Horse Racing Tips: De Melo To Pick Up Another Grade 1 Victory On His Return?

There’s plenty of fascinating feature horse racing action to look forward to this weekend with plenty of value on offer from Fairview, Turffontein and Scottsville.

Fairview (Friday)

Race 2 – Perfection

There’s an undeniable class of the race in this field and is exactly as his name describes him: Perfection. In his last seven starts, he has won four times with three runner-up finishes. The son of Ideal World goes in search of a hat-trick of wins after trouncing his rivals emphatically over 1400m and 1600m, and now trying the 2000m trip for the first time, he could win by an even bigger margin.

Race 6 – Phedra

Phedra is a filly taking on some fine male individuals but has the class and the weight advantage to help her get over the line first in this contest. She finished runner-up against males last time out as well, but with the drop in trip and the wide draw up the straight, Luyolo Mxothwa should be confident of getting her fourth victory over this course and distance in just five attempts.

Turffontein (Saturday)

Race 2 – Women Of Fame

Juvenile form lines have always been tricky to follow, although Women Of Fame does look to have the experience now to turn the form around against some of the other fillies in the race. She finished third in a Grade 3 under the reins of S’manga Khumalo with “Bling” retaining the ride for the Sean Tarry yard. I make her one of the best bets on the card.

Race 4 – Hithemhardsunshine

Hithemhardsunshine had a glorious run at the Highveld for the first time in his career. The 3-year-old What A Winter gelding finished third behind some talented, Grade 1 winning sprinters and looks to be cherry-ripe for this contest. Chase Maujean gets to retain the ride and now knows his turn of foot, so will look to time his run to perfection in the closing stages.

Race 7 – Flying First Class

Flying First Class certainly has more proven ability than the current favourite in the race, so is definitely worth including in all multiples. She’s finished outside the placings just once over seven attempts over this course and distance, winning twice. The daughter of Silvano will be staying on nicely and if Gavin Lerena gets his timing right, she could make easy pickings of this field.

Race 8 – Feather Boa

Keagan De Melo could make a spectacular return after his one-week suspension as he rides Feather Boa for the first time, taking part in the Grade 1 Empress Club Stakes. The daughter of Flower Alley looks like the right filly in this quality-packed list of runners. The form of her penultimate start really catches the eye, where she was pipped over 1800m in the Fillies Classic. Over a mile, she should be suited to the ground perfectly and should find herself in the winners’ enclosure.

Scottsville (Sunday)

Race 4 – Call To Glory 

Call To Glory has had two good runs over this distance. From draw one with Craig Zackey in the irons, the pair should be right there in the run down to the line. He meets a moderate field, and he does look like the proverbial banker on the card in this contest. 

Race 5 – Rex Union

Rex Union does look a class above the rest in this field, coming in with a 97 merit rating, he faces mediocre company in this contest and with Keagan de Melo in the irons, the pair should be very hard to beat here.