The eight-race programme at TAB Vaal Classic track on Tuesday 3 November presents punters with several attractive betting propositions, with reigning Equus Champion Jockey Craig Zackey, fellow rider Calvin Habib and leading trainer Sean Tarry all well placed to register doubles on the Highveld card. Zackey could get the ball rolling in Race 2 over 1800m aboard Grant Maroun-trained Giddy Up Grace, who looks overdue a maiden success. The four-year-old daughter of One World has found form and consistency since relocating to the Highveld, finishing runner-up in three consecutive starts, most recently over the same distance. She would not be winning out of turn and, with little improvement required, a repeat of that latest effort could be enough to see her deservedly open her account. Tarry could strike in Race 3 with promising Secret Getaway, a well-bred three-year-old Gimmethegreenlight gelding who made pleasing improvement from his first to second outing. He was game in defeat when finishing a close-up second after making the running over 1600m on the TAB Turffontein Inside track last time. Kabelo Matsunyane, aboard in both starts, retains the ride and the extra 200m should bring further improvement. Secret Getaway looks primed to shed his maiden tag and provide Tarry with the first leg of a potential double. Habib could get among the winners in Race 4 over 2000m aboard Alec Laird-trained Doctor Strangelove, who appeals as an attractive value proposition despite his wide draw in gate No 14. The Master Of My Fate gelding boasts a perfect record from his only previous attempt over this distance and should appreciate stepping back up in trip after returning from a three-month absence over 1800m last month. That comeback came in significantly stronger company and he is entitled to strip fitter. Dropping in class, racing off an unchanged handicap mark and returning to his preferred distance, Doctor Strangelove has plenty in his favour. The outside draw complicates matters, but he could reward eachway support. Habib could complete his double in Race 7, a 1600m fillies and mares’ handicap, aboard Robin Klaasen-trained Moana, an exciting daughter of New Predator who makes her seasonal reappearance. The three-year-old showed considerable promise at two, finishing a close-up second on debut before rattling off three successive victories, one over 1400m and two over 1600m. She subsequently tackled male opposition at Grade 1 level and was far from disgraced, finishing less than five lengths behind the winner. With further improvement likely as she matures, Moana looks a filly worth following this season. The booking of regular rider Habib adds confidence to her prospects of making a winning comeback. The strongest betting proposition could be reserved for the finale, where Tarry and Zackey combine with exciting three-year-old Gimme Sunshine in Race 8. The well-bred Gimmethegreenlight filly caught the eye in two KwaZulu-Natal appearances, finishing third on debut over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville before producing a remarkable winning performance over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville. Having appeared hopelessly positioned, she made up almost 10 lengths in the final 400m, quickening in the manner of a filly with considerable ability. That explosive finishing burst suggests the longer run-in of the Vaal Classic track will play to her strengths. Ideally drawn in gate No 2 with just 56.5kg, Gimme Sunshine looks well placed to make a winning Highveld debut before progressing to bigger and better things.   Clive Robinson

Track Spy Video Stars Race 5 – 4 WINNING MONEY The late money went astray in his most recent outing, when he was pushed forward from the widest draw to stalk the speed in a strongly run race. Once straightening, he battled away inside the final 200m to finish seventh, beaten 3.75 lengths. Possessing tactical speed, he should be capable of securing a top-three finish with a smoother run in transit this time. Race 9 – 10 BLOSSOMY In a strongly run race last start, he was caught in an early speed battle from an awkward draw before the hard work took its toll in the straight, seeing him weaken to finish seventh, beaten five lengths over this distance on the All-Weather track. The return to Happy Valley poses no problem, as he scored an impressive win at this track two starts ago, albeit in Class 4, and he is worth another look. Sectional Stars Race 1 – 12 VON BAER After a disappointing 11th on the AWT two starts ago, he showed significant improvement on his return to turf last time out, charging home strongly to finish second over 1000m at Sha Tin. Remaining well weighted this week, he should appreciate the rise to 1200m and looks one to follow. Race 10 – 10 KING LOTUS His winning chances were significantly hindered by a wide draw last start, but he still recorded the fastest final 400m sectional of 22.64 seconds to finish fifth over this track and distance. Having dropped in the ratings, he looks capable of finishing in the money with better luck in running.

