TAB WEEKEND RACING HIGHLIGHTS: 24 – 26 JULY

MASSIVE POOLS, MAJOR RACES, BIG OPPORTUNITIES

It’s a blockbuster racing weekend with two outstanding Hong Kong World Pool meetings on Saturday and Sunday. The world’s highest-rated horse bids for back-to-back victories in Saturday’s King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot, before attention shifts to an exceptional 10-race programme on ‘Super Sunday’ at Hollywoodbets Greyville. The card features eight Graded races, headed by the Grade 1 R1.5-million HKJC Champions Cup and the Grade 3 R1-million World Pool Gold Cup, Africa’s greatest equine marathon. Three Jackpots are on offer, including a R500,000 carryover into Jackpot THREE (Races 7-10), while the Pick 6 (Races 4-9) boasts a R2-million carryover and an expected final pool of R8-million. The weekend gets underway on Friday with an exciting Listed juvenile feature on the Fairview Polytrack. Top-class racing, outstanding betting opportunities and massive pools combine for a true racing extravaganza.

FRIDAY HIGHLIGHTS:

FAIRVIEW: CHATTERBOX GETS FOURIE’S VOTE

Alan Greeff, who has already saddled 144 winners this season, looks set to continue his dominance as the 2025/26 campaign draws to a close with four of the seven runners (one scratching) in the afternoon’s feature, the Listed TAB Casino Juvenile Cup over 1400m. It is a fascinating contest, with Greeff giving all four realistic chances. Andrew Fortune makes a rare appearance at Fairview and has been booked for recent runaway maiden winner Gimmethatworldcup, but stable jockey Richard Fourie has opted for the filly Chatterbox. Greeff was particularly complimentary of her recent work, saying: “She is working really, really well and could be anything!” The meeting has been moved from turf to the Polytrack.

ASCOT: BLACKBEARD COLT TOPS THE BOARDS

Sonny Parvenue, a smart colt from the first crop of Coolmore’s highly regarded sprint stallion Blackbeard, tops the boards for Race 2, the Listed Flexjet Pat Eddery Stakes over 1400m. The EUR100,000 breeze-up sale purchase was sent off a strong 15-8 favourite on his winning debut at Salisbury last month and trainer Richard Hannon said: “He’s a horse we like a lot. He needs seven furlongs.”

SATURDAY HIGHLIGHTS:

CHAMP DE MARS: MOONLIGHT TRADER CHASES BACK-TO-BACK WINS

War Chariot has won two of his three starts this season and comes into Race 6, the Aqua Springs Global Heritage Cup over 1450m, in excellent form. He does, however, face a sterner assignment against top weights Common Grounds and Moonlight Trader. The latter failed to fire on his Mauritian debut last December but emphatically turned things around by winning the competitive Celebration Trophy on his seasonal return. He reunites with Raymond Danielson in search of another victory. The first race is off at 10:30.

HOLLYWOODBETS DURBANVILLE: MUTINY IN HEAVEN ON THE UPGRADE

Just ahead of their fourth birthdays, useful handicappers Bourbon King, Marcus Aurelius, Mutiny In Heaven and Spirit lock horns in Race 5, a Class 4 contest over 1600m. It promises to be a keenly fought affair, with the quartet sitting below the region’s elite but possessing sufficient ability and scope to add further victories. On paper, James Crawford’s Mutiny In Heaven may hold the edge. A well-bred late bloomer, he shed his maiden in May, is the only runner among the quartet to have won over the trip and could still be ahead of the handicapper.

TURFFONTEIN: PLUS FOUR TO MEASURE UP AGAIN

Midway through July, Plus Four, trained by Candice and Tammy Dawson, produced the best performance of his career after a break when coming from off the pace to win a 1000m handicap with authority, beating Umzigheli Winyathi by two lengths. He clocked a good time and had plenty in reserve, suggesting the rising six-year-old may only now be coming into his own. Many sons of Vercingetorix improve with maturity, and although the runner-up is 1kg better off at the weights in Race 5 over 1000m, Plus Four should again have his measure.

