WEEKEND RACING HIGHLIGHTS: 21 - 23 Feb 2025

WORLD’S RICHEST RACE HEADLINES HIGH-OCTANE WEEKEND

It’s full speed ahead for a weekend of high-adrenaline racing featuring top-tier events from around the world, including the world’s richest horse race. The excitement begins on Friday with two Listed features at Fairview and an International Jockeys’ Challenge at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Saudi Arabia. Saturday’s action is headlined by the Hollywoodbets Kenilworth fixture with three Graded races and a R500,000 TAB Pick 6 carryover, and the $20-million Saudi Cup at the world’s richest race meeting. Sunday morning brings another blockbuster in the $HK13-million Citi Hong Kong Cup followed by the Grade 3 National Currency Sprint at Turffontein later in the day. TAB customers can have a full go on Races 3 to 9 at Saturday’s Saudi Cup meeting with TAB Win, Place, Exacta, Quinella and Swinger bets going into the massive Hong Kong World Pool tote.

FRIDAY HIGHLIGHTS

FAIRVIEW: GREEFF LOOKS POISED FOR FEATURE DOUBLE

Trainer Alan Greeff looks set to win both feature races. His up-and-coming three-year-old gelding My Best Shot looks a cut above his rivals in Race 4, the Listed Ibhayi Stakes over 1400m. Greeff said: “He has the form and the credentials. What beats him, wins.” The trainer’s seven-time winner Three Rocks lines up in Race 7, the Listed Lady’s Pendant over 1200m. She won this race off a higher rating against similar rivals last year. “Three Rocks loves 1200m. Her last three races have been over 1000m and she was running on,” said Greeff.

MEYDAN DUBAI: FAVOURITES COULD RULE IN GROUP RACES

Queen Azteca is fancied to become the seventh winning favourite in the last 10 renewals of the Group 3 UAE Oaks over 1900m on dirt (Race 4). Niels Petersen’s stable star, an impressive winner of the Cocoa Beach Stakes, will relish stepping up in distance. Charlie Appleby’s high-class filly Cinderella’s Dream returns to the track in Race 5, the Group 2 Balanchine Stakes over 1800m on turf. She has a sharp turn of foot and loves a quick track.

KING ABDULAZIZ SAUDI ARABIA: 14 TOP RIDERS GO HEAD TO HEAD

This eight-race meeting is the prelude to Saturday’s Saudi Cup extravaganza and features a four-race International Jockeys’ Challenge that puts 14 of the world’s top riders (seven men, seven women) into the arena. Each of the four Challenge races carries a $400,000 stake. TAB will operate commingled Win, Place, Exacta, Quinella and Swinger pools on the meeting.

SATURDAY HIGHLIGHTS

CAULFIELD AUSTRALIA: MAHER’S FILLY CAN STRIKE IT RICH

Leading trainer Cieron Maher is in search of another Grade 1 win with three runners in Race 8, the Blue Diamond Stakes over 1200m. His filly Cherish Me can join Redoute's Choice as the only horse to win Victoria's premier juvenile event at their second start. She hasn't started since a brilliant debut win in the 1100m Geelong Diamond on 4 January, but is reported to be in fighting shape. “She had a little foot issue, but she’ll be fine,” said Maher. Take in the action on 240 from Race 2 @ 03:45.

HOLLYWOODBETS KENILWORTH: 3 BANKERS FOR CARRYOVER PICK 6

World Sports Betting Cape Met winner Eight On Eighteen (Race 7, SplashOut Cape Derby) and Grade 1 Cape Flying Championship winner Gimme A Prince (Race 8, Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes) are impossible to oppose on ratings and are potential bankers for the carryover Pick 6 pool set to total some R3 million! See It Again (Race 5) should also be a blinder off a 128 merit rating and looks a third potential Pick 6 banker. But he has been somewhat erratic of late and may be worth covering in your bets with The Real Prince, Sugar Mountain and Meu Capitano.

SUGGESTED R480 PICK 6 PERM (Leg 1 Race 4 @ 13:55):
Leg 1: 1, 3, 5, 6
Leg 2: 4, 5, 9, 10
Leg 3: 6, 8, 10
Leg 4:  2
Leg 5: 6
Leg 6:  FIELD (1-10)

KING ABDULAZIZ: 14 TOP RIDERS GO HEAD TO HEAD

Multiple Group 1 winner Romantic Warrior, the world’s highest-earning horse, continues his Middle East campaign in the world’s richest race, the Group 1 Saudi Cup over 1800m on dirt (Race 9). This comes four weeks after the Hong Kong champ set the track record when bolting up in the Jebel Hatta at Meydan. Romantic Warrior faces a different challenge in this $20-million event as he races on dirt for the first time in his career. His pedigree offers hope he can handle the surface. His dam is by Street Cry, who won the Dubai World Cup and was a multiple winner on dirt. Romantic Warrior will jump from barrier three under star jockey James Macdonald as he bids for a remarkable 11th win at Group 1 level. He has won 18 of 23 starts to date. You can look forward to some grand racing in the other eight races on the card, which carry total prize money of $13.5 million.

SUNDAY HIGHLIGHTS

SELANGOR MALAYSIA: R10 MINIMUM FOR EXACTA, TRIO AND TRIFECTA

TAB customers must note that a R10 minimum bet applies to TAB Exacta, Trio and Trifecta bets in Malaysia from this Sunday. The R6 minimum still applies to other bets. Six-year-old Sousui arrived in Malaysia from Singapore with three wins to his name. He made an immediate impact with a victory on his local debut over 1300m followed by a good third over 1200m, finishing strongly under a hefty weight penalty. He’ll be looking to resume winning ways in Race 9 over 1500m. The meeting starts at 06:15.

SHA TIN HONG KONG: VOYAGE BUBBLE CAN GET THE GOLD

Top-class Voyage Bubble tackles 2000m for just the third time in his career in Race 7, the Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup. He claimed Hong Kong’s most prestigious race, the Hong Kong Derby, over this distance and fought tooth and nail with superstar Romantic Warrior in this event last year. He looks poised to claim the lion’s share of the $HK13-million prize here. The meeting starts at 07:00.

TURFFONTEIN: TRUTH CAN COME OUT LATE IN SPRINT

There should be a hot pace in Race 7, the Grade 3 National Currency Sprint over 1100m, in which 1000m specialists Chocolate Soldier, Pistol Pete and Karate Kid will be tested over the last 100m. Soft underfoot conditions will make it even harder for the out-and-out sprinters to keep going. Candice Dawson’s Truth, who is well proven beyond 1000m, could swoop late. He seems to have overcome some temperament issues since gelding and could present fair each-way value. One Fell Swoop is the one to beat in the supporting feature, the Bauhinia Handicap.