A stellar line-up will contest the 2026 LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship (IJC) at Happy Valley Racecourse on Wednesday, 9 December, with the current top five in the LONGINES World’s Best Jockey standings – Ryan Moore, James McDonald, William Buick, Mickael Barzalona and Zac Purton – in this year’s competition. Adding further class to the roster are Saffie Osborne, Dylan Browne McMonagle, Rachel King, Christophe Lemaire and Joao Moreira. Of the line-up, Moore, Purton, Barzalona, Moreira and Lemaire are previous winners of the LONGINES IJC, with Moore and Purton each three-time victors of the event. Buick was the joint runner-up last year, whilst King claimed third in the 2023 LONGINES IJC. The LONGINES IJC is the most prestigious jockey challenge in the world and the most lucrative for the winning rider. The four races are worth a combined HK$7.5 million in prizemoney. Meanwhile, a total bonus prize fund of HK$1 million for the most successful riders will be split three ways, with the winner set to receive HK$600,000, HK$250,000 being awarded to second place and HK$150,000 to third. With Purton assured of his spot as reigning Hong Kong Champion Jockey and a clear leader in this season’s championship, the final two berths on the 12-rider roster for the LONGINES IJC will go to the leading homegrown rider and the highest-ranked eligible rider in the Hong Kong standings at the selection cut-off date, which follows the race meeting on Wednesday, 25 November. Mr Andrew Harding, Executive Director, Racing, The Hong Kong Jockey Club, said: “The 2026 edition of the LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship is shaping to be one of our best, featuring Ryan Moore, James McDonald, William Buick, Mickael Barzalona and our champion Zac Purton. To have the current top five in the LONGINES World’s Best Jockey rankings taking part in the IJC says everything necessary about the quality of this year’s competition. “I’m especially pleased to welcome Saffie Osborne for the first time. She is without a shadow of a doubt one of the best up-and-coming young riders anywhere in the world, and she captured the imagination of racing fans all over the world this year with her history-making victory in the Group 1 St. Leger. To also have Irish Champion Jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle, as well as Rachel King, Christophe Lemaire and Joao Moreira, rounds out the international competitors perfectly. “With this star-studded line-up and the iconic and spectacular Happy Valley racecourse as the setting we have all the ingredients for a thrilling night of great sport.” Harding said. Debutant Osborne was recently crowned winner of the 2026 World Pool Jockeys’ Championship on British Champions Day at Ascot, after riding 13 winners on 2026 World Pool racedays in Great Britain and Ireland. Last month the 24-year-old became the first female jockey to win a British Classic when Highwayman claimed the 250th G1 St. Leger (2905m) at Doncaster Racecourse. She is also a two-time Shergar Cup winner and captained Team Great Britain & Ireland to victory over Team Hong Kong this year. Moore, last year’s LONGINES IJC champion, currently holds the top spot in the LONGINES World’s Best Jockey standings, winning seven of the top 100 Group 1 races so far this year. He recently claimed the G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes (2392m), and is a three-time LONGINES IJC winner (2009, 2010 & 2025). Among his career honours was being appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2026 Birthday Honours for services to horse racing and to British sport. He was inducted into British Racing’s Hall of Fame earlier this month. McDonald, Buick and Barzalona have all won Group 1 races this month. McDonald, a three-time LONGINES World’s Best Jockey Award winner (2022, 2024 & 2025), won the G1 King Charles III Stakes (1609m) aboard Autumn Glow. He became the most successful jockey in Australian racing history this year by surpassing Damien Oliver’s all‑time record of 129 Group 1 wins with his 130th earlier this year. He is second in the current LONGINES World’s Best Jockey standings, claiming 10 of the top 100 Group 1 races. He claimed a 10th Sydney jockeys’ title (including eight in succession) in the 2025/26 season. Two-time British Champion Jockey Buick is no stranger to Hong Kong. He finished joint-second in last year’s LONGINES IJC, winning the first leg of the series with Bunta Baby. Buick is Godolphin’s leading rider and has formed a formidable partnership