WEEKEND RACING HIGHLIGHTS: 25 – 27 SEPTEMBER
TOP RACING ACTION LOCALLY AND ABROAD THIS WEEKEND
There’s a big weekend ahead for horseracing fans, starting with the second leg of the Poly Challenge at Fairview this Friday followed by the return of one of last season’s leading two-year-olds at Hollywoodbets Greyville.
On Saturday three exciting features at Hollywoodbets Durbanville kick off the pre-summer season in the Western Cape and then Turffontein presents a seven-race card on Sunday containing several banker bets.
International action is highlighted by Saturday’s Golden Rose Day at the Sydney Everest Carnival, where Hong Kong World Pool tote will be in operation on all 10 races. The UK action comes from Newmarket’s Rowley Mile on Friday and Saturday, both days featuring top-tier Group races. There won’t be a dull moment, so top up your TAB accounts and make the most of the weekend!
FRIDAY HIGHLIGHTS
FAIRVIEW: MERCANTOUR’S CHANCE TO SHOW HE’S BOSS
Alan Greeff says Mercantour has a point to prove in Race 7, the second leg of the 2026 Nelson Mandela Bay Poly Challenge over 1400m. He commented: “Mercantour was very unlucky not to have won the first leg of the Poly Challenge when Dean Smith’s Cruise Control got a jump on him. But he won this race on the way to his series success last year and could redeem himself.” Mercantour will again have to contend with a strong, Smith-trained rival in the form of All Systems Go, who came back to best at the end of last season. “He is still in a very good space and the 1400m on the Polytrack is ideal for him. He should be included in everything,” said Smith.
HOLLYWOODBETS GREYVILLE: VIKING LEADER TO MAKE WINNING RETURN
Smart Viking Leader, injured in the pens before the start of the Grade 1 HKJC World Pool Champion Stakes on Gold Cup Day in July, makes his keenly awaited return to the track in Race 3 over 1400m.
This powerful gelding from Michael Roberts’ stable had subsequent Grade 1 winner Erik Du Bois a few lengths behind him when winning the Listed Gatecrasher Stakes over this course and distance in June. He may well have confirmed his superiority in the Grade 1 contest, but the mishap in the pens put paid to that.
Roberts has engaged apprentice Divesh Ramkhalawon, whose 2.5kg claim gives Viking Leader a handy 54.5kg off a 105 rating. That looks favourable against his older rivals and could be enough to give him the edge after his rest.
NEWMARKET: TALK OF NEW YORK’S CHANCE TO SHINE
There are three Group races and a Listed contest on an excellent seven-race programme, including Race 4, the Group 2 Betway Joel Stakes over 1600m on the Rowley Mile. Charlie Appleby’s colt Talk Of New York is odds-on favourite. He followed a Listed win in May’s Sports Heron Stakes with a third to star colt Bow Echo in the Group 1 St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot and a second in the Group 2 HKJC World Pool Thoroughbred Stakes at Goodwood, all over 1600m. With his conquerors absent from this event, Talk Of New York should go close. Appleby said: “He has won on the Rowley Mile before, which is a positive, so hopefully we can get back on track with him.”
SATURDAY HIGHLIGHTS
SELANGOR: ELITE PRINCE HAS A HAT-TRICK IN SIGHT
Top weight Elite Prince bids for a hat-trick of wins in Race 8 and is one to rely on. He’s a sharply progressive sprinter who now tackles 1200m in the same class as his two most recent wins. The meeting starts at 06:45.
ROSEHILL: LLOYD AND GUEST HOUSE AIM FOR BIG DOUBLE
With the Group 1 Golden Slipper in the bag, Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained Guest House is attempting a double in Race 8, the Group 1 ATC Golden Rose over 1400m. If successful, Guest House will become one of the hottest stud commodities in decades. The three-year-old colt has not raced over 1400m before, but Price is not concerned. “I don’t think 1400m will be a problem for him. If he has a relaxed way in running on Saturday, that’ll give him the best chance.” The partnership has engaged Guest House’s regular winning partner Zac Lloyd for the ride, and they’ve been installed favourites for the Aus$1-million race. TAB Win, Place, Swinger and Quinella bets will be commingled into the Hong Kong World Pool. The first race is off at 03:55 SA time with the main feature at 08:05.
