TAB have expanded its range of Jackpot Quickmix pools.

Going forward, there will be five Jackpot Quickmix pools, daily fixtures allowing.

The first Jackpot Quickmix pool daily will comprise only Australian races and the second will normally end with the first race at the South African meeting on the day.

Jackpot Quickmix three will normally begin with the last South African race of the afternoon and Quickmix four will comprise any combination of the final races at afternoon international meetings and the early races at international fixtures in the evening.

The other Jackpot Quickmix daily will be the Jackpot pool in the BLITZ race meeting, which comprises seven of the best races daily in a mid-afternoon timeframe.

TAB customers should note that from tomorrow the bets on BLITZ race meetings will comprise:
* PA Quickmix (BLITZ races 1 to 7)

* Pick 6 Quickmix (BLITZ races 2 to 7)

* Jackpot Quickmix (BLITZ races 4 to 7)

Jackpot Quickmix betting details are as follows:

* Quickmix ONE

* Quickmix TWO

* Quickmix THREE

* Quickmix FOUR

 For TABgold customers, please consult outlets or visit www.tabgold.co.za for daily venue codes.

There look to be some fair opportunities for punters at the eight race Vaal Classic track meeting tomorrow.

The first race is a Workriders maiden over 1450m and Karakoram looks the one to beat. Last time over this trip on the Turffontein Inside track when wearing first-time blinkers he had to jump from draw ten of ten and was caught wide for a bit just before turning for home, so he did well to stay on for a three length fourth. He has a better draw this time and faces an uninspiring field. Latest Craze finished well back in his first two starts against good horses. He improved after gelding and with first time blinkers on last time to finish second and should earn again in this field. My Kingdom ran a fair race on debut over this distance and should improve.

In the second race over 1450m Constantia looks the part. She has improved in her last two starts and last time out over 1200m, despite a tardy start, she ran on strongly for a 0,90 length second. She looks likely to relish the step up in trip and she has a good draw. Empress Josephine was scalped on debut and caught without cover when making a fair debut over 1200m. She has a speedy pedigree being by Crusade out of a Listed-winning sprinter so this step up in trip is not certain to suit. However, she is drawn in pole and is sure to make a bold bid from the front or a handy position. Notquitethereyet ran on well for a place last time from well back and is interesting with blinkers on. 

In the third over 2000m Flaming Duchess looks ready to win. She stayed on well for a 1,40 length third from a wide draw over 1600m last time and, being by Duke Of Marmalade out of a five-time winning Jet Master mare who won up to 1800m, she should enjoy this step up in trip. She has a fair draw and Callan Murray has his third ride on her. Smiley River is by the Vodacom Durban July winner Pomodoro but she has a speedy female line. However, she stayed on late over 1600m in hr penultimate start after being slow away and was never a factor last time over 1450m, so might be looking for this trip. Nazareth was caught late over 1800m last time and being by Black Minnaloushe and a half-sister to a horse who won over 1800m she has a chance from a good draw.      

In the fourth race over 2000m Sell High has been knocking on the door over 1600m and has finished third over this trip before so looks the one to beat from a good draw. Arnica Montana has been expensive to follow but being by Flower Alley out of a placed full-sister to Mother Russia she might be looking for this trip. Turf Master has done well from the front before and in this uninspiring field he could earn if finding the front from a wide draw.

The fifth race over 1800m is wide open although Captain Flynt has a good chance. He has been knocking on the door over 1600m and should enjoy the step up in trip being by Captain Al out of a Silvano mare who won a Listed race over 1800m. He has a good draw too. Meeraas caught the eye when winning his maiden cosily over 2000m three runs ago. He has then disappointed twice over 2400m, so the step back to 1800m should see him firing again. He will be a threat from a fair draw. The consistent Hidden Agenda has been staying on over shorter and does have a good record over this trip, so he will be dangerous under an accomplished 4kg claimer, although he does have a tricky draw. March To Glory has become a bit in an out, but on his on days he is capable of staying on well. Warren Kennedy is the perfect jockey for him and proved this in his penultimate start when going close over 1600m, so him being back aboard is a bonus. Corrido is capable of being involved in the finish here and so is Zeal And Zest, while Snorting Bull is interesting dropped in trip as he can turn it on well. Bosphorous will also be a factor over this trip.