with Ombudsman, winning the G1 Champion Stakes (1993m) at Ascot this month. He has amassed 130 Group 1 winners, and his glittering career highlights span the European Classics as well as major successes at Royal Ascot. Barzalona, the 2024 LONGINES IJC champion, is also riding high in 2026, having recently won a second consecutive G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (2400m) with Daryz. He also enjoyed plenty of success this year with 2025 G1 Japan Cup (2400m) winner Calandagan, adding two more Group 1 wins to the horse’s tally. Another notable Group 1 winner in 2026 is Rayif, victor of the Poule d’Essai des Poulains (1600m) and the Prix Jacques Le Marois (1600m). “Magic Man” Moreira is another familiar face at the LONGINES IJC. He will make his 11th appearance this year. The 2012 LONGINES IJC champion played a key role in assisting Caspar Fownes to claim his fifth trainer’s championship last season, and rode 32 winners across that season, including a four-timer at Happy Valley on 8 April. Lemaire, who shared 2009 LONGINES IJC top honours with Johnny Murtagh and Ryan Moore, is a runaway leader in the JRA Jockeys Rankings, both in terms of number of wins and total prizemoney and is on his way to his ninth JRA Best Jockey Award for races won. He has three G1 wins this season and is a four-time Japan Cup winner. Browne McMonagle is one of global racing’s most exciting talents. Last year he was crowned Irish Champion Jockey and has won Group 1 races in Ireland, Great Britain, the United States of America, France and Germany, the latest of which was a G1 Futurity Trophy (1609m) victory aboard Giant Sequoia. He rode 10 winners across a short-term stint in Hong Kong last season and placed fourth in two Group 1 races. King made her LONGINES IJC debut in 2023 and secured a victory aboard Oversubscribed. Overall, she ranked third behind Vincent Ho and Purton. Last year she became the first female jockey to win a G1 race in Japan, claiming the February Stakes (1600m, dirt) with Costa Nova. Recently, she captured the G1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) and G1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) aboard star colt Warwoven. Purton, a nine-time Hong Kong Champion Jockey, will chase a record fourth LONGINES IJC crown, having won the event in 2017, 2020 and 2021. He currently leads this season’s Hong Kong standings with 26 wins (as of 25 October), ahead of Nichola Yuen (13) and Ho (12). Purton’s tally of 2,047 career wins in Hong Kong is a record. Trainers will have an added incentive to aim their horses at LONGINES IJC races this year with a bonus scheme that will pay HK$300,000, HK$125,000 and HK$75,000 respectively to the three handlers who achieve the highest number of points across the four races. The four-race competition works on a points-based system, with 12 points for a win, six points for second place and four points for third. The ranking of each jockey will be determined by the total number of points earned over all four races and the LONGINES IJC champion will be the jockey with the highest accumulated points. In the case of a dead-heat for any of the first three placings, points will be added and then divided by the number of horses involved. In the LONGINES IJC, substitute jockeys are eligible for points and if a countback is required, it will go back to fourth placings. Homegrown jockeys with 2lb or 3lb claims are eligible for selection for the LONGINES IJC, but there will be no claiming allowance in the four LONGINES IJC races. Apprentice jockeys do not qualify for selection. This year’s edition will again follow the process successfully employed in recent years of allocating rides with a model designed to make the contest competitive and to reduce the likelihood of individual riders being advantaged or disadvantaged by the draw. This will form the basis for a process in which each rider will be allocated four rides based on an estimated average of each horse’s chance as supplied by the Club’s Jockey Challenge odds-compiling team. The odds-compiling team will assess the credentials of every runner in advance and, without knowing who will ride each horse, will submit their final assessments once the barrier draw is made on the morning of Monday, 7 December. The minimum riding weight for LONGINES IJC races is 118lb. If there are more than 12 entries for a race, the Club’s Handicapping Department will use its discretion to give preference to horses that have shown reasonable recent form. List of invited jockeys for 2026 LONGINES IJC

