TAB WEEKEND RACING HIGHLIGHTS: 03 – 05 JULY

MEGA CHANCES TO WIN BIG ON AFRICA’S GREATEST RACEDAY

The spectacular R10-million Hollywoodbets Durban July at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday headlines a bumper 12-race programme packed with opportunities to win big. A R2-million Pick 6 carryover is expected to boost the total pool to some R15 million. The Durban July (Race 7) is a World Pool event with TAB Win, Place, Exacta, Quinella and Swinger pools expected to run into tens of millions of rand. And a R1-million carryover is set to swell the Quartet pool on the July to well over R10 million. Internationally, Saturday’s Group 1 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown adds lustre to a fantastic day with Sunday’s Grade 3 Sea Cottage Stakes at Turffontein rounding off a superb weekend of racing!

FRIDAY HIGHLIGHTS

FAIRVIEW: IGNORE ROMAN AGENT’S LAST PERFORMANCE

Leading Eastern Cape sprinter Roman Agent can return to winning ways in Race 7 over 1200m, aided by apprentice Bavish Soodoo’s 2.5kg claim. Already a feature-race winner at Fairview and a proven performer over this trip, the speedy grey was below best last time out, but trainer Kelly Mitchley expects a much-improved run. “His last run can be ignored. He is working very well and in with a shout,” she said.

SANDOWN: VARIAN HOPING SALLAAL CAN DELIVER

There are two Listed races on the card, including Race 4 over 2000m in which Roger Varian’s Sallaal is all the rage following two excellent prep runs, culminating in an impressive handicap victory at Epsom. Varian said: “I’m really happy with him, I have to say, but this will be a different kind of test. Hopefully he can build on his recent win at Epsom and confirm the rating he has been given. A mark of 119 is a lofty one to emerge from a handicap with, so he has to justify it now. Fingers crossed he will.”

SATURDAY HIGHLIGHTS

SHA TIN: TURQUOISE VELOCITY HOLDS STRONG CLAIMS

Francis Lui-trained Turquoise Velocity has the early pace to make full use of an inside draw in Race 4, the Li Cup over 1200m. He comes into the race off a solid second on the all-weather surface, while his previous run at Happy Valley was better than it appears on paper. Back at Sha Tin and ideally suited to the conditions, he looks the one to beat. The meeting starts at 10:00.

HOLLYWOODBETS GREYVILLE: BETTING BONANZA ON JULY DAY!

It’s Hollywoodbets Durban July time! Africa’s greatest race is the centrepiece of Africa’s greatest race day with a magnificent programme featuring two Grade 1 contests (including the Durban July), two Grade 2 races, three Grade 3 events and a Listed feature. The betting opportunities are equally impressive. Race 7 is a TAB World Pool event and fiercely competitive fields promise lucrative dividends throughout the afternoon. Punters have three Jackpots to play – Jackpot ONE (Races 1-4), Jackpot TWO (Races 5-8) and Jackpot THREE (Races 9-12) along with two BiPots (Races 2-7; 7-12), the Place Accumulator (Races 3-9) and a carryover Quartet on the Durban July. The day’s marquee wager is the R2-million carryover Pick 6, which closes at 13:40. Below is a race-by-race guide:

Leg 1 (13:40): Race 4 – 3000m DURBAN GOLD VASE (Grade 3)
10 AHEAD OF THE FACTS is a smart and progressive stayer who comes into this contest with a good profile. Highly regarded by jockeys who have partnered him and prepared with this race in mind, he looks poised to add another feature success to his record. He comfortably holds 6 CHILL IN THE AIR, 13 VIHAAN’S BOMB, 7 THE MIKADO and 9 DOUGLAS DRAGON on the already well-franked form of the Listed Lonsdale Stirrup Cup, while he also has the measure of established stayers 4 HOLDING THUMBS and 3 MASTER REDOUTE on their clash in January’s Grade 3 Western Cape Stayers. 8 SHOOT THE RAPIDS has consistently acquitted himself well against stronger opposition, stays every inch of the trip and rates the biggest threat. Nevertheless, AHEAD OF THE FACTS appears to hold all the right credentials, but if you are not convinced, add 11 POETS WARRIOR who should enjoy this track.

