A number of the country’s leading horses will be in action at Turffontein on Saturday 27 April on which four Grade 1 races and five Grade 2 features will be run.
Champions Day will also witness the attempt by Cherry On The Top to emulate the 2011 feat of Igugu by winning the Wilgerbosdrift SA Triple Tiara. The daughter of Tiger Ridge, who is trained by Ormond Ferraris on behalf of Bridget Oppenheimer, has already won both the Gauteng Fillies Guineas and the SA Fillies Classic. Victory in the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks over 2450m will see her claim the R1-million bonus.
The four Grade 1 races are the R2-million President’s Champion Challenge over 2000m, the SA Derby over 2450m, the R1-million Computaform Sprint over 1000m and the SA Nursery over 1160m, the only Grade 1 race for juveniles in the country.
Master Plan, who is now in the care of Alec Laird, is the best weighted runner for the Champions Challenge followed by Sean Tarry-trained Whiteline Fever and Mike de Kock’s charge, Mujaarib.
In the absence of Slumdogmillionaire, who was withdrawn due to injury, jockey Piere Strydom will ride stable companion Shogunnar for the Gavin van Zyl yard. Champion jockey Anton Marcus will ride Mujaarib.
Tellina, who could so easily have been chasing the SASCOC Triple Crown had he not suffered an unlucky defeat in the SA Classic, is the best weighted runner in the R1.5-million SA Derby. The field also includes Derby Trial winner and runner-up Wylie Hall and Wild One.
The R1-million Computaform Sprint over 1000m comprises most of the fastest horses in the country and with the likes of filly Via Africa and Sharp Design in the field, the pace will be on from the start. What A Winter will be making his final appearance on the Highveld before going to stud at the end of the season and his connections will be hoping it will be third time lucky for the Mike Bass-trained entire.
All eyes will be on boom horse Red Ray in the R1-million SA Nursery over 1160m. The Joey Ramsden-trained runner is unbeaten in three starts and Ramsden has already expressed his view that this colt could be better than stable star Variety Club.
Final fields for Graded races to be run on Champions Day
PRESIDENT’S CHAMPIONS CHALLENGE (Grade 1) R2 million 2000m
1 – 7 MASTER PLAN (A G Laird) M Yeni 60.0 – 111
2 – 4 WHITELINE FEVER (S G Tarry) B Fayd’Herbe 58.5 – 109
3 – 2 MUJAARIB (M F De Kock) A Marcus 58.5 – 108
4 – 14 ZAMBUCCA (S Mohideen) K Zechner 58.5 – 107
5 – 13 PIERRE JOURDAN (G M Alexander) D Mansour 58.5 – 103
6 – 9 E-JET (S G Tarry) K Teetan 58.5 – 102
7 – 3 GALILEO’S DESTINY (M F De Kock) R Fradd 57.5 – 107
8 – 5 KNOCK ON WOOD (O A Ferraris) N Juglall 57.5 – 107
9 – 1 HEAVY METAL (S G Tarry) S Khumalo 57.5 – 100
10 – 12 GLORIOUS JET (S J Gray) S Chambers 57.5 – 99
11 – 8 SHOGUNNAR (G H Van Zyl) P Strydom 57.5 – 99
12 – 6 PUTNEY FLYER (W H Marwing) M Odendaal 57.5 – 97