Australia’s most famous horse racing event, the Melbourne Cup, is set to return on Tuesday, 3 November 2026, at the historic Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Victoria. Known as “the race that stops a nation”, this prestigious event brings together elite horses, leading jockeys and passionate racing fans from around the world. With an impressive prize pool of A$10.2 million, the 2026 Melbourne Cup promises to be another exciting chapter in Australian sporting history.

A Historic Racing Tradition

First held in 1861, the Melbourne Cup has grown into one of the world’s most celebrated horse races. The 2026 event marks its 166th running, continuing a tradition spanning more than a century and a half. The race covers 3,200 metres and is classified as a Group 1 handicap race, testing the endurance, speed and determination of both horses and jockeys. Unlike shorter races, the Melbourne Cup requires competitors to maintain their stamina over a demanding distance while making strategic decisions throughout the contest. Beyond its sporting significance, the Melbourne Cup has become an important part of Australian culture. Each year, millions of people follow the race through television broadcasts, workplace celebrations and social gatherings.

Strong International Competition

The 2026 Melbourne Cup has attracted significant international interest. According to the Victoria Racing Club, 101 horses were originally nominated, including 78 locally trained runners and 23 international entries representing England, Ireland, Japan and the United States. Among the notable contenders is Half Yours, the defending Melbourne Cup champion, trained by Tony and Calvin McEvoy. The horse is seeking another historic victory following its impressive success in 2025. Australian trainer Ciaron Maher has also assembled a strong group of contenders, including Point Of Law, while internationally renowned Irish trainer Joseph O’Brien is pursuing his third Melbourne Cup victory. O’Brien’s entries have included Defiantly, who earned a place in the race through victory in France’s Prix Kergorlay. The international competition highlights the Melbourne Cup’s reputation as a major attraction for some of the world’s finest staying horses. As of 30 October, the final field has not yet been confirmed. The remaining contenders are competing for places in the 24-horse starting lineup, with final declarations scheduled for Saturday, 31 October.

A Celebration Beyond Horse Racing

Although horse racing is the centrepiece, the Melbourne Cup Carnival offers much more than sporting competition. The 2026 Carnival runs across four major race days, beginning with Victoria Derby Day on 31 October, followed by Melbourne Cup Day on 3 November, Crown Oaks Day on 5 November and Champions Stakes Day on 7 November. Fashion remains an essential part of the celebrations. Spectators traditionally attend in elegant dresses, colourful suits and elaborate hats, while the famous Fashions on the Field competition showcases creativity and personal style. Entertainment is another major attraction. British pop superstar Robbie Williams is scheduled to perform at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day, adding further excitement to the occasion. The Carnival also attracts tourists and supports Melbourne’s hospitality, accommodation and retail industries, reinforcing its importance beyond the racetrack.

Anticipation Builds for Race Day

With substantial prize money, international competitors and a rich sporting history, the 2026 Melbourne Cup is shaping up to be a memorable event. However, the outcome remains uncertain. The demanding distance, changing track conditions, barrier positions and race-day tactics can all influence which horse ultimately crosses the finish line first. As Australia prepares for the first Tuesday in November, racing enthusiasts eagerly await the moment when the horses charge down Flemington’s famous home straight. Regardless of the winner, the Melbourne Cup continues to represent a unique combination of sporting excellence, international competition, fashion and Australian tradition.

