Big weekend for horse racing fans

IT is the start of one of those big weekends for horse racing fans and it does not get better than this.

There will be huge interest in how South Africa fares at the world's richest race meeting in Dubai tomorrow. There is also a huge day at Turffontein.

Port Elizabeth starts off the weekend with eight races today at Fairview. There is no feature race but some competitive ones to get you going.

It has been impossible to catch the Pick 6 in the last few Fairview meetings but at least today's pool will be boosted by a carryover and the pool for this bet will exceed R1-million.

Thanks to champion trainer Mike de Kock, South Africa have been showcasing their products each year in Dubai. De Kock will be in action with eight horses, including Sanshaawes, in the world's richest race, the Dubai World Cup.

In the Goldolphin Mile, South Africa will have three chances, with our Horse of the Year Variety Club (saddled by Joey Ramsden), Soft Falling Rain and Capital Attraction (for Ernst Oertel).

At Turffontein there will be 11 races, with the SA Classic topping the bill.

Looking back at the last Fairview meeting, I have to point out some unbelievable training feats. Trainers Mitch Wiese and Jacques Strydom deserve recognition for what they have done with Forest Digger, which won the Lakeside Handicap, and Key Castle, which finished third.

It is a miracle that Forest Digger is even running after a life-threatening knee injury, but the five-year- old gelding has now won eight races. Key Castle has now won over a million in prize money.

Punters' Pal tips for Fairview:

PA R192

1-6/1/3-5/3-5-9-16/1-3-7-8/3/1-4-13

PICK6 R2100

1/3-5-7/2-3-5-7-9-13-16/1-3-7-8-9/3-6-11-12/1-4-6-10-13

 - Punters' Pal