looks ready to win again, but trainer Alan Greeff pointed out that Luna Halo easily defeated her rival in last year’s Polytrack Challenge. She, too, enjoys the course and distance and holds an advantage at the weights.

MEYDAN DUBAI: AWAB DROPS IN CLASS AFTER GUINEAS FOURTH

Lightly-raced Awab has a good opportunity to post his second career win in Race 3 over 1400m on dirt. He finished a respectable fourth behind Saudi Derby hopeful Golden Vekoma in the UAE 2000 Guineas just three weeks ago. He will appreciate the drop in grade, is open to further improvement and rates the best bet on a difficult card.

SATURDAY HIGHLIGHTS

HOLLYWOODBETS KENILWORTH: KOTZEN RUNNER LOOKS THE PART

Holding Thumbs has the best current form in Race 7, the Class A Paarl Diamant Stakes over 2000m. He was third in last November’s Listed Woolavington Cup and followed that with a win in the Listed Cape Summer Stayers in December and a good second in the Grade 3 Chairmans Cup in January. Well drawn and handily weighted, trainer Glen Kotzen appears to have him perfectly placed at an opportune time. He should take all the beating.

TURFFONTEIN: PURPLE PITCHER THE CLASS BUT HAS TOUGH TASK

Purple Pitcher, the 2024 Betway Summer Cup runner-up, could resume winning ways in Race 7, the Grade 3 Betway London News Stakes over 1800m. He is the class act, but it won’t be easy under top weight and he may need one more run to peak, which makes this a tricky contest. Mike de Kock’s Grade 1 winning filly Silver Sanctuary and up-and-coming Forgiveness come into the play, while hard knockers Son Of Raj and Radicchio are not out of it. Like last week you will have to be sharp to win the Pick 6, but another solid payout is likely so have a go.

SUGGESTED R320 (5%) PICK 6 PERM (Leg 1 Race 3 @ 14:05):

Leg 1: FIELD (1-8)
Leg 2: 2, 13
Leg 3: 1, 3
Leg 4:  FIELD (1-10)
Leg 5: 1, 2, 3, 4, 7
Leg 6:  3, 5, 6, 10

ASCOT: PIC D’ORHY COULD GO BACK-TO-BACK IN GRADE 1 CHASE

Trainer Paul Nicholls has not won a Grade 1 race since 12 months ago, when Pic D'Orhy took the Betfair Ascot Chase by more than five lengths. The 10-year-old had wind surgery after that, but made a promising return in December when winning over the course and distance. He looks set to get Nicholls back on the major honours list and the trainer said: “Pic D’Orhy is fresh, he looks great and he's been working really nicely. If he runs like he did last year, he's going to be the one to beat.”

JEBEL ALI DUBAI: SADAATY LOOKS COSTA’S BEST IN FEATURE MILE

US-bred Sadaaty is one of three runners from Michael Costa’s yard in Race 6, the Jebel Ali Mile. Costa’s six-year-old looks the one to beat under stable jockey Ben Coen. He’s a winner of three of seven races, nicely drawn and entitled to be sharper for a recent win over Majestic Pride, who renews rivalry but is likely to play second fiddle again.

SUNDAY HIGHLIGHTS

SELANGOR MALAYSIA: THUNDER STAR LOOKS SET TO WIN AGAIN

Six-year-old galloper Thunder Star has found his form for trainer Richard Lines, and aims for back-to-back wins in Race 8 over 1150m at Kuala Lumpur. A two-time winner in Singapore, Thunder Star has quickly doubled that tally with two victories from three starts in Malaysia. He steps up in class but will carry bottom weight and looks poised for another big run. The meeting starts at 06:15.

SHA TIN HONG KONG: SA-BRED TO TAKE BIG PRIZE AFTER HOT HK DEBUT

South African-bred Mid Winter Wind made a huge impression on his Hong Kong debut over 1200m recently, producing a last-to-first victory with a blistering final 400m. He is fancied to win Race 8, the Heung Yee Kuk Cup over 1600m, for his new trainer Mark Newnham, who will be hoping that the import can stay on course for the next two legs of the Classic Series. South African jockey Luke Ferraris takes the ride in this rich feature. Race 1 is off at 06:30.

HOLLYWOODBETS SCOTTSVILLE: THREE STAND OUT IN FEVER TREE

There are three runners with good chances in Race 4, the R200,000 Fever Tree Stakes over 1500m. Narina Trogon is 1,5kg better off for a recent 0.80-length beating by Imelenzeyokududuma, which could give him an edge over his rival from a better draw. Formagear is a danger to both. He has a lively turn of foot, is effective at this track and has a 5kg swing at the weights with Narina Trogon on their encounter in last year’s Listed Thukela Handicap.