THE fairer sex will be in the spotlight come Champions Day at Turffontein on Saturday 30 April.

Fillies Igugu, Dancewiththedevil, Flirtation and Val De Ra will all attempt to stamp their authority on the main feature races of the day.

The Highveld racing season builds to a crescendo at this meeting where more than R7-million in stake-money is up for grabs. Heading up the meeting are three Grade 1 events – the R2-million President’s Champion Challenge over 2000m, the R1.5-million SA Derby over 2450m for three-year-olds, and South Africa’s premier sprint event, the R1-million Computaform Sprint over 1000m.

Also run on the day are six Grade 2 races headed up by the R750,000 SA Oaks for three-year-old fillies over 2450m. The others are the Gold Bowl and the SA Nursery with a purse of R500,000 each, the R400,000 SA Fillies Nursery, the R300,000 Gerald Rosenberg Stakes and the R200,000 Camellia Stakes.

St John Gray’s Dancewiththedevil will be seeking her third straight Grade 1 victory when she lines up in the Presidents Champions Challenge. She has already bagged the HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes as well as the Empress Club Stakes, but both were over 1600m and this will be her first attempt at 2000m.

Despite this being a weight-for-age event, the daughter of Modus Vivendi is narrowly the best-weighted runner in the field. She is not too well drawn at No 12 but that should not be a problem for jockey S’manga Khumalo as Dancewiththedevil likes to settle well off the pace and he can drop her out with impunity.  

One of her chief rivals will be Sansui Summer Cup winner Flirtation, one of three runners from the Mike de Kock yard. She is unbeaten in both of her starts over the course and distance and will have the services of Randall Simons, who rode her to victory in the Summer Cup.

De Kock also saddles 2008 Summer Cup winner Rudra, to be ridden by Kevin Shea, and Captain’s Wild, the mount of Anthony Delpech.

Igugu will be seeking a place in history as the first winner of the Triple Tiara when she lines up in the SA Oaks. She has already won the first two legs and looks impossible to oppose in the Oaks. There is sure to start a very short favourite in her effort to snare the R1-million Tripe Tiara bonus.

Val De Ra has won seven of her eight starts and is unbeaten in five races over 1000m. She will take her place in the R1-million Computaform Sprint over 1000m and will attempt to run the likes of Cape Challenger What A Winter, Magico and Shea Shea off their feet. Once again, the filly is the best-weighted runner in the field and Denis Drier’s KwaZulu-Natal challenger is sure to give the colts something to think about.

There are no fillies in the R1.5-million SA Derby over 2450m but this should rest between SA Classic winner English Garden, Cape Derby champion Top Seller, Charles Laird’s Galileo’s Destiny and De Kock’s Perana.        

Final fields for Graded races on Champions Day at Turffontein on Saturday 30 April :

PRESIDENT’S CHAMPIONS CHALLENGE (Grade 1) R-million 2000m
1 – 8 REGAL RANSOM (S G Tarry) K Neisius 60.0 – 106
2 – 7 EARL OF SURREY (G V Woodruff) G Lerena 58.5 – 114
3 – 13 CAPTAIN’S WILD (M F De Kock) A Delpech 58.5 – 99
4 – 12 DANCEWITHTHEDEVIL (S J Gray) S Khumalo 57.5 – 113
5 – 15 TALES OF BRAVERY (V H Marshall) F Coetzee 57.5 – 111
6 – 14 RUDRA (M F De Kock) K Shea 57.5 – 109
7 – 1 BULSARA (G H Van Zyl) D Mansour 57.5 – 107
8 – 9 FLIRTATION (M F De Kock) R Simons 57.5 – 104
9 – 3 GALILEO’S GALAXY (C Laird) A Marcus 57.5 – 103
10 – 2 CALL TO COMBAT (S J Gray) T Appie 57.5 – 102
11 – 4 HAPPY LANDING (J A Soma) M Yeni 57.5 – 96
12 – 10 RUDI ROCKS (C Laird) M Odendaal 57.5 – 96
13 – 5 POWER PARK (S G Tarry) J P v’d Merwe 57.5 – 95
14 – 11 MAHOGANY (W H Marwing) S Brown 57.5 – 86
15 – 6 GOAT (P V Lafferty) D David 55.0 – 101
Same Trainer: (1,13) (3,6,8) (4,10) (9,12)
 