In the sixth race over 1600m At Hand stayed on strongly over this course and distance last time and Warren Kennedy is now up off the same merit rating and from a similar draw. In The Game stays this trip these days and gets his first good draw for a while, pole position, so he will be a threat. Youcanthurrylove won cosily third time out and the form was then franked so he also has to be included.

In the next race over 1000m Singforafa was a facile winner last time over course and distance when well weighted and she is well weighted again. Fly Away also won impressively last time over the same course and distance and recorded a faster time than Singforafa despite carrying more weight, so she has a big shout too. Tropic Sun made a promising debut and could also be involved.

In the last race of the day over 1200m Big Blue Marble is chosen as the best bet of the day. He has always been well regarded and was far from disgraced last time over this trip in a race where he had the like of Grade 1 winner Eden Roc behind him. He was dropped a couple of points by the handicappers and has pole position which will suit as he has won from the front before. Purple Diamond stayed on well over 1000 last time and will prefer this trip so has a shout from a good draw. Sporting Monarch has run well fresh before so he has to be considered from a good draw over an ideal trip. 

By David Thiselton

It was tough going at Hollywoodbets Greyville last Friday night and it could be equally testing for punters on the poly at the same venue this afternoon. That said, the harder the going the better the rewards for those who do their homework.

There are no obvious exotic bet bankers on the card and race-by-race may be the way to go.

Tuscan Kiss and Duran could be the exacta in the card opener in what is a tricky race with thin form. Tuscan Kiss ran a fair race behind his stable companion Kingston Rock last start and meets weaker here. Duran has disappointed Gary Rich on more than one occasion as he has expected more from his charge that has shown ability at home. The Rich stable is in form and Duran can improve on recent showings. Of the balance, Shining Bright has found market support at recent starts and reverts to a sprint which could help.

In the second, Irish Pearl was backed at long odds last start and made good improvement in cheek pieces. She has drawn wide but this is only her fourth start so could have more to come and offers more scope than Amberbell and Retrial. This pair look the more obvious but Amberbell is a long-timer battler although not far back at recent outings while Retrial was a short-head behind Amberbell when last they met so there should not be much between the two again although Amberbell has the better draw. Enrapture improved nicely second time out and has a winning chance in a weak field.

The lightly raced Gwendolyn won well second time out and looks progressive in a modest field when she lines up in the opening leg of the Pick 6. San’s Dancer has run two cracking races for her new stable and the step up in trip should suit so she could prove the biggest threat. Of the balance, season veteran Royal Kaitrina is never far back and comes from a form stable and although S’Manga Khumalo puts up 1kg over-weight that should not be enough to stop her putting in a big effort.

Velvet Season has a bright chance in the fourth and is overdue a first win as he is rated way better than the majority of this field. He has a good draw to boot. Biggest danger could come in the form of Smart Sox who has only had two starts for Dean Kannemeyer. He made a promising debut on the poly and although he was a distant fourth on the turf next up he can do better back on the synthetic surface.

The fifth is wide open but recent maiden winner Royal Kitty has shown ability and won unextended. That was a moderate maiden line-up and she meets a lot stronger this time around. Such A Rush has excellent form on the poly and Lowan Denysschen’s yard is in good form of late while Arrabiata, Stormborne Thunder, Blue Flower and Fire Faerie all warrant consideration in a difficult race.

Candle Rock showed signs of returning to form last start and Jeff Freedman’s filly was backed at long odds. She is down in class and although drawn a little wide she should put in a big effort. Track & Ball have her at 10-1 which are attractive odds. Smiley Kylie has been rested but Garth van Zyl’s filly has put in two smart efforts on the poly and if not short of a gallop will be right there. La Valette has been rested but was not far back in strong feature company last outing while Purple Persuasion is at the top of the ante-post boards with Smiley Kylie.