ASCOT: CALANDAGAN BIDS FOR HISTORY

Nine contenders will go to post for Race 5, the Group 1 £2-million King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes, after declarations for Britain’s midsummer showpiece were confirmed on Thursday morning. Last year’s winner and runner-up, Calandagan and Kalpana, will be joined by 2024 hero Goliath in what promises to be a renewal for the ages. Calandagan appears to have reached peak form at just the right time as he bids to become only the fourth horse in history to win the race in consecutive years. According to Aga Khan Stud’s Racing Manager Nemone Routh, Calandagan’s recent stepping-stone victory at Saint-Cloud was crucial to his preparation. “He came out of that race in great shape. Mentally, it did him a world of good as well. His regular jockey believes he improved after that performance and is peaking just right for the King George, which he will certainly need because this year’s field looks even stronger.” This is a Hong Kong World Pool race day, with all TAB Win, Place, Exacta, Quinella and Swinger bets commingled into the global pool.

SUNDAY HIGHLIGHTS:

SELANGOR: UNBEATEN CHOICE IS MINE EYES SELANGOR MILE

The unbeaten Choice Is Mine has an excellent opportunity to extend his perfect record in Race 9, the RM1,000,000 4YO Selangor Mile at Kuala Lumpur. Successful on debut in New Zealand in February 2025, he returned from a 15-month absence to score by three lengths over 1400m on his Malaysian debut in May. He followed up with another convincing victory in June. With several of his main rivals drawn wide, Choice Is Mine looks well served from barrier five and appears on course to collect the biggest cheque of his career this weekend. The meeting starts at 06:10.

HOLLYWOODBETS GREVYVILLE: HIGH QUALITY RACING, 10 FEATURES

‘Super Sunday’ features a stellar 10-race programme with three Grade 1 races, four Grade 2 contests, a Grade 3 and two Listed events. To add to the excitement, an estimated R8-million Pick 6 pool is on offer. The meeting is also a Hong Kong World Pool fixture, with all TAB Win, Place, Exacta, Quinella and Swinger bets commingled into the global pool. It promises to be a memorable afternoon of top-class racing and outstanding betting opportunities.

RACE-BY-RACE GUIDE TO TAB’S CARRYOVER PICK 6

CARRYOVER: R2-MILLION – LIKELY POOL: R8 MILLION!

Leg 1 (14:35): Race 4 – 1600m DOUGLAS WHYTE THEKWINI STAKES (Grade 2)
Classy 3 ALICE B TOKLAS is the filly to beat. Her winning chance in the Grade 2 Golden Slipper over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on HWB Durban July Day was compromised when she was cramped at the 350m mark and lost crucial momentum. She rallied gamely to finish second with 4 ROYAL TIARA, 9 AMC ROY’S FANTASY and 10 VIKING LASS behind her. The extra 200m here will suit her perfectly. There are two apparent dangers. Dual Eastern Cape feature winner 6 MARCHLAND is unbeaten in three starts and warrants inclusion, particularly as a Fairview-trained runner landed this race last year. Promising 7 WITHIN REACH steps up to feature company and is another worth including if you’re not prepared to bank on ALICE B TOKLAS.

 Leg 2 (15:15): Race 5 – 1600m WORLD POOL MOMENT OF THE DAY CHAMPION STAKES (Grade 1)
A quality renewal in which a strong case can be made for at least half the field. The key form references are the Listed Gatecrasher Stakes, won by 2 VIKING LEADER, and the Grade 2 Golden Horseshoe, in which 14 VIBE CHECK clocked a faster time over the same course and distance. There is plenty of collateral form linking the two races, bringing Golden Horseshoe runner-up 9 GREEN ENERGY, third-placed 4 SECRETARY BIRD and fourth-placed 13 RED SPICE into the reckoning. All three have solid claims of reversing the form over the extra 200m, particularly as VIBE CHECK enjoyed an uncontested lead before being driven out hard to score. Supporters of GREEN ENERGY, however, must also respect lightly raced and progressive 11 BACHATA, who finished strongly from well back in the Gatecrasher to cross the line more than three lengths ahead of him. This is BACHATA’S peak run and another bold showing is expected. All that said, this remains a fascinatingly open race in which luck in running could prove decisive. The safest approach is to include as many as possible.