The trainer/jockey combination of SY Lim and S Ruzaini should figure prominently with a couple of genuine contenders engaged on the eleven-race program at the Selangor Turf Club this Sunday. The first of those is JOYEE GO (2), which remains unbeaten from three starts at Class 5 level and is a chance of bouncing back on the downgrade over the1150m journey in Race 3. The five-year-old has posted two wins this year, both on Track Two, and should utilize his early pace to take up a forward position after barrier rise. Last start winner BABY TWINS (4) scored over this track and trip on October 4 but does draw deeper and may require some early luck. LEGEND OF NIAGARA (3) is the only other class dropper in the race and his Class 5 statistic of two wins from three runs in the grade stands him in good stead to break the 610-day winning drought.  THE STAR (1) returned to form last start on the downgrade and is a worthy trifecta chance despite the big weight. (Race 3 Selections: 2 – 4 – 3 – 1) The SY Lim/Ruzaini combination could strike with the seven-year-old grey CASH COVE (4), which looks ideally placed for a winning return in the 1150m Class 5A contest. CASH COVE (4) is only a moderate beginner best suited by a fast tempo and with veteran mare BIG BAD MAMA (5) to provide the speed influence, he should receive all the favors in the run. PACIFIC POWER (6) has scored once from thirteen local outings but does perform well when resuming and will settle on the pace from the good draw. ROCKET GENERAL (8) has been descending in the ratings since winning his maiden back in March and is expected to improve. BIG BAD MAMA (5) looks the logical leader but can be susceptible over the 1150m trip nowadays. The ten-year-old could hang on to a top four spot with the class drop. (Race 4 Selections: 2 – 6 – 8 – 5) Former Hong Kong galloper LEGENDS NEVER FADE (1) may have disappointed many local punters on his Malaysian debut on October 4 but there were genuine excuses with the gelding pulling up with a respiratory infection. Everything seems to be back on track with the seven-year-old judging by his effortless trial win on Tuesday and can immediately atone in the 1200m Class 3 contest. The gelding will line up against inform three-year-old MEGA FORTUNE (8), which is chasing the winning hat trick and is capable of winning at Class 3 level. Jockey Oscar Chavez has ridden the gelding to both victories and will be hard to beat on the 2.5kg weight drop. The form lines of CHEVAL PEGASUS (6) and TO REMEMBER (11) have tapered off recently but both gallopers are handy sit-sprinters capable of springing an upset result on their best performances. (Race 6 Selections: 1 – 8 – 6 – 11) From the trials conducted at SLTC on October 20, four-year-old galloper STORM TO FINISH (9) was by far the most impressive performance of the morning and looks a winning chance in the 1200m Class 3 contest. The gelding looks a progressive type in the making with only nine career starts to date for three wins and despite being diagnosed with a respiratory problem post-race, is coming off an eye-catching 3rd over 1300m on September 27. Benny Woodworth rides the gelding for the first time but the veteran jockey has combined with trainer Ricky Choi for seven wins during the past twelve-month period. Former Hong Kong performer, STORM CHASER (3) resumes since breaking the Malaysian duck back in August and is a definite watch first-up. The gelding was a late scratching at Ipoh for refusing to load prior to going for a two-month break but hopefully his manners have been remedied and a forward showing is expected. Former Australian GILDED VOYAGER (1) will strip a lot fitter second-up and can easily atone without surprising while BANKER’S WARRIOR (10) had no luck last start but appears well weighted with the 3kg apprentice claim. (Race 7 Selections: 9 – 3 – 1 – 10)            NAVARRE CROWN (7) appears well handicapped to go back-to-back in the 1300m Open Novice for leading trainer Simon Dunderdale. NAVARRE CROWN (7) finished runner up behind progressive galloper Strategise on debut before easily accounting for a Restricted Maiden lineup at start here last month. The Yes Yes Yes gelding will more than likely go around at a short quote but he does look hard to beat on exposed form. KNOW AT HEART (1) has been far from disgraced against Class 3 opposition and the former Hong Kong galloper will strike a much easier assignment. SUN MOON STARS (3) was specked at long odds when breaking the maiden tag three weeks ago and is capable of measuring up while CAPET REGENT (10) can be considered for the exotics. (Race 10 Selections: 7 – 1 – 3 – 10)