Leg 2 (14:20): Race 5 – 1400m AMUSNET GOLDEN SLIPPER (Grade 2)
There is good exposed form to work with through two-time graded winner Get Up, who is absent from this contest but brings 10 OCEAN MISTRESS, 4 FERRARI FLAIR and 13 PALACE OF ARVERNIA into the reckoning on their Grade 2 Allan Robertson Championship runs. She also makes a case for 14 LADY HARLEQUIN through the Grade 2 SA Fillies Nursery, though she is drawn widest of all. The race does not end there. 7 ALICE B TOKLAS was an eye-catching winner of the Listed Amusnet Devon Air Stakes with 3 ROYAL TIARA in second. Both fillies remain open to further improvement.

Leg 3 (15:00): Race 6 – 1400m OMODA GOLDEN HORSESHOE (Grade 2)
The first notable aspect of this contest is that Sean Tarry has elected to run smart filly 5 SECRETARY BIRD against the males rather than in the arguably easier fillies’ equivalent. That decision speaks not only to her ability, but also to the stable’s confidence in her chances, further underlined by the booking of an international jockey. Tarry also saddles progressive 12 PRAYERSANDPROMISES, one of only a handful of runners with a victory over this distance to his name. Others to have already proven themselves at the trip include 1 VIBE CHECK, unbeaten in two KwaZulu-Natal starts and impressive on both occasions. Drawn in barrier one, he holds 10 KAZENOYONI on their meeting of 17 May. 2 THE CULLINAN caught the eye when finishing strongly in the Listed Somerset 1200 and should relish the extra distance, while 6 BISOU BISOU could be anything after an impressive debut victory. But the one they all have to beat is 7 RED SPICE. Already a dual stakes winner with obvious scope for further improvement, he had legitimate excuses for his defeat in the Race Coast Golden Slipper and could return to winning ways.

Leg 4 (16:00): Race 7 – 2200m Hollywoodbets DURBAN JULY (Grade 1)
The revised handicap conditions have created a wider weight spread for this year’s race and the scratching of ante-post favourite 4 STAR MAJOR doesn’t make it any easier to find the winner. Several runners bring legitimate winning claims plus there are several attractive outsiders capable of springing a surprise. Most experts agree that trainer Justin Snaith has a firm grip with his five runners 2 REGULATION, 5 LEGAL COUNSEL, 7 WISH LIST, 10 NATIVE RULER and 11 NOTE TO SELF. Jockeys Andrew Fortune (Wish List) and Richard Fourie (Note To Self) are on the most fancied of the five and both riders are confident of winning. In this type of race, however, handily weighted 9 VIVA’S LIBERTE, 12 ZEITZ and 18 ALADDIN’S LAMP all have fighting chances, and perhaps 110-rated four-year-old ZEITZ is best treated at 53kg. While there are doubts about his ability to see out 2200m, he seems to have improved several lengths in KwaZulu-Natal this season and won the Grade 3 Betgames Cup Trial over 1800m in the manner of a horse that’s finally hit the right note. On his female side, Zeitz is a closely-related sibling to undefeated 2008 Arc de Triomphe winner Zarkava, the first filly to win that 2400m race in 15 years. That has given trainer Andre Nel confidence his charge will stay and Zeitz’s jockey Sereno Moodley says he can’t wait for the big day. Currently at 10-1 after finding good support at 14-1, Zeitz looks good value.

Leg 5 (17:00): Race 8 – 1600m RIDGEMONT GARDEN PROVINCE STAKES (Grade 1)
Defending champion 10 DOUBLE GRAND SLAM sets a lofty standard. She accounted for 6 MON PETIT CHERIE in this race last year and meets her on 1kg better terms. A champion 1600m runner and one of the stars of the South African turf, this could well be her swansong before retiring to stud. By all accounts, she is every bit as good, if not better, than 12 months ago and looks a potential Pick 6 banker. MON PETIT CHERIE is unlikely to be far off once again, while progressive 7 QUICKSTEPGAL rates the emerging threat. A classic winner over 1600m, she appears to be breathing down Double Grand Slam’s neck on paper, particularly on collateral form through MON PETIT CHERIE. Yet when one considers the effortless manner in which DOUBLE GRAND SLAM dismissed Durban July contender Minogue in the Grade 1 Empress Club Stakes, it is difficult to envisage her being toppled. She looks poised to bow out in a blaze of glory.