13 – 11 BARACAH (S G Tarry) R Danielson 57.5 – 96
14 – 10 YER-MAAN (S J Gray) B Lerena 57.5 – 95
15 – 15 ILHA BELA (M F De Kock) G Lerena 56.0 – 98
Same Trainer: (2,6,9,13) (3,7,15) (10,14)
SA DERBY (Grade 1) 3rd Leg SASCOC Triple Crown R1.5 million 2450m
1 – 15 TELLINA (G V Woodruff) R Fradd 58.0 – 103
2 – 5 WAR HORSE (C Spies) S Chambers 58.0 – 98
3 – 8 AMERICAN STORM (R P Lerena) I Sturgeon 58.0 – 97
4 – 9 SABADELL (G V Woodruff) D Mansour 58.0 – 94
5 – 12 GRAY’S CHAMP (G H Van Zyl) P Strydom 58.0 – 93
6 – 10 SAFE HOUSE (M G Azzie) G Lerena 58.0 – 91
7 – 13 WILD ONE (J Freedman) B Fayd’Herbe 58.0 – 88
8 – 11 ANTARCTIC CALL (C E Erasmus) S Brown 58.0 – 86
9 – 3 TEQUILA SUNRISE (M F De Kock) A Marcus 58.0 – 86
10 – 2 WYLIE HALL (W H Marwing) M Odendaal 58.0 – 86
11 – 7 BALSE (G H Van Zyl) B Lerena 58.0 – 82
12 – 14 TOP COMMAND (S G Tarry) K Teetan 58.0 – 82
13 – 1 GOTHIC (W H Marwing) S Khumalo 58.0 – 80
14 – 4 SAVAGE WIND (J A Soma) N Juglall 58.0 – 76
Reserve Runners
15 – 6 MENACING (R R Sage) Reserve 1 58.0 – 74
Same Trainer: (1,4) (5,11) (10,13)
BetXchange COMPUTAFORM SPRINT (Grade 1) R1 million 1000m
1 – 7 WHAT A WINTER (M W Bass) B Fayd’Herbe 60.0 – 120
2 – 9 SHARP DESIGN (O A Ferraris) N Juglall 60.0 – 102
3 – 5 SHOWMETHEWAY (M Dixon) K de Melo 60.0 – 98
4 – 4 ROYAL ZULU WARRIOR (K Naidoo) K Zechner 60.0 – 97
5 – 11 GUANTANAMERA (J Freedman) R Danielson 60.0 – 91
6 – 6 VALBERG (D Zaki) P Strydom 58.0 – 102
7 – 8 WELWITSCHIA (M F De Kock) A Marcus 57.5 – 110
8 – 2 JACKODORE (S G Tarry) K Teetan 57.5 – 105
9 – 1 MANNEQUIN (M G Azzie) G Lerena 57.5 – 102
10 – 3 LA VOLTA (M G Azzie) R Fradd 57.5 – 98
11 – 12 VIA AFRICA (D C Howells) A Forbes 55.5 – 113
12 – 10 GENUINE LEATHER (K Naidoo) J Greyling 55.5 – 101
Same Trainer: (4,12) (9,10)
SA NURSERY (Grade 1) R1 million 1160m
1 – 14 ARABIAN NATIONAL (S G Tarry) K Teetan 58.0 – 84
2 – 7 BUFFALO BILL (G H Van Zyl) G Hatt 58.0 – 91
3 – 9 DULY ORDAINED (M F De Kock) R Danielson 58.0 – 88
4 – 15 JIMMI CHOO (L J Erasmus) S Brown 58.0 – 102
5 – 3 KANDAHAR (J A Soma) S Khumalo 58.0 – 90
6 – 10 KING’S BAY (D I Campbell) I Sturgeon 58.0 – 97
7 – 12 KING’S SOLDIER (L J Erasmus) R Simons 58.0 – 83
8 – 1 LAVENDER LANDSCAPE (G H Van Zyl) B Lerena 58.0 – 80
9 – 13 OLYMPIC OWEN (C Spies) G Lerena 58.0 – 99
10 – 11 RED RAY (J Ramsden) A Marcus 58.0 – 102
11 – 4 TIGER TERRITORY (L J Erasmus) J Greyling 58.0 – 0
12 – 8 TOMMY GUN (C Spies) S Chambers 58.0 – 93
13 – 6 TULBAGH TRIP (S W Kenny) D Mansour 58.0 – 69
14 – 5 WILLOW MAGIC (S G Tarry) P Strydom 58.0 – 91
15 – 2 WIN A MILLION (K Naidoo) R Fradd 58.0 – 88
Same Trainer: (1,14) (2,8) (4,7,11) (9,12)
WILGERBOSDRIFT SA OAKS (Grade 2) (3rd Leg of SA Triple Tiara)) R750,000 2450m
1 – 1 CHERRY ON THE TOP (O A Ferraris) N Juglall 58.0 – 112
2 – 3 DO YOU REMEMBER (G V Woodruff) B Fayd’Herbe 58.0 – 100
3 – 11 JET BELLE (R R Sage) G Wrogemann 58.0 – 97
4 – 7 FIRE WHEEL (S G Tarry) P Strydom 58.0 – 92