SA DERBY (Grade 1) R1.5-million 2450m
1 – 11 ENGLISH GARDEN (M W Bass) K Neisius 58.0 – 108
2 – 10 TOP SELLER (V H Marshall) F Coetzee 58.0 – 106
3 – 8 GALILEO’S DESTINY (C Laird) A Marcus 58.0 – 104
4 – 12 PERANA (M F De Kock) K Shea 58.0 – 104
5 – 7 NOT LIABLE (C Laird) G Lerena 58.0 – 101
6 – 9 DARK WIND (M F De Kock) A Delpech 58.0 – 99
7 – 4 BELMONTE (S Mohideen) D David 58.0 – 94
8 – 2 ICE FLAG (O A Ferraris) S Brown 58.0 – 93
9 – 1 MONEY GRUBBER (G H Van Zyl) D Mansour 58.0 – 92
10 – 3 SEAL (G H Van Zyl) M Odendaal 58.0 – 90
11 – 6 MASAI WARRIOR (M G Azzie) J P v’d Merwe 58.0 – 84
12 – 13 SHERE KHAN (K Naidoo) S Khumalo 58.0 – 77
13 – 5 MERLION (B O Wiid) N Juglall 58.0 – 75
Same Trainer: (3,5) (4,6) (9,10)
 
COMPUTAFORM SPRINT (Grade 1) R-million 1000m
1 – 11 ARABIAN MIST (G M Alexander) J P v’d Merwe 60.0 – 108
2 – 3 BLUE TIGER (M W Bass) A Fortune 60.0 – 108
3 – 8 GAULTIER (M W Bass) C Little 60.0 – 107
4 – 15 JINZO (H J Brown) I Sturgeon 60.0 – 106
5 – 17 AUGUST RUSH (N L Bruss) C Orffer 60.0 – 105
6 – 10 REBEL KNIGHT (G M Alexander) D David 60.0 – 105
7 – 7 INTELLECTUAL (H J Brown) K Shea 60.0 – 104
8 – 16 EXCLAIM’N’EXCLUDE (C Laird) A Marcus 60.0 – 103
9 – 9 MOROCCAN (W H Marwing) F Coetzee 60.0 – 103
10 – 5 WINKING JACK (L Wiid) G Lerena 60.0 – 101
11 – 14 CRUSO (P F Matchett) G Wrogemann 60.0 – 98
12 – 18 MR MICKEY MOUSE (A J Rivalland) R Simons 60.0 – 93
13 – 6 WHAT A WINTER (M W Bass) K Neisius 58.0 – 111
14 – 13 MAGICO (P A Peter) M Mienie 58.0 – 110
15 – 12 SHEA SHEA (G V Woodruff) A Delpech 58.0 – 110
16 – 1 VAL DE RA (D R Drier) A Forbes 57.5 – 108
Reserve Runners
17 – 4 MR BLACK TOM (B O Wiid)  Reserve 1 60.0 – 93
18 – 2 TRIBAL (G J Maroun)  Reserve 2 60.0 – 89
Same Trainer: (1,6) (2,3,13) (4,7)
 
SA OAKS (Grade 2) R750,000 2450m
1 – 3 IGUGU (M F De Kock) A Delpech 58.0 – 109
2 – 1 CHECCETTI (M F De Kock) K Shea 58.0 – 97
3 – 10 JUSTTHEWAYYOUARE (G V Woodruff) A Marcus 58.0 – 95
4 – 8 PRINCESS OF LIGHT (G V Woodruff) M Mienie 58.0 – 92
5 – 11 STORMY COAST (G B Scott) S Brown 58.0 – 92
6 – 6 ILHA GRANDE (M F De Kock) G Lerena 58.0 – 90
7 – 9 CHERRY ON THE CAKE (G H Van Zyl) D Mansour 58.0 – 85
8 – 7 KEEP ON DREAMING (K Naidoo) N Juglall 58.0 – 77
9 – 2 MAR LODGE (R R Sage) G Wrogemann 58.0 – 75
10 – 5 MICRO JET (S T Pettigrew) M V’Rensburg 58.0 – 73
11 – 4 NAUTICAL (B O Wiid) D David 58.0 – 68
Same Trainer: (1,2,6) (3,4)

GOLD BOWL (Grade 2) R500,000 3200m
1 – 3 WINNING LEAP (D Zaki) F Coetzee 60.0 – 106
2 – 2 ASLAN (S G Tarry) A Marcus 58.0 – 100
3 – 4 GOLD ON GOLD (O A Ferraris) D Mansour 57.5 – 99
4 – 6 ARCOLA (W H Marwing) G Lerena 57.0 – 100
5 – 11 HEROD THE GREAT (O A Ferraris) A Delpech 57.0 – 98
6 – 7 ILSANPIETRO (M F De Kock) J P v’d Merwe 56.5 – 99
7 – 8 SALUTATION (S T Pettigrew) M V’Rensburg 55.0 – 96
8 – 10 CHICO AZUL (G V Woodruff) G Figueroa 52.5 – 89
9 – 5 POWER LORD (D Rahilly) M Yeni 52.0 – 89
10 – 1 CAMPO DE SANTANA (C Spies) F Naude 52.0 – 82
11 – 9 DESERT OIL (N A Van Der Merwe) S Khumalo 52.0 – 42
Same Trainer: (3,5)
 
