MORE than R7.2-million in prize money will be up for grabs on Champions Day, the richest day on the South African racing calendar.

The final fields have been announced for the race meeting to be staged at Turffontein Racecourse on Saturday 28 April when nine feature races will be contested. From speedsters to stayers, from juveniles to older horses, there is something for everyone on Champions Day.

Heading up the card are four Grade 1 events – the R2-million President’s Champions Challenge over 2000m, the R1.5-million SA Derby over 2450m, the R1-million Computaform Sprint over 1000m and the R500,000 SA Nursery over 1160m. Backing them up are five Grade 2 events – the R750,000 SA Oaks over 2450m, the 500,000 Gold Bowl over 3200m, the R400,000 SA Fillies Nursery over 1160m, the R300,000 Gerald Rosenberg Stakes over 2000m and the R200,000 Camellia Stakes over 1160m.

It could also be a day in which the fairer sex could have the last word. The last two Sansui Summer Cup winners, Dancewiththedevil and Flirtation, as well as Grade 1 L Jaffee Empress Club Stakes champion Europa Point, could be the runners to beat in the President’s Champion Challenge, Val De Ra is back to defend her Computaform Sprint crown, while Irish-bred mare Gorongosa has strong claims in the Gold Bowl.

Cape Town-based trainers Joey Ramsden and Mike Bass each have a runner in the Champions Challenge with Bravura and English Garden respectively. English Garden set up a decent record at Turffontein last year, winning the Grade 1 SA Classic and finishing second to Seal in last year’s SA Derby. However, he has a lot to do at the weights to get the better of Dancewiththedevil and Bravura.

Bass is also having a second crack at the Computaform Sprint, powered by BetXchange, with What A Winter but he will have Val De Ra to beat once again. Dennis Drier’s mare, who will be having her final start, has beaten What A Winter on both occasions they have met.

The SA Derby looks wide open. SA Classic winner Slumdogmillionaire is not there but a number of those who finished behind him, including Pomodoro, E-Jet, Silver Flyer and Brooks-Club, will all contest a most competitive event. Two unbeaten boom juveniles line-up in the SA Nursery and SA Fillies Nursery respectively.

Mike de Kock’s Soft Falling Rain, to be ridden by Anton Marcus, and Gavin van Zyl’s Franny, with Anthony Delpech aboard, are likely to start short-priced favourites for their respective races.

PRESIDENT’S CHAMPIONS CHALLENGE (Grade 1) R2-million 2000m

1 – 2 SEAL (G H Van Zyl) M Mienie 60.0 – 110
2 – 3 ENGLISH GARDEN (M W Bass) K Neisius 60.0 – 108
3 – 6 BRAVURA (J Ramsden) A Marcus 58.5 – 116
4 – 9 SMANJEMANJE (T Zackey) R Fradd 58.5 – 108
5 – 5 SAFWAN (M F De Kock) D David 58.5 – 103
6 – 10 DANCEWITHTHEDEVIL (S J Gray) G Lerena 57.5 – 116
7 – 7 EUROPA POINT (M F De Kock) A Delpech 57.5 – 108
8 – 8 GALANTHUS (T Zackey) P Strydom 57.5 – 105
9 – 1 FLIRTATION (M F De Kock) G Hatt 57.5 – 103
10 – 11 BUY AND SELL (S G Tarry) S Cormack 57.5 – 101
11 – 4 SAGE THRONE (C Scott) M Yeni 57.5 – 96
Same Trainer: (4,8) (5,7,9)

SA DERBY (Grade 1)(three-year olds (3rd Leg SASCOC Triple Crown) R1.5-million 2450m

1 – 6 SILVER FLYER (M F De Kock) G Hatt 58.0 – 109
2 – 5 POMODORO (S G Tarry) G Lerena 58.0 – 108
3 – 11 E-JET (S G Tarry) S Cormack 58.0 – 104
4 – 2 BROOKS-CLUB (G H Van Zyl) M Mienie 58.0 – 101
5 – 12 BLAZE OF FIRE (Y Bremner) M Yeni 58.0 – 98
6 – 3 ZAMBUCCA (S Mohideen) R Fradd 58.0 – 96
7 – 7 ROYAL BENCHER (A G Laird) A Marcus 58.0 – 95
8 – 8 WAGNER (J A Soma) P Strydom 58.0 – 94
9 – 4 BARACAH (S G Tarry) K Neisius 58.0 – 93
10 – 1 PERIGRINE (S G Tarry) T Appie 58.0 – 84
11 – 10 ICE TRIGGER (M F De Kock) A Delpech 58.0 – 82
12 – 9 THE CLUB KING (T Lowe) S Chambers 58.0 – 78
13 – 13 CHANGING MOON (R P Lerena) G Wrogemann 58.0 – 76
Same Trainer: (1,11) (2,3,9,10)