Saturday’s 10-race Highveld meeting at TAB Turffontein on 31 October is packed with quality, with the Grade 2 Allied Steelrode – Onamission Charity Mile the headline act, supported by a pair of Grade 3 contests for three-year-olds and three Listed races. While the Charity Mile’s community initiative ensures that the day ultimately has many winners beyond the racecourse, there are plenty of attractive betting propositions for punters, with the powerful stables of Sean Tarry and that of Mike & Mathew de Kock dominating the feature-race landscape. Race 4, the Grade 3 Starling Stakes for three-year-old fillies, sees eight of the 12 runners representing the Tarry and De Kock stables. De Kock’s Flower Island, a last-start winner of the Grade 2 Fillies & Mares Joburg Spring Challenge, renews rivalry with Tarry’s Get Up. There is unfinished business between the pair: Get Up defeated Flower Island in the Grade 2 Alan Robertson at the end of their two-year-old campaigns, before Flower Island avenged that defeat with a winning three-year-old reappearance. Get Up is now 1kg better off for a 2-length defeat and enjoys a better draw, so there should be little separating the two again. Tarry, however, throws five runners at the race, with Alice B Toklas, Secretary Bird, Griselda and Within Reach joining Get Up to provide the yard with plenty of firepower. De Kock’s trio is headed by Flower Island, with Good Day Sunshine and new stable recruit In Hot Water (formerly with James Crawford in the Western Cape) completing the De Kock trio. Flower Island and Get Up look the principal protagonists, although the depth of the race makes it one where exotic players may want to go wide. The three-year-old males take centre stage in Race 5, the Grade 3 TAB Graham Beck Stakes over 1400m, where Fish Tales sets the standard. This unbeaten Heavenly Blue colt, a last-start winner of the Grade 2 Umkhomazi Stakes at Hollywoodbets Greyville at the end of his two-year-old campaign, makes his first appearance for the De Kock stable after switching from James Crawford’s barn. There is considerable scope for improvement from Fish Tales as a three-year-old, and his pedigree suggests the additional 200m should be firmly in his favour. Perhaps even more significant for punters is that, of De Kock’s four runners, stable jockey Callan Murray has opted to partner Fish Tales, despite the colt’s awkward 11 draw. That is a notable vote of confidence. The big one is Race 7, the Grade 2 Allied Steelrode – Onamission Charity Mile over 1600m, where De Kock launches a four-pronged assault against a strong Tarry coupling that is made up of the two Grade 1 winners in the field, Cosmic Speed and Grand Empire. The latter has a score to settle with the De Kock-trained Splittheeights. During their highly productive three-year-old campaigns, Splittheeights chased home Grand Empire in the Grade 1 SA Classic over 1800m, having previously beaten Tarry’s charge in the Grade 2 Gauteng Guineas over this same 1600m course and distance. Grand Empire has the advantage of a comeback run under his belt and should strip fitter for it, but his 18 draw is an obvious concern. Splittheeights, by contrast, has landed gate 4, is unbeaten over the course and distance and Murray gets back in the irons. With just 53.5kg on his back, the De Kock inmate appears attractively weighted. The only question mark is fitness, though the yard’s assessment is that the lightly raced Vercingetorix colt is not yet 100%, but fit enough to acquit himself competitively. Given his course-and-distance record, favourable draw and weight, he nevertheless looks good value to make a winning return. And then there is Race 8, the Listed 4Racing Java Stakes over 2400m, where De Kock-trained Curious Girl rates one of the day’s strongest exotic-bet anchors. The filly, winner of last season’s SA Derby, is unbeaten in two starts over the TAB Turffontein Standside track. She made an encouraging seasonal return in the Michaelmas Handicap over 1900m at Hollywoodbets Greyville earlier this month. The step up to 2400m is ideal and she is the best-weighted runner in the lineup. With fitness already established and the extra 500m tailor-made for her, Curious Girl has plenty going for her.   Clive Robinson