SA NURSERY (Grade 2) R500,000 1160m
1 – 3 ASTRO NEWS (P F Matchett) F Coetzee 58.0 – 96
2 – 6 CARNABY STREET (R P Lerena) J P v’d Merwe 58.0 – 62
3 – 8 DELAGO DELUXE (C Laird) A Marcus 58.0 – 106
4 – 2 HAVANA BEAT (R P Lerena) E Pheiffer 58.0 – 75
5 – 12 KEY RIDGE (L J Erasmus) S Brown 58.0 – 0
6 – 10 MIDNIGHT SERENADE (D N Stenger) F Naude 58.0 – 100
7 – 4 NINE TAIL CAT (H J Brown) I Sturgeon 58.0 – 86
8 – 1 PLATOON (R R Magner) G Lerena 58.0 – 83
9 – 9 RIGHT BEAUTY (M F De Kock) A Delpech 58.0 – 90
10 – 7 STAR DANCE (P F Matchett) M Mienie 58.0 – 92
11 – 5 TENNESSEE STRATEGY (C Laird) M Odendaal 58.0 – 93
12 – 11 WIND AT YOUR BACK (J A Visser) S Khumalo 58.0 – 0
Same Trainer: (1,10) (2,4) (3,11)
 
SA FILLIES NURSERY (Grade 2) R400,000 1160m
1 – 1 AMANEE (M F De Kock) K Shea 58.0 – 0
2 – 10 AMUR AFFAIR (M F De Kock) T Appie 58.0 – 90
3 – 9 ANNE BONNY (C Laird) A Marcus 58.0 – 84
4 – 8 EXTRAORDINAIRE (P F Matchett) M Mienie 58.0 – 91
5 – 15 HIDDEN BEAUTY (P F Matchett) F Coetzee 58.0 – 93
6 – 12 INDIGO PRINCESS (J M Goodman) G Wrogemann 58.0 – 85
7 – 11 KINEMATIC COUNTESS (R R Magner) S Chambers 58.0 – 84
8 – 2 MAGGIE THATCH (P F Matchett) R Simons 58.0 – 85
9 – 14 MARKOFDISTINCTION (O A Ferraris) A Delpech 58.0 – 83
10 – 6 MIDNIGHT DRAGON (L W Goosen) M Malherbe 58.0 – 83
11 – 7 SHEZTHECLUBQUEEN (T Lowe) K Neisius 58.0 – 89
12 – 13 SMALL MIRACLE (D Zaki) G Lerena 58.0 – 84
13 – 3 SOLARIUM (M G Azzie) M Odendaal 58.0 – 93
14 – 4 UP FRONT (B D Botes) S Khumalo 58.0 – 82
15 – 5 VARIOMETER (L W Goosen) J Sampson 58.0 – 92
16 – 16 VICTRIXIT (L J Erasmus) S Brown 58.0 – 84
Same Trainer: (1,2) (4,5,8) (10,15)
 
GERALD ROSENBERG STAKES (Grade 2) R300,000 2000m
1 – 6 ALDERRY (M F De Kock) K Shea 60.0 – 104
2 – 2 QUEEN’S BAY (M G Azzie) M Odendaal 60.0 – 103
3 – 8 FISANI (M F De Kock) G Lerena 60.0 – 102
4 – 7 BEDLOE’S ISLAND (S G Tarry) A Delpech 60.0 – 99
5 – 4 RECONCILE (J Vos) F Coetzee 60.0 – 98
6 – 1 QUICK SINGLE (G V Woodruff) A Marcus 60.0 – 94
7 – 3 ALL AFIRE (A G Laird) S Brown 60.0 – 92
8 – 5 MAIKO MAGIC (S Moffatt) S Khumalo 56.5 – 75
Same Trainer: (1,3)
 
CAMELLIA STAKES (Grade 2) R200,000 1160m
1 – 9 CAPTAIN’S GAL (S G Tarry) A Delpech 60.0 – 109
2 – 7 GIVE ME FIVE (S G Tarry) K Neisius 57.0 – 94
3 – 1 MARY LOU (P F Matchett) F Coetzee 56.5 – 103
4 – 6 ONEHUNDREDACREWOOD (G H Van Zyl) D Mansour 56.5 – 100
5 – 10 MANNEQUIN (P F Matchett) R Simons 56.5 – 95
6 – 12 APPLE PRINCESS (S J Gray) S Khumalo 56.0 – 93
7 – 4 CANDY TUFT (G V Woodruff) D David 56.0 – 92
8 – 5 PARAMO (G V Woodruff) M Mienie 56.0 – 89
9 – 2 DELIGHTFULL DIVA (B D Botes) S Brown 56.0 – 87
10 – 13 FAIR ROSALIND (P F Matchett) G Figueroa 55.5 – 99
11 – 8 STING OPERATION (C Laird) A Marcus 55.0 – 96
12 – 11 CAREY’S QUI (A G Laird) M Odendaal 54.5 – 97
13 – 3 ESSENTIAL OIL (S W Kenny) G Lerena 54.5 – 81
Same Trainer: (1,2) (3,5,10) (7,8)

Headline photo: Igugu (JC Photos).