WEEKEND RACING HIGHLIGHTS: 28 – 30 AUGUST

EXCITING WEEKEND AHEAD AS SPRING ROLLS IN

A bet on Overture at Fairview on Friday afternoon could get the weekend off to a good start. The Fairview fixture is followed by a quality eight-race programme at Hollywoodbets Greyville, the fourth in the day-night series of meetings and featuring an up-and-coming four-year-old colt trying 1400m for the first time. The Listed Betway Spring Spree Stakes at Turffontein on Saturday marks the start of the spring-summer feature season in Jozi and has attracted a competitive field of sprinters. And then on Sunday a consistent five-year-old will attempt to defy a big weight in the feature at Hollywoodbets Scottsville. Lots of excitement and many chances to win!

FRIDAY HIGHLIGHTS

FAIRVIEW: OVERTURE READY TO STRIKE ON THE TURF

In-form Tara Laing saddles lightly raced Overture in Race 6 over 1400m and assistant-trainer Gavin Venter told Racing Today’s Track Talk that the four-year-old has a “big chance” back on the turf. He explained: “Overture comes out slowly and gets going late, so the Polytrack, with its short straight, found him out. The extra 200m will suit him and he will enjoy the long straight on the turf track.”

HOLLYWOODBETS GREYVILLE: ESTEEMED LOOKS THE GOODS

Mike and Mathew de Kock send out rested Grade 1 performer Greaterix and highly regarded Esteemed in Race 6 over 1400m, the evening’s feature. This is a quality field with some hard knockers and Esteemed tries 1400m for the first time. But his effortless 1200m win after a long rest suggests he could be every bit as good as his reputation suggests. He should take a power of beating under Richard Fourie, who posted a treble at Fairview on Wednesday. Fourie has several other bright chances, including Captain West (Race 3), Let It Roll (Race 4) and The Swan Song (Race 7).

SATURDAY HIGHLIGHTS

CHAMP DE MARS: GUJADHUR AND DANIELSON EYE DOUBLE

Soon Gujadhur and Raymond Danielson combine with two leading chances on the day. Blue Bay looks the pick in a five-horse field in Race 5 over 1600m. He has produced three eye-catching runs since arriving on the island and appears to be approaching peak form. At My Command, a Grade 1-placed performer in South Africa, is chasing his fourth win at the track in Race 6, the Grade 3 Azul Cup over 1400m, and looks to be in the right vein of form.

TURFFONTEIN: CHARMING CHEETAH TO BREAK HIS DROUGHT

Quantum Theory has not seen the winner’s enclosure in 10 starts since his success in last year’s Listed Betway Spring Spree Stakes over 1200m, but showed glimpses of his best in a sprint at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Gold Cup Day. He returns to defend his title in Race 7 and could pop up at a good price, although several others have chances. In-form rivals Karate Kid and Umzingeli Wenyathi seem better suited to 1000m, but should be right there from good draws on the fast track. Another who commands respect is Robyn Klaasen’s consistent high-level performer Charming Cheetah, who will race off his lowest-yet rating. He is a smart sort who has been unlucky not to have won since his juvenile days.

SUGGESTED R576 (10%) PICK 6 PERM (Leg 1 Race 4 @ 13:25):

Leg 1:  1, 2, 5, 6

Leg 2:  FIELD (1-8)

Leg 3:  1, 2, 3, 5

Leg 4:  1, 2, 4, 6, 8

Leg 5: 1, 2, 3

Leg 6:  1, 3, 9

GOODWOOD: ZAVATERI LOOKS THE CLASS IN MILE STAKES

Zavateri looks the part in Race 4, the Group 2 Virgin Bet Celebration Mile Stakes, following a fifth-place finish in the Group 1 Sky Bet City Of York Stakes over 1400m at York last Saturday. Trainer Eve Johnson Houghton said: “He didn’t have that hard a race and sort of got a bit lost midway. He stepped forward from his Goodwood run.” Fourth to brilliant Bow Echo in the Group 1 Sussex Stakes over 1600m earlier this season, Zavateri should have too much class for his rivals.

SUNDAY HIGHLIGHTS

SELANGOR:  KOONDAKAARA CAN GO ONE BETTER IN CUP

Koondakaara delivered a sharp trial run this week and looks the runner to beat in Race 9, the Merdeka Cup over 1800m,. Tiang Kim Choi’s five-year-old is reported to be “looking like he’s ready for a fight” ahead of a contest that has attracted some of the country’s top middle-distance racers. Koondakaara was beaten just 0.75 lengths by the smart Aquitaine on his first try over 1600m recently, when he was held up for a run. If similar tactics are employed, he can go one better over the extra 200m here. The meeting starts at 06:45.

HOLLYWOODBETS SCOTTSVILLE: VIHAAN’S WEB TO CAPITALISE ON DROP IN CLASS

There is plenty of interest in the return to the track of promising import Exocet in the topliner, Race 5 over 1000m. Exocet has been off the track with an injury since last October and is reportedly doing very well, although De Kock Racing has cautioned that he faces a tough task as he will naturally be in need of the run. The runner with recent form to rely on may be Gareth van Zyl’s Vihaan’s Web, who drops in class following excellent placed efforts behind the likes of Questioning and African Pride during the KZN Champions Season. He has been sparingly campaigned and looks set to give a good account.