COMPUTAFORM SPRINT POWERED BY BETXCHANGE (Grade 1)(Weight for Age) R1-million 1000m

1 – 2 J J THE JET PLANE (M N Houdalakis) A Marcus 60.0 – 122
2 – 3 WHAT A WINTER (M W Bass) K Neisius 60.0 – 117
3 – 4 SHEA SHEA (G V Woodruff) P Strydom 60.0 – 113
4 – 6 MAGICO (P A Peter) F Naude 60.0 – 108
5 – 8 WINKING JACK (L Wiid) S Khumalo 60.0 – 107
6 – 5 MOROCCAN (W H Marwing) R Fradd 60.0 – 103
7 – 7 DELIVER THE POWER (D Zaki) G Lerena 58.0 – 113
8 – 1 VAL DE RA (D R Drier) A Forbes 57.5 – 113
9 – 9 MANNEQUIN (P F Matchett) M Mienie 57.5 – 105

SA OAKS (Grade 2)(three-year-old Fillies) (3rd Leg of SA Triple Tiara) R750,000 2450m

1 – 12 ILHA BELA (M F De Kock) A Marcus 58.0 – 100
2 – 5 KALAMI (R R Sage) G Wrogemann 58.0 – 100
3 – 10 KATY’S LANE (T Zackey) P Strydom 58.0 – 99
4 – 6 TRESCO (S G Tarry) S Cormack 58.0 – 91
5 – 2 AVENUE OF GOLD (W H Marwing) R Fradd 58.0 – 89
6 – 13 MARKOFDISTINCTION (O A Ferraris) G Lerena 58.0 – 87
7 – 1 CLASSIC ILLUSION (G M Alexander) G Hatt 58.0 – 86
8 – 4 WINGED FOOT (M F De Kock) A Delpech 58.0 – 85
9 – 3 ALESSANDRIA (G V Woodruff) M V’Rensburg 58.0 – 82
10 – 11 SACRED TEMPLE (T Zackey) G van Niekerk 58.0 – 81
11 – 8 FINAL SCORE (S G Tarry) K Neisius 58.0 – 76
12 – 9 BERMUDA BOWL (S Moffatt) S Brown 58.0 – 74
13 – 7 MONPAZIER (S T Pettigrew) D David 58.0 – 74
Same Trainer: (1,8) (3,10) (4,11)

GOLD BOWL (Grade 2) R500,000 3200m

1 – 9 ILSANPIETRO (M F De Kock) G Lerena 62.0 – 111
2 – 7 ATYEB (M F De Kock) D David 59.0 – 105
3 – 1 PRINCESS OF LIGHT (G V Woodruff) P Strydom 55.5 – 100
4 – 2 MAGICAL (O A Ferraris) A Forbes 54.0 – 95
5 – 6 A KING IS BORN (A Wright) G Hatt 53.5 – 95
6 – 8 GORONGOSA (M F De Kock) A Delpech 53.5 – 94
7 – 10 REFINED IN FIRE (Y Bremner) M Yeni 53.0 – 93
8 – 3 SILVER DICE (W H Marwing) R Fradd 52.0 – 86
9 – 11 MONSEUR ET MADAME (P F Matchett) N Juglall 52.0 – 80
10 – 5 WORLD RECORD (P A Peter) S Khumalo 52.0 – 79
11 – 4 HEYOUNEVERKNOW (C Spies) J P v’d Merwe 52.0 – 78
Same Trainer: (1,2,6)

SA NURSERY (Grade 1)(two-year-olds) R500,000 1160m

1 – 18 BLUSHING PETER (S G Tarry) S Cormack 58.0 – 84
2 – 3 CELLARMASTER (P A Peter) F Naude 58.0 – 77
3 – 4 DONNIE BRASCO (P A Peter) G Lerena 58.0 – 84
4 – 2 DUNDEE (P A Peter) D David 58.0 – 0
5 – 5 FRANCOIS BERNARDUS (P F Matchett) M Mienie 58.0 – 76
6 – 9 GREENACRE (G D Smith) G van Niekerk 58.0 – 92
7 – 10 ISTIQRAAR (M F De Kock) A Delpech 58.0 – 87
8 – 7 LOVE STRUCK (P V Lafferty) P Strydom 58.0 – 88
9 – 8 MICROSTATE (A Nassif) D Daniels 58.0 – 84
10 – 13 MOGOK’S DESIRE (L J Erasmus) S Brown 58.0 – 96
11 – 17 RYDER CUP (L J Erasmus) L Nhlapo 58.0 – 79
12 – 16 SOFT FALLING RAIN (M F De Kock) A Marcus 58.0 – 103
13 – 12 THE HANGMAN (S G Tarry) K Neisius 58.0 – 76
14 – 11 WAR HORSE (C Spies) J P v’d Merwe 58.0 – 97
15 – 6 ZESTFUL (S T Pettigrew) M V’Rensburg 58.0 – 91
16 – 15 ZIPARANA (W H Marwing) R Fradd 58.0 – 89
Reserve Runners 17 – 1 THE DISCIPLE (L J Erasmus) Reserve 1 58.0 – 71 18 – 14 PEANUTS (R R Magner) Reserve 2 58.0 – 0
Same Trainer: (1,13) (2,3,4) (7,12) (10,11,17)

