This weekend is a perfect prelude to next Saturday's blockbuster World Sports Betting Cape Met meeting when three mega carryovers and betting into massive Hong Kong tote pools will offer multiple chances for big wins. A doubleheader on Saturday offers punters the chance to bolster their TAB accounts ahead of the big occasion. Turffontein and Kenilworth provide a feast of opportunities and Friday's Fairview meeting features a potential Pick 6 banker. The action continues on Sunday with the rich Stewards Cup at Sha Tin and a nine-race card at Scottsville.
Leading Eastern Cape sprinter Three Rocks has seemed somewhat unsettled on the Polytrack in her two most recent starts and missed the frame when favourite last time. She returns to the turf track in Race 8 over 1200m and, with two wins from three starts over the course and distance, should go close again. Three Rocks is reportedly in good shape and trainer Alan Greeff commented, “She can get back to winning ways”.
Caldwell Potter has been priced up even-money favourite for Race 3, a Grade 2 Novices' Chase over 3200m, at this Premier jumps meeting. The seven-year-old grey has come to hand well in two runs after a long rest for trainer Paul Nicholls. He was sold for a record 740,000 Euros at the Tattersalls Ireland sale early in 2024, and his new owners include Manchester United legend Sir Alex Ferguson. A Grade 1 winner before he changed stables, he is a horse who carries high expectations.
The Cape Verdi over 1600m on turf (Race 7) is the first of two Group 2 races for fillies and mares at the Dubai Racing Carnival. The unexposed Romantic Style, representing Godolphin’s Charlie Appleby, heads a small field of five in this traditional Carnival showpiece. She’s a smart filly with three wins to show from six races, including the Group 3 Prix Imprudence, a key trial for the French 1000 Guineas. Romantic Style flopped in the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat, but will have enjoyed her rest and is fancied to bounce back and give Appleby his sixth Cape Verdi success in the last seven years.
Rodeo Drive was laid off for five months after an impressive two-year-old season and needed her comeback run in December’s Sophomore Sprint over 1000m. She’ll be better suited to 1160m against fillies in Race 7, the Listed Betway Swallow Stakes. She’s expected to be much fitter now and could outsprint Almond Sea, the 1000m specialist. Pointer, improving with every run, is a third runner to consider. The potential Pick 6 banker is Alec Laird’s up-and-coming three-year-old Parisian Walkway, fourth to Quid Pro Quo, Fire Attack and Greaterix in the Dingaans and handily weighted in Race 3 over 1600m.
SUGGESTED R288 (20%) PICK 6 PERM (Leg 1 Race 3 @ 13:30):
Leg 1: 5
Leg 2: 1, 2, 6, 10
Leg 3: 1, 8, 9, 10
Leg 4: FIELD (1-10)
Leg 5: 2, 3, 5
Leg 6: 2, 8, 9
In-form Lucinda Woodruff teams up with Grant van Niekerk in two Pick 6 races and both runners have winning form. Another Dream (Race 5) was rested after an excellent second on debut to subsequent Grade 2 winner Mon Petit Cherie. She meets nothing of that calibre here and should prove hard to beat. Alltheboysiveloved (Race 9) has a wide draw to deal with, but she runs on well, tries an extra 200m and will be suited by Van Niekerk’s riding style.
Bhupat Seemar’s five-year-old gelding Morning, winner of the valuable HH Sheikh Ahmed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup at Sharjah, has made a valuable contribution to the yard’s success this season. He has strong claims in Race 4, the Listed Jebel Ali Sprint over 1000m on dirt. Morning arrives at the top of his game, having won a competitive handicap under top weight at Meydan last month.
Galaxy Patch will be looking to break through at top level in Race 8, the $HK13-million Stewards Cup over 1600m. He endured a tough run in the Grade 1 Hong Kong Mile in December, finishing an unlucky seventh after encountering traffic issues from a wide draw. This small-field contest presents an ideal opportunity for him to confirm his Group 1 quality. His toughest rival will be top miler Voyage Bubble. The meeting starts at 06:30.
Unbeaten three-year-old Duma targets a hat trick when makes his racetrack return in Race 7 over 1400m at Selangor Turf Club. First up since October 27, the Frank Maynard trained gelding may be facing his toughest test to date, but his quick turn of acceleration in both victories suggests he is capable of overcoming his older opposition. The first race is at 06:45.
Peter Muscutt’s talented duo of Quasiforsure and Formagear face off in Race 2 over 1400m and it promises to be an interesting contest. Both are able to quicken smartly off a hot pace, with Quasiforsure being the best performed over this distance. Younger runner Cats Pajamas has shown his best form down the straight, but has placed over 1400m at Grade 2 level and will be looking to give the Muscutt pair a run for their money. Diani is another 1400m specialist with a chance.
There’s a R2-million carryover TAB Pick 6 pool to the World Sports Betting Cape Town Met meeting next Saturday. A pool of R10-million is expected. The Quartet pool on the Met (Race 8) starts with a R500,000 carryover and is expected to total R2 million. There will also be a R500,000 carryover to Jackpot Three that should generate a R2-million pool. What a day!