WEEKEND RACING HIGHLIGHTS: 4 – 6 SEPTEMBER

WHAT A WEEKEND TO PLAY A PICK 6

This looks a good weekend for Pick 6 punters with strong bankers in the opening legs at Turffontein on Saturday and Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Sunday. There are opportunities to build a Pick 6 kitty on Friday, when Alan Greeff saddles two smart sprinters on the Fairview Polytrack, and two promising three-year-olds are set to get punters off to a flying start at Hollywoodbets Greyville later in the day. Internationally, the new Hong Kong season gets underway at Sha Tin on Sunday with a feast of quality racing.

FRIDAY HIGHLIGHTS

FAIRVIEW:  SWITCH TO POLYTRACK SUITS FAIRY KNIGHT

The switch to the Polytrack suits Alan Greeff’s six-year-old Fairy Knight best of all in Race 7, the Betway Speedsters Stakes over 1000m. He is nicely drawn in four, has Richard Fourie aboard and has already won six races on the surface. “He doesn’t know how to run a bad race, regardless of the distance. He’ll be running on,” said Greeff, who also gives stablemate Cliff Top – no slouch on the surface either – a fighting chance. A Swinger with the pair could return a handy profit with Cliff Top opening at 12-1 in the ante-post market.

HOLLYWOODBETS GREYVILLE: TWO GOOD EARLY BETS

There are two appealing early bets on the card. Twice a beaten favourite, Blenheim Palace steps up to 2000m in Race 1 and judging by the way she has finished off her races over shorter, the extra distance should be well within her compass in what looks a weak field. Gimmethegreenlight colt Dreadnought is a handsome and progressive three-year-old who looks ready to break the ice in Race 2 over 1600m. He finished almost five lengths ahead of closest rival Judiciary in a race won by Old Harry Rocks over this trip last month, and natural improvement should see him confirm that form.

SATURDAY HIGHLIGHTS

SELANGOR: YES BOSS YES SET FOR FOUR IN A ROW

Talented four-year-old Yes Boss Yes looks capable of extending his winning streak to four in Race 8 over 1200m at Kuala Lumpur. He produced an unconventional maiden victory in March, when leading from gun to tape after jockey Fikri Ismail lost his irons shortly after the start. Their partnership has since yielded three more wins from four rides with Yes Boss Yes completing a hat-trick in fluent fashion last time in a Class 3 event. He is fancied to maintain his rich vein of form. The meeting starts at 06:15.

TURFFONTEIN: BANK ON IN-FORM LERENA IN THE PICK 6

In-form Gavin Lerena has accomplished a 22% winning rate in the first five weeks of the new season and can open and close the Pick 6. Lerena partners best-form filly Sword Of Light for Lucky Houdalakis in Race 3 over 1600m, and she should have too much for some modest rivals provided Lerena gets her away cleanly.

Mike Azzie has booked Lerena for Traditional Belief in Race 8 over 1200m and reports she is in good shape following a short break. Traditional Belief has good gate speed and from the plum draw, is likely to try to pinch the race from the front. She is better off at the weights with likely favourite Stoneywood following their narrow encounter at the end of July and should appreciate the inside track.

SUGGESTED R200 (20%) PICK 6 PERM (Leg 1 Race 3 @ 14:00):

Leg 1:  3

Leg 2:  2, 3, 6, 7, 8

Leg 3:  1, 2, 3, 4, 7

Leg 4:  1, 7, 8, 9, 10

Leg 5: FIELD (1-8)

Leg 6: 8

HAYDOCK: ALMERAQ CAN BOUNCE BACK IN GROUP 1 CLASH

Jockey Tom Marquand expects William Haggas’ sprinter Almeraq to return to best in Race 5, the Group 1 Betfair Sprint Cup Stakes over 1000m. Almeraq won his first two starts this term, including the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, and looked set to challenge for champion sprinter honours. However, he could finish only ninth in the Group 1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai July Cup next time out. Marquand believes that run is best ignored: “We felt we had pretty big excuses. I rode him this week and he felt awesome, and hopefully he can replicate that Ascot run. I’m really looking forward to him.”

The Hong Kong Jockey Club World Pool tote will be in operation on all races at Haydock with all TAB Win, Place, Exacta, Quinella, Swinger and Trifecta bets being commingled into the mega Hong Kong pools.

SUNDAY HIGHLIGHTS

SHA TIN: WINNING OVATION TO STAR NEW TERM IN STYLE

The 2026-27 Hong Kong season gets underway with an exciting 10-race programme headed by Race 7, the Albert Handicap over 1400m. Tony Cruz and Zac Purton will be looking for a flying start with Irish-bred four-year-old Winning Ovation, who has already won four of eight starts. He ended last season with two forgivable defeats, failing to see out 1600m in the first of those and then racing wide without cover when fifth to Little Paradise. From barrier four on his return, there should be no excuses. The meeting starts at 06:30.

CHAMP DE MARS: FUTURE SWING SET FOR MAIDEN CUP

Soon Gujadhur’s Future Swing looks the principal contender in Race 6, the Grade 1 Maiden Cup over 2400m. An accomplished stayer in South Africa with wins at Grade 2 and Grade 3 level, he made a pleasing local debut when fourth to Tamarisk Tree in an 1800m handicap. He should have improved with that outing and now takes aim at one of the most prestigious races on the Mauritian calendar. Donovan Mansour retains the ride and on weight-for-age terms, Future Swing may pack too much ability for Good Council, one of only two other runners in the field to have won beyond 2000m. Race 1 is off at 10:15.

HOLLYWOODBETS DURBANVILLE: MENTE ET MANU CAN FIND WINNING PATH

Justin Snaith-trained Mente Et Manu can enjoy a change of luck in Race 4 over 1400m, the topliner on the card. He hasn’t won since last December, when he registered his fourth career success at Kenilworth, but has finished within 0.50 lengths of the winner in four of his five starts since. He is a game performer and with Richard Fourie back in the saddle and a return to his favourite track, this could be his day.