 Leg 3 (15:55): Race 6 – 1200m MERCURY SPRINT (Grade 1)
A tremendous contest among the country’s leading sprinters. 4 BUFFALO STORM CODY enters the race off virtually the same preparation as last year, when he convincingly accounted for 1 MIA MOO, 2 TENANGO, 7 ASIYE PHAMBILI, 9 CAT’S PAJAMAS, 10 CAFE CULTURE and 11 QUESTIONING, all of whom are marginally better off at the weights this time. ASIYE PHAMBILI and particularly QUESTIONING have produced some outstanding performances since then, while 3 O’TENIKWA, 5 JET FORCE and 8 TAXI TO THE MOON also bring strong recent form into the race. Even so, this has long been BUFFALO STORM CODY’S target. On paper he remains the one to beat and should arrive for the race in peak condition.

Leg 4 (16:35): Race 7 – 3200m WORLD POOL GOLD CUP (Grade 3)
6 KING PELLES acquitted himself with distinction when finishing a close third to Note To Self and Wish List in the Hollywoodbets Durban July, confirming that he is just about at the top of his game. He has been aimed at defending his title in this race following last year’s comfortable victory, when 13 HOLDING THUMBS finished second and 12 SHOOT THE RAPIDS was fourth. Both meet him on less favourable weight terms this time. Younger and progressive 7 AHEAD OF THE FACTS shapes as a danger, but he, too, is well held by KING PELLES on their Gold Vase meeting last season. KING PELLES has plenty in his favour, not least the services of internationally acclaimed jockey Lyle Hewitson. On paper, he is the likely winner.

Leg 5 (17:15): Race 8 – 1800m HKJC CHAMPIONS CUP (Grade 1)
Four of the eight runners clashed in last year’s renewal, when 2 GLADATORIAN narrowly accounted for 1 THE REAL PRINCE, 3 SEE IT AGAIN and 7 DAVE THE KING. SEE IT AGAIN has since turned the corner with two outstanding Grade 1 victories and has been kept fresh with a deliberately light KZN campaign. But his formidable stable companion 4 EIGHT ON EIGHTEEN is reportedly approaching his best after a poor run in the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge over six weeks ago. A mouth-watering finish is in prospect. Take your pick.

Leg 6 (17:55): Race 9 – 2000m BET WITH THE WORLD GOLD BRACELET (Grade 2)
Defeated just once in 12 career starts – when she was reported to be coughing – 5 ANOTHERDANCEFORME beat recent Ridgemont Garden Province winner Quickstepgal in her only previous appearance at this track a year ago. Alan Greeff’s filly has since posted emphatic victories over 1600m, 2000m and 2200m, and her versatility and devastating turn of foot set her apart from this field on paper. There are a few proven high-class performers capable of testing her, headed by 12 MOCHA BLEND, who is looking in excellent order and was far from disgraced when ninth behind Note To Self in the recent Hollywoodbets Durban July. Even so, ANOTHERDANCEFORME looks about as good as they come and will take a power of beating at the weights.

SUGGESTED R168 PICK 6 PERM (Leg 1 Race 4 @ 14:35):

Leg 1:  3, 6, 7
Leg 2:  2, 4, 5, 9, 11, 13, 14
Leg 3:  2, 4
Leg 4:  6
Leg 5: 1, 2, 3, 4
Leg 6: 5