DARK MOON RISING CAN REMAIN UNBEATEN Champions Day boost

Some tough puzzles face punters at Scottsville today, but Dark Moon Rising looks a bet in Race 7 over 1200m.

Trainer Paul Lafferty indicated that Dark Moon Rising has ability and there was something to like about the way he quickened on debut when beating Indian Tractor by 1.75-lengths over Greyville 1200m last month.

In time it is very likely that this Ideal World gelding will prefer longer distances but this 1200m at Scottsville is a stiff one and Dark Moon Rising should be good enough to win this race.

* TAB plans to offer minimum-amount guaranteed Pick 6 pools on major racedays in future and kicks off with a R4.5-million guaranteed pool on the Champions Day race meeting at Turffontein this Saturday.

Champions Day is Jozi’s richest raceday and features the city’s richest race in the R4-million Premier’s Champions Challenge.

The Pick 6 pool starts with a R1.1-million carryover and should break the R5-million mark (TAB’s official estimate is R5.1-million).

But to heighten interest and to satisfy the requests of many customers, TAB is guaranteeing a total net pool of R4.5-million.

“Many of our customers have said that only knowing the approximate pool a few minutes before the off hampers their play,” said TAB boss Vee Moodley.

“These customers base the amount they spend on the Pick 6 on the actual pool size, not our estimates, and to assist them we will guarantee minimum pool levels for major race meetings.”

Should a pool fail to reach the guaranteed amount, TAB will make up the shortfall subject to the condition that all commingling partners are able to bet into the pool as scheduled. Once the pool exceeds the guaranteed amount, the actual pool total will be displayed and paid out as normal.

There’s a bumper TAB betting menu for the Champions Day meeting with several carryovers. Highlights are:

Race 2: BiPot ONE Leg 1 - R25,246 carryover, likely pool R550,000

Race 3: PA Leg 1 - likely pool R1,250,000

Race 4: Pick 6 MEGAPOOL Leg 1 - R1,100,000 carryover, GUARANTEED pool R4,500,000

(estimated pool R5.1-million plus)

Race 5: Jackpot ONE Leg 1 - likely pool R1,000,000

Race 7: BiPot TWO Leg 1 - likely pool R150,000

Race 9: Jackpot TWO Leg 1 - R40,000 carryover, likely pool R750,000.

* TAB’s Champions Day promotion is in full swing with more than R100,000 in free bets being given away in stores this week.

The promotion began on Monday with 30 TAB betting vouchers each worth R500 being given away daily until Saturday.

And to celebrate the Champions Day race meeting, an additional 10 TAB betting vouchers each worth R2,000 will be given away on Saturday.

It’s easy to enter. Look out for the special promotional keyword on instore TVs in TABs from 1pm to 3pm daily. Then SMS the keyword, TAB branch name and your name & ID number to 083 579 3913. Only one sms per customer daily will qualify for the lucky draw.