Leg 6 (17:40): Race 9 – 1200m POST MERCHANTS (Grade 3)
Champion sprinter 9 BUFFALO STORM CODY sets the benchmark. The Tony Peter-trained speedster is generally regarded as superior to stablemate Taxi To The Moon, who recently accounted for 13 CAFE CULTURE, 11 ONE EYE ON VEGAS, 1 KAALVOET, 10 ZIYASHA, 5 TENANGO, 12 GREAT PLAINS, 6 JERUSALEMA RAIN, 2 OUTLAW KING and 16 LION RAMPART in the Grade 2 Golden Horse Sprint. On that line of collateral form, BUFFALO STORM CODY is difficult to oppose, particularly given that Richard Fourie has elected to partner him rather than CAFE CULTURE. That decision speaks volumes. Of the remainder, Sean Tarry’s progressive 8 SPEEDMAN warrants plenty of respect, while 3 PRINCESS OF GAUL has place claims after finishing close behind Asiye Phambili and Double Grand Slam in the Grade 1 SA Fillies Sprint. But if BUFFALO STORM CODY reproduces his best form, he should prove a class above his rivals as he did in this sprint last year.

SUGGESTED 50% (R384) PICK 6 PERM (Leg 1 Race 4 @ 13:40):

Leg 1: 8, 10
Leg 2: 3, 7, 10, 14
Leg 3: 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 12
Leg 4: 2, 7, 11, 12
Leg 5: 7, 10
Leg 6: 8, 9

SUGGESTED R288 (10%) QUARTET PERM, RACE 7:

2, 7, 11,12  X  FIELD X 2,7,11,12 X FIELD

SANDOWN: O’BRIEN TARGETS ANOTHER ECLIPSE TRIUMPH

The Group 1 Coral-Eclipse (Race 4) over 2000m is one of the highlights of the British flat racing season. Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore look well placed to continue their outstanding run of success with Constitution River, who bids for a fourth consecutive victory and a second Group 1 triumph following his success in the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club in May. A victory would also hand O’Brien a record fourth successive Coral-Eclipse success.

He also runs Hawk Wing. “The lads are happy for them to run against each other and everything has gone well with both of them since the French Derby,” said O’Brien. The race is a World Pool event with TAB Win, Place, Exacta, Quinella, Swinger and Trifecta bets going into the massive Hong Kong pools.

SUNDAY HIGHLIGHTS

SELANGOR: MEGA ACE SET TO TRUMP OPPOSITION

Malaysia’s leading three-year-old Mega Ace looks poised to continue his winning ways in Race 10 over 1100m at Kuala Lumpur. He continued his rapid rise through the grades by landing the biggest victory of his career in the Sprint Championship for three-year-olds on 14 June. Mega Ace has a 5kg advantage over main rival Pacific Vampire and has already won twice at this Class 3 level. The meeting starts at 06:30.

TURFFONTEIN: ERROL FLYNN HARD TO BEAT IN SERIES FINALE

Having won the second leg of the 2026 Highveld Three-Year-Old Winter Series in emphatic fashion, Joe Soma’s Errol Flynn is a short-priced favourite for Race 7, the Grade 3 Sea Cottage Stakes over 1800m, the third and final leg of the series.

Given the manner of his progression this season, he looks hard to beat under the race conditions. But he is likely to face determined opposition from Chronicle King and Copper Eagle, who were among the final 28 hopefuls for the Durban July before narrowly missing out on places in the field. Copper Eagle was particularly impressive when finishing a close second to July runner Aladdin’s Lamp in the Grade 3 Jubilee Stakes and rates the obvious back-up for punters looking beyond the favourite.