WEEKEND RACING HIGHLIGHTS: 21 – 23 AUGUST

POLY CHALLENGE AND EBOR FESTIVAL HEADLINE WEEKEND

The main focus of attention this weekend will be at Fairview on Friday with the start of this year’s EC Poly Challenge over 1200m. This will be followed by a seven-race day-night meeting on the Polytrack at Hollywoodbets Greyville. Racing reverts to Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday when an eight-race meeting will be staged with local weekend racing culminating with Sunday’s meeting at Hollywoodbets Scottsville. The Sky Bet Ebor Festival at York continues with all TAB Win, Place, Exacta, Quinella, Swinger and Trifecta bets commingled into the Hong Kong World Pool tote on all races on Friday and on Races 2 to 5 on Saturday. The Grade 1 Winx Stakes will be run at Randwick in Australia on Saturday with Hong Kong World Pool betting on Races 3 to 10.

FRIDAY HIGHLIGHTS

FAIRVIEW: MERCANTOUR DEFENDS POLY CHALLENGE TITLE

All eyes will be on Alan Greeff-trained Mercantour when he lines up the Nelson Mandela Bay Poly Challenge 1200 at Fairview. The seven-year-old Var gelding is only one of two runners to have won all three legs of the EC Poly Challenge and will be looking to successfully defend his title. He is unbeaten in three starts over course and distance and looks a possible exotic-bet banker. “The Poly Challenge was always part of the plan,” said Greeff. “He does face stiff competition in the first leg, so we will have to wait and see.” With both of Greeff’s regular riders, Richard Fourie and Andrew Fortune, out of action, Aldo Domeyer will ride Mercantour for the first time.

YORK: BACIO CAN SCORE FOR USA IN NUNTHORPE

Bacio can give American trainer Wesley Ward a coveted first success in the Group 1 Coolmore City Of Troy Nunthorpe Stakes (15.35) at York. The popular Keeneland handler has come close with Acapulco and Lady Aurelia and now tries with Bacio, who blitzed the opposition in the Palace of Holyroodhouse at Royal Ascot. He fairly scorched through the final 200m there and if Ward’s luck with the weather holds for once, jockey Juan Hernandez can enjoy a landmark day in the saddle.

HOLLYWOODBETS GREYVILLE: MAINGARD TO STRIKE WITH KLEIN KAROO

A small but competitive seven-race card faces punters on the Poly at Hollywoodbets Greyville. Veteran trainer Ricky Maingard has been in hot form and can take Race 2 with Klein Karoo. The five-year-old gelding made highly-rated Coast Of The Sun work for victory last time out. The latter may have needed the outing, but it was a brave effort from Maingard’s runner whose last win was over course and distance.

SATURDAY HIGHLIGHTS

RANDWICK: WALLER TO RULE THE ROOST IN WINX AGAIN

A powerful Chris Waller contingent will be looking to extend the stable’s remarkable record in Grade 1 Winx Stakes over 1400m at Randwick. His charge Autumn Glow, a five‑year‑old who has become one of Australia’s most reliable WFA performers, dominates the betting at 8-10.

The mare’s near‑perfect CV includes 11 straight wins to open her career and a trio of Group 1 victories, with her only defeat coming when stretched to 2000m in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

With James McDonald aboard and a predicted genuine tempo, she’s expected to settle midfield and unleash her trademark late surge.

SELANGOR: IMAGINATE LOOKS SET TO GO IN AGAIN

Four-year-old galloper Imaginate looks ideally placed for back-to-back wins when he lines up in the Max Two Stakes over 1400m. Arriving from Australia with one win from six starts, Imaginate was unlucky on his Malaysian debut but quickly made amends a fortnight ago, showing good early speed to lead throughout and score impressively. Although stepping up to 1400m, he appears progressive and looks capable of working his way through the local grades.

HOLLYWOODBETS DURBANVILLE: COUNT ON CANDICE’S SPARKLING STAR

Candice Bass appears to have a useful performer in Sparkling Star who makes her seasonal debut in Race 5, a Class 5 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1250m. This three-year-old daughter of Rafeef is a half-sister to Grade 1 winning Asiye Phambili and could not have been more impressive when coasting to a two-length winner over Onthewingsofadove in her third outing. She will be giving weight to some older and more experienced fillies and mares, but she should be able to rise to the occasion.

SUGGESTED R150 (20%) PICK 6 PERM (Leg 1 Race 3 @ 14:20):

Leg 1: 1, 2, 4, 6, 7

Leg 2: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7

Leg 3: 3

Leg 4: 6

Leg 5: 1, 2, 4, 6, 9

Leg 6: 1, 3, 4, 6, 9

YORK: HOPEWELL ROCK LOOKS EACHWAY VALUE

There are 22 runners carded for the Sky Bet Ebor Handicap over 2800m and the value could lie with Hopewell Rock, who caught the eye on his return when third to Daiquiri Bay at Newmarket. He proved himself to be on a good mark when upped to 2800m for the first time this month and this track with its long straight will also be to his liking. He’s set to start at about 10-1 and looks a good eachway proposition.

Notable Speech, winner of the 2000 Guineas in 2024 and the Breeders’ Cup Mie last year, should pack too much class in the Group 1 City of York Stakes over 1400m.

SUNDAY HIGHLIGHTS

MAURITIUS: HEWITSON HOLDS STRONG HAND IN DERBY

Trainer Carl Hewitson has three runners entered in the Mauritian Derby over 1850m, but fields will not be finalized until later today. The meeting was scheduled to be run on Saturday but has been moved to Sunday. Please go to tab.co.za for the final fields.

HOLLYWOODBETS SCOTTSVILLE: COWBOY CAN FOLLOW UP AFTER COUP

Cowboy Country landed an old-fashioned coup last time out at this course when backed in from 16s to 4-1 in his first run after gelding. Jabu Jacobs made no mistake on Tony Rivalland’s charge, timing his run to perfection and kicking away to land the coup with the minimum of fuss. Jacobs has been replaced by Serino Moodley in Race 5, a Middle Stakes over 1200m. He is taking on stronger this time round but is set to follow up.