HOLLYWOODBETS DURBANVILLE: BIG GUNS ARE BACK
There are two Grade 3 races and a Listed contest on a quality card with a number of major feature contenders making their seasonal debuts. Champion filly Double Grand Slam, now six years of age, has been kept in training and runs in Race 6, the Grade 3 Diana Stakes over 1400m.
It is safe to assume that her connections believe she has the enthusiasm for another racing season rather than a move to the broodmare barn, and that this unconventional start in the Diana Stakes is seen as the best launching pad towards her bigger targets. She is rated to win this with some ease and there is every reason to believe she will put in another typically excellent performance.
Trainer Justin Snaith also holds the aces with Miami Summer and Prairie Dawn in Race 5, the Listed Settler’s Trophy over 2000m. His comments in Computaform suggest that lightly raced stayer Prairie Dawn is well tuned after a rest and should be competitive. Snaith’s game five-year-old Legal Counsel will do battle with Des McLachlan’s Jet Force in Race 7, the Matchem Stakes over 1400m, in which Chasing The Rainbows could also present a challenge on the back of eye-catching recent victories.
SUGGESTED R216 (10%) PICK 6 PERM (Leg 1 Race 4 @ 14:25):
Leg 1: FIELD (1-9)
Leg 2: 2, 4, 5, 6
Leg 3: 5
Leg 4: 5, 7, 9
Leg 5: FIELD (1-10)
Leg 6: 5, 8
NEWMARKET: TOUGH TEST FOR UNBEATEN INNER CITY BLUES
Another superb programme features three Group races on the Rowley Mile. Charlie Appleby and William Buick combine with unbeaten Group 2 winner Inner City Blues in Race 6, the Group 1 Middle Stakes over 1200m. But he hasn’t raced since July, which brings Clive Cox’s sprinter Orthodox firmly into the picture. He was given a competitive run in August after a fluent win over 20 rivals in the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot and looks set to dispute the finish. “We are really pleased with his work and happy with the forecast for good underfoot conditions,” said Cox.
SUNDAY HIGHLIGHTS
SELANGOR: FORTUNE TREE AIMS TO CONQUER 1600M
Talented five-year-old Fortune Tree is on track to claim a second Group victory this season when he lines up in Race 8, a Grade 1 event over 1600m at Kuala Lumpur. Fortune Tree returned with a dominant victory in the Listed Magic Millions Trophy over 1200m a fortnight ago. He has failed in four previous attempts over 1600m, but did go close when beaten just a head by Aquitaine in the Selangor Mile in July. On that evidence, he should take a power of beating. The meeting starts at 06:25.
SHA TIN: LITTLE PARADISE NEEDS TO STAY IN TOUCH
Trainer Jimmy Ting’s seven-time winner Little Paradise is the one to beat at the weights in Race 8, the HK$4.2-million Celebration Cup Handicap over 1400m. The Australian-bred five-year-old boasts an unblemished three-from-three record first-up. The one factor against him is a lack of early speed, so jockey Zac Purton needs to get him going quickly and find a neat spot early to avoid giving away too much ground. But there’s nobody more capable than Purton and Little Paradise is a confident choice. The meeting starts at 06:45.
TURFFONTEIN: STRAIGHT-LINE PA LOOKS RIGHT PLAY
A seven-race programme with a runner in each race that looks set to go close. It’s hard to see any of them miss the first three, so straight-line BiPots and Place Accumulators could be the way to go for an interest throughout the afternoon. Both bets start in Race 1 at 12:50.
The Bachelorette (Race 1) is a twice-beaten favourite with excuses and could make amends. Two Tigers (Race 2) has been narrowly beaten in his last two and could go one better. Up And Up (Race 3) has improved and is best performed over this distance. Onetwobucklemyshoe (Race 4) is considered a strong feature-race prospect this season and could start a winning sequence.
Xtatic (Race 5) finished second in a handicap in her post-maiden run and comes from an in-form stable. Perfect Sky (Race 6) was second in a Grade 2 race over this trip on the last day of the 2025-26 season and should return in winning shape. Social Graces (Race 7) has two excellent runs to show since a maiden win and is drawn a bit better than main rival Navigatrix. The suggested straight-line P/A: 4 x 2 x 3 x 5 x 9 x 5 x 7.