SA FILLIES NURSERY (Grade 2)(two- year-old Fillies) R400,000 1160m

1 – 7 CAVLITSA (C Spies) J P v’d Merwe 58.0 – 0
2 – 4 COTILLION (Y Bremner) M Yeni 58.0 – 83
3 – 6 FRANNY (G H Van Zyl) A Delpech 58.0 – 97
4 – 9 GENUINE LEATHER (P F Matchett) P Strydom 58.0 – 87
5 – 13 ILHA DA ROCK (G V Woodruff) M V’Rensburg 58.0 – 77
6 – 12 KING’S TEMPTRESS (C J Lensley) S Chambers 58.0 – 0
7 – 11 KLEINTJIE (L J Erasmus) S Brown 58.0 – 79
8 – 5 SEA SHADOW (D Zaki) G Lerena 58.0 – 95
9 – 2 SIZE DOES COUNT (W H Marwing) R Fradd 58.0 – 89
10 – 3 SPANISH VICTORY (C Spies) F Naude 58.0 – 72
11 – 1 SWEET DESTINY (L J Erasmus) L Nhlapo 58.0 – 74
12 – 10 UMNEEYATEE (M F De Kock) A Marcus 58.0 – 90
13 – 8 WOUNDED KNEE (G H Van Zyl) M Mienie 58.0 – 81
Same Trainer: (1,10) (3,13) (7,11)

GERALD ROSENBERG STAKES (Grade 2)(Fillies and Mares) R300,000 2000m

1 – 6 QUEEN’S BAY (M G Azzie) G Lerena 60.0 – 104
2 – 2 ATLANTIC OAK (M F De Kock) A Marcus 60.0 – 98
3 – 7 CHECCETTI (M F De Kock) T Appie 60.0 – 97
4 – 8 HAWKER HUNTER (O A Ferraris) R Fradd 60.0 – 91
5 – 4 LAS RAMBLAS (J M Goodman) S Brown 60.0 – 90
6 – 5 RAPID FLOW (P V Lafferty) P Strydom 60.0 – 87
7 – 3 CHERRY ON THE CAKE (G H Van Zyl) M Mienie 60.0 – 83
8 – 9 BERRY BLAZE (M F De Kock) A Delpech 59.5 – 104
9 – 1 AMANEE (M F De Kock) D David 56.5 – 98
Same Trainer: (2,3,8,9)

CAMELLIA STAKES (Grade 2)(For Fillies and Mares) R200,000 1160m

1 – 2 GIVE ME FIVE (S G Tarry) K Neisius 60.0 – 99
2 – 6 WELWITSCHIA (M F De Kock) A Delpech 58.5 – 101
3 – 1 FAIR ROSALIND (P F Matchett) S Chambers 58.5 – 91
4 – 14 TORRA BAY (D R Drier) A Forbes 58.0 – 90
5 – 11 CAREY’S QUI (C Binda) N Juglall 57.5 – 102
6 – 9 SACRED FEMININE (W H Marwing) D Yeo 57.5 – 95
7 – 13 JOLLY POPPINS (L W Goosen) C Maujean 57.5 – 90
8 – 10 KALAAM (S M Ferreira) M Malherbe 57.5 – 88
9 – 5 PACIFIC DYNASTY (W H Tolmay) M V’Rensburg 57.5 – 88
10 – 8 JACKODORE (S G Tarry) A Marcus 57.0 – 100
11 – 7 VARIOMETER (L W Goosen) P Strydom 56.5 – 101
12 – 3 EXTRA ZERO (S G Tarry) T Appie 56.5 – 96
13 – 12 CONTROL FREAK (R R Magner) G Lerena 55.5 – 100
14 – 4 UPTOTHEMOON (W H Marwing) R Fradd 55.5 – 95
Same Trainer: (1,10,12) (6,14) (7,11)

Headline photo: Atlantic Oak (pink sleeves), Gerald Rosenberg contender. (JC Photos).