TAB WEEKEND RACING HIGHLIGHTS: 26 – 28 JUNE

FOUR SA MEETINGS AND GROUP 1 ACTION ABROAD

The weekend gets under way with a Listed juvenile contest at Fairview on Friday. Turffontein stages a competitive nine-race programme on Saturday and on the same day the meeting at Hollywoodbets Durbanville, transferred from Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, promises a thrilling clash between a pair of highly regarded two-year-old colts. Sunday’s nine-race meeting at Hollywoodbets Scottsville is also competitive with several big fields set to generate sizeable dividends for exotic bet fans.

Internationally, the heatwave in the UK is resulting in early starts for several meetings in a bid to avoid the worst of the heat and there’s Group 1 action at the Curragh in Ireland with the Pretty Polly Stakes on Saturday and the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby on Sunday.

FRIDAY HIGHLIGHTS

FAIRVIEW: GREEFF HOPING FOR TWO DAHLIAS IN A ROW

US Ranger has shown perhaps the most notable progression of any two-year-old colt in the Eastern Cape this season and looks set to take Race 7, the Listed TAB Dahlia Plate over 1200m. He won the East Cape Nursery on 17 April. “He’s a very capable sort. I’m pleased with the way he is going and he is a big runner,” said trainer Alan Greeff, who captured this race with Anotherdanceforme last season.

SATURDAY HIGHLIGHTS:

SHA TIN: STELLAR EXPRESS BACK TO HIS BEST TRIP

Course-and-distance specialist Stellar Express finally returns to his favourite trip in Race 8 over 1000m. A five-time winner up the straight, the son of Zoustar reeled off a hat-trick of victories over the minimum trip earlier this season, highlighted by a brilliant three-length triumph in the Group 3 Bauhinia Sprint Trophy in January. Straight-course opportunities have been limited since then, but he has maintained his form admirably, including against champion sprinter Ka Ying Rising over 1200m. This race has long been Stellar Express’ target and trainer John Size expects another bold showing. “The 1000m is clearly his strong suit – he’s won five of them,” said Size. “Every horse has an excuse at the moment with the heat and that’s always a factor. Apart from that, he’s fine.” The meeting starts at 10:00.

CHAMP DE MARS: UNDERWORLD CAN RULE IN CUP

Race 6, the Grade 1 Barbé Cup over 1600m, is the definitive second classic of the Mauritian racing season and traditionally showcases the island’s best milers. This year’s renewal features a host of former top-class South African performers, including graded winners Meridius, Selukwe and At My Command, as well as useful campaigners Zil Moris and Rapidash. The one they all have to beat though is trainer Javin Awotar’s Underworld. He was narrowly denied on his Mauritian debut and now meets his conqueror Xavion on considerably better weight terms. Grant van Niekerk takes the ride. The meeting starts at 10.30.

TURFFONTEIN: BELLEROPHON FACES A TOUGH RIVAL

Well-bred Bellerophon has produced a string of solid performances since being stepped up in distance and trainer Fabian Habib appears to have found a good opportunity for him in Race 5, the day’s feature over 2450m. The progressive stayer was caught in the dying strides by the older Hotarubi over 2400m at this track on 14 June and again faces a seasoned rival in the handily weighted Corrupt.

He was beaten 4.70 lengths by Bellerophon over 2400m at the Vaal in May, but is likely to have improved considerably since. With a 2kg pull at the weights, Corrupt should provide a much sterner test in what promises to be a good contest.

HOLLYWOODBETS DURBANVILLE: CLASSIC PROSPECTS CLASH

In what could prove the most exciting local race of the weekend, potential classic prospects Aquae Calidae and Kalahari King renew rivalry in Race 7, the Grade 3 Langerman over 1500m. Kalahari King came out tops by 1.25 lengths when the pair made their debuts over 1200m in March, but subsequently failed to justify favouritism in the Grade 3 Somerset Stakes over the same trip.

Aquae Calidae followed a maiden victory with an effortless success over 1200m in May and that form has since been franked by two impressive winners. Now stepping up to 1500m, it will be fascinating to see who has progressed most. Whatever the outcome, the race should provide an important pointer towards the forthcoming classic season. Possible Pick 6 bankers are soft-track specialist Cork Bay (Race 3) and Grapes Of Wrath, who looks the most talented filly in the Listed Irridescence Stakes over 1500m.

SUGGESTED R234  (50%) PICK 6 PERM (Leg 1 Race 3 @ 13:55):

Leg 1:  2

Leg 2:  FIELD (1-13)

Leg 3:  1, 2, 6

Leg 4:  1

Leg 5:  3, 6

Leg 6:  1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10

THE CURRAGH: OAKS HEROINE TARGETS PRETTY POLLY

Group 1 Betfred Oaks heroine Thundering On faces nine rivals in Race 5, the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes over 2000m. She faces a different challenge here as she drops back in distance, encounters quicker ground and takes on older mares for the first time. Trainer Joseph O’Brien said: “I think she’s a very nice filly and she won very well at Epsom. She has a high rating and is now short in the market for all the biggest races in the world. It’s exciting to have a filly like her and hopefully we can enjoy a smooth passage through the rest of the season.”

SUNDAY HIGHLIGHTS

SELANGOR: BANKER’S TWO SIX CAN BOOST LIM TITLE BID

Johnny Lim, who holds a narrow lead over Simon Dunderdale in the Malaysian Trainers’ Championship, has a good opportunity to strengthen his position when Banker’s Two Six lines up in Race 8 over 1600m. The five-year-old has already captured both the Chairman’s Trophy and the Chinese New Year Prosperity Trophy over 1600m this season and returns to his preferred distance after an unlucky second in the Group 1 Piala Emas Sultan Selangor. “Banker’s Two Six was unlucky that day. He is doing well,” said Lim. The first race gets underway at 06:20.

HOLLYWOODBETS SCOTTSVILLE: RELY BEST OF ALL

Gareth van Zyl’s three-year-old Best Of All showed plenty of pace when runner-up to Dean Kannemeyer’s promising Green Gateway in a Class A contest over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville recently. He returns to the same course and distance for Race 7, the day’s feature in which he again faces a progressive Kannemeyer challenger in Hah Lah Lah, who appears to have needed his last two starts. Preference is for Best Of All, who races without the benefit of a 4kg apprentice allowance this time, but is compensated by the notable booking of Keagan de Melo.