The seventh is another open handicap but Made In Hollywood has had two outings for his new stable and has made marked improvement. At 12-1 in the ante-post market he looks fair value. Favourite is recent winner Graduate who scored comfortably at his last two. He got a four-point penalty for that last win but should still be competitive. Hey Boy is quick and goes very well on the poly and gets weight from most of his biggest rivals.

Kom Naidoo sends out a steady stream of winners from his Ashburton yard and he could round off the meeting with Fives Wild who takes a big drop in class and with 4kg claimer Xola Jacobs up should have a big chance in this line-up. Others to watch are Jerry The Juggler, Alphamikefoxtrot and Ninotto in another wide open contest.

By Andrew Harrison

To take a bet go to www.tabgold.co.za or www.trackandball.co.za

Mike de Kock said Hawwaam would definitely be avoiding the Gauteng Summer Cup, for which he is the ruling favourite with bookmakers in the ante-post market.

De Kock said the champion Silvano colt was being targeted at the L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate and the Sun Met.

He plans to run him in two Pinnacle Stakes events in Johannesburg before taking him down to Cape Town.  

De Kock’s charge

Mike de Kock runs four horses in Saturday’s Grade 2 Peermont Emperor’s Palace Charity Mile, including topweight and favourite Buffalo Bill Cody.

This talented Irish-bred entire cost himself any chance last time in the Grade 2 Jo’burg Spring Challenge over 1450m, dwelling and losing a few lengths. 

De Kock said, “He has been flying out the gates at home and always works well and this is probably his best trip. But he is becoming quite coltish and we have no intention of gelding him as he has great potential at stud. So if he misbehaves again I will have to sit down with Mary (Slack) and reconsider his future.”

The Redoute’s Choice five-year-old is unbeaten in four starts over a mile and in his first attempt at black type in last season’s strong Grade 1 Champions Cup over 1800m he wasn’t disgraced, finishing 2,90 lengths behind Rainbow Bridge.

He is merit rated 125 so has to give 1,5kg to the second top weights on Saturday and he has to jump from a tricky draw of 12 too, so his odds of around 2/1 look a bit cramped.

All three of De Kock’s other candidates, Barahin, Cascapedia and Noble Secret, have the Gauteng Summer Cup as their main target.

De Kock said about Barahin, who carries 58,5kg off his merit rating of 122, “I was happy with his last run, although he wants a bit further and could do with another run under the belt. He is doing well but is another who needs gelding.”

He said about his six-year-old Irish-bred mare Cascapedia, “She needs another run to reach her peak as she had a long holiday on the farm. But I expect improvement on her last run.”

He said about Noble Secret. “His last run was his first after a wind op so he needs another run and he needs further.” 

By David Thiselton

Last Winter will have his second race in Britain in a 2 400m Listed event on the all-weather at Kempton next Monday.

According to Lady Laidlaw’s racing manager Jehan Malherbe, Sir Michael Stoute has yet to finalise riding arrangements as Ryan Moore – who rode last year’s Sun Met second on his British debut – will be in Australia for the Melbourne Cup.

The now six-year-old’s previous British run was in last month’s Chasemore Farm Fortune Stakes, a Listed race over a mile at Sandown, when he finished last of six but was beaten less than seven lengths – a reasonable effort considering he had been off for 20 months. He took a keen hold, was ridden two furlongs out but was unable to make much impression.

Bernard Fayd’Herbe, sidelined on medical advice since the end of last season, resumes at Kenilworth on Saturday when he has been booked for the first seven of the eight races including, somewhat appropriately, Bernie in the Tellytrack.com Handicap.

Kampala Campari, ruled out of the Durbanville pinnacle won by stable companion Head Honcho a fortnight ago because of a temperature, has been given top weight of 61kg in the Woolavington Handicap at Kenilworth on November 9. Candice Bass-Robinson, bidding to win the 2 400m test for the third year in a row, has the biggest entry with three – Pacific Chestnut, Celestial Prince and Ballad Of The Sea.

The Milnerton trainer is also responsible for nine of the 29 entries for the Laisserfaire Stakes on the same card including three of the four highest rated – Santa Clara, Freedom Charter and Nous Voila.

By Michael Clower