Sean Tarry has a fine record in the annual KZN Breeders meeting and his smart filly Mrs Geriatrix can get back to winning ways by taking the day’s headliner, the KZN Breeders Mile (Candiese Lenferna Photography)
Tab4Racing looked at some of the highlights of this weekend’s racing:
SATURDAY HIGHLIGHTS
HOLLYWOODBETS GREYVILLE: MRS GERIATRIX IS BEST WEIGHTED
With a spread of only 4kg from the top to the bottom of the handicap and a rating of 112, Grade 1 winner Mrs Geriatrix could trounce her rivals in Race 7, the R600,000 KZN Breeders Mile. Last season’s Equus Champion Two-Year-Old has not won since last October, but has raced competitively in significantly stronger company. Her places in two Grade 1 classics over 1600m suggest she is capable of winning over this trip. She prepped well over 1450m this month and should get back in the winner’s circle.
CURRAGH IRELAND: EMILY UPJOHN MAKES MOST APPEAL
The Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes over 2000m, the Group 2 Airlie Stud Stakes over 1200m and the Group 3 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai International Stakes over 2000m top the bill on an eight-race card. Star filly Emily Upjohn was just short of her best when fourth to Luxembourg in last month’s Group 1 Coronation Cup. She’ll be better off for the run and looks hard to beat.
SUNDAY HIGHLIGHTS
KRANJI SINGAPORE: LIM’S SALTORO SEEKS FEATURE HAT TRICK
On a hat -trick of feature-race wins, and only once defeated in eight starts, Lim’s Saltoro is fancied to land Race 9, a Group 2 contest over 1600m. While Lim’s Saltoro hasn’t been tested at the distance, he is the class of the race. His only loss was by a short head to stablemate and two-time Singapore Horse of the Year Lim’s Kosciuszko in the Group 2 EW Barker in April. Jockey Marc Learner believes Lim’s Saltoro will like the extra and said: “I think it’s all about timing with this horse. The way he won the Silver Bowl over 1400m gave me confidence that the mile will not be a problem.” The first race is off at 06:30.
TURFONTEIN: TROMPIE COULD BE TOO FAST FOR HIS RIVALS
Brett Crawford’s speedy four-year-old Trompie is on the comeback trail following a rest and gelding. He showed up well in his most recent race, a quality handicap won by champion sprinter Thunderstruck, and could get back to winning ways against lesser opposition in Race 7 over 1000m. There are two other betting prospects on the day in Sean Tarry’s Rodeo Drive (Race 2), narrowly beaten in the Grade 1 Allan Robertson Championship, and Pistol Pete (Race 3), fifth in the Grade 1 Gold Medallion after having to ease and switch at a critical stage of the contest. Both tumble in class.
CURRAGH IRELAND: AMBIENTE FRIENDLY AND LOS ANGELES SET TO DUEL
Ambiente Friendly and Los Angeles, second and third respectively in the Group 1 Betfred Derby to City Of Troy at Epsom, renew rivalry in the Group 1 Irish Derby over 2400m. Ambiente Friendly was 0.50 lengths ahead of Los Angeles that day, but with home ground advantage Los Angeles could have the edge this time and an exciting duel is on the cards. Whichever one you fancy you can have a full go because all TAB Win, Place, Exacta, Quinella, Swinger and Trifecta bets go into the massive Hong Kong pools.
FORTHCOMING ATTRACTIONS
MONDAY 1 JULY: Here’s a Monday with a difference with a Sha Tin race meeting in Hong Kong headlining proceedings. It’s an 11-race programme on Hong Kong Reunification Raceday and starts at 10:00.
GREYVILLE SATURDAY 6 JULY: Africa’s biggest betting day. The Hollywoodbets Durban July tops a 12-race card with three mega TAB carryovers: a R2-million Pick 6 carryover (likely pool R20 million), a R1-million Quartet carryover on the big one (likely pool R12 million) and a R500,000 Jackpot THREE carryover (likely pool R3 million). Champagne racing and your chance to win a small fortune!