5 – 5 SECRET OBSESSION (G V Woodruff) J Sampson 58.0 – 88
6 – 4 SKY PIRATE (W H Marwing) M Odendaal 58.0 – 88
7 – 2 MOIKAVANO (W H Marwing) S Khumalo 58.0 – 87
8 – 6 TUSCAN LASS (R R Sage) F Herholdt 58.0 – 78
9 – 10 RUE DE RIVOLI (J A Soma) D Mansour 58.0 – 74
10 – 9 PRINCESS LINE (B Warren) R Danielson 58.0 – 69
11 – 8 BILLIE JO (D J Nieuwenhuizen) K Zechner 58.0 – 64
Same Trainer: (2,5) (3,8) (6,7)
GOLD BOWL (Grade 2) R500,000 3200m
1 – 10 SEAL (G H Van Zyl) P Strydom 61.5 – 108
2 – 1 MASAI WARRIOR (M G Azzie) K Zechner 56.0 – 97
3 – 7 HEYOUNEVERKNOW (C Spies) M Odendaal 52.5 – 88
4 – 5 KNIGHT TO REMEMBER (D C Howells) N Juglall 52.0 – 89
5 – 2 CANTERBURY TALE (M F De Kock) R Danielson 52.0 – 87
6 – 6 AVENUE OF GOLD (W H Marwing) S Khumalo 52.0 – 86
7 – 9 RHYTHMIC ROXY (G V Woodruff) J Sampson 52.0 – 83
8 – 8 SUNNINGDALE (D J Nieuwenhuizen) K de Melo 52.0 – 78
9 – 3 CAMPO DE SANTANA (C Spies) A Forbes 52.0 – 74
10 – 11 CHANGING MOON (R P Lerena) D Mansour 52.0 – 74
11 – 4 LUMINOUS LOVE (S G Tarry) K Teetan 52.0 – 76
Same Trainer: (3,9)
SA FILLIES NURSERY (Grade 2) R400,000 1160m
1 – 8 ARCETRI PINK (G V Woodruff) R Fradd 58.0 – 92
2 – 13 BELVEDERE PALACE (D C Howells) A Forbes 58.0 – 81
3 – 11 BOARDING CALL (C Spies) S Chambers 58.0 – 79
4 – 3 CALYPSO GIRL (L J Erasmus) S Brown 58.0 – 72
5 – 10 CROWN BEARER (L J Erasmus) J Greyling 58.0 – 84
6 – 7 FOR THE LADS (S G Tarry) P Strydom 58.0 – 85
7 – 5 ICY WINTER AIR (J Ramsden) G Hatt 58.0 – 83
8 – 6 MISS SEATTLE (B D Botes) S Khumalo 58.0 – 75
9 – 9 SIOUX SHE (C Spies) G Lerena 58.0 – 79
10 – 1 TIGER QUEST (D Zaki) A Marcus 58.0 – 81
11 – 2 USISI (R R Magner) F Herholdt 58.0 – 84
12 – 4 VIRGO’S BABE (D J Nieuwenhuizen) M Odendaal 58.0 – 84
13 – 12 WINTER PASSION (S M Ferreira) D Mansour 58.0 – 82
Same Trainer: (3,9) (4,5)
BISQUIT COGNAC GERALD ROSENBERG STAKES (Grade 2) R300,000 2000m
1 – 4 ENCHANTED KINGDOM (P A Peter) A Marcus 60.0 – 100
2 – 7 PACIFIC DYNASTY (W H Tolmay) N Juglall 60.0 – 95
3 – 2 CHECCETTI (M F De Kock) M V’Rensburg 60.0 – 94
4 – 1 CHERRY ON THE CAKE (G H Van Zyl) P Strydom 60.0 – 94
5 – 3 CLASSIC ILLUSION (G M Alexander) M Odendaal 60.0 – 94
6 – 5 VARLET (B O Wiid) G Lerena 60.0 – 89
7 – 6 ESKIMO INN (W H Marwing) R Fradd 60.0 – 85
MATEKOR CAMELLIA STAKES (Grade 2) R200,000 1160m
1 – 9 VARIOMETER (L W Goosen) J Sampson 60.0 – 103
2 – 2 KINEMATIC COUNTESS (R R Magner) S Chambers 60.0 – 93
3 – 4 FRANNY (G H Van Zyl) B Lerena 59.5 – 110
4 – 5 SHE’S A STUNNER (S G Tarry) A Marcus 59.0 – 98
5 – 6 KALAAM (S M Ferreira) G Lerena 59.0 – 95
6 – 3 EASTERN GREETING (S M Ferreira) M V’Rensburg 59.0 – 91
7 – 1 COSMOGENIC (S M Ferreira) J Greyling 59.0 – 88
8 – 11 AMAZING GRACE (A G Laird) D Mansour 59.0 – 82
9 – 8 THREE NATIONS (S M Ferreira) M Malherbe 59.0 – 81
10 – 10 ALCANINA (B O Wiid) K Zechner 58.0 – 84
11 – 7 PLEASURE JET (L J Erasmus) S Brown 57.0 – 74
Same Trainer: (5,6,7,9)
Headline Photo: Galileos Destiny, Champions Challenge.
