LOUIS The King could have a full field of challengers when he attempts to win the R2-million SA Derby, the third leg of the SASCOC Triple Crown at Turffontein on Saturday 26 April.

At this stage 16 runners have been nominated for the Grade 1 race over 2450m although more runners could be nominated at supplementary entry stage.

The SA Derby is one of four Grade 1 races to be run on Champions Day. The others are the R2-million President’s Champions Challenge, the Computaform Sprint, the Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks and the SA Nursery.

Louis The King has already won the first two legs of the Triple Crown, the Betting World Gauteng Guineas and SA Classic, and will become only the second horse in South African history to achieve it. The other was Horse Chestnut in 1999.

ILITSHE, Classic entry.

Mike de Kock and Sean Tarry have each nominated four runners while Alec Laird has entered three. De Kock has included Umgiyo, well supported in SA Classic, Taarish, Gone Baby Gone and Ilitshe, who has won his last two races over 1950m in KwaZulu-Natal.

Tarry has nominated Fort Bellini, Mercado, Sabre Tooth and Supertube, all of whom should enjoy the extra distance. Laird has put in the ever-consistent As You Like, Bouclette Top and Earl Of Derby.

Speedy filly Via Africa has been entered to run in the Grade 1 Computaform Sprint over 1000m The Duncan Howell’s trained four-year-old ran in this event last year and finished a 1.25-length second behind What A Winter.

De Kock has nominated both unbeaten two-year-olds Banaadeer and Majmu for the Grade 1 SA Nursery over 1160m. The filly, Majmu, has also been nominated for the SA Fillies Nursery so De Kock has left his options open.

Supplementary entries close at 11am on Wednesday 9 April after which the weights will be published. Declarations close at 11am on Wednesday 16 April.

NOMINATIONS

SA DERBY (Grade 1) (3rd Leg SASCOC Triple Crown) R2-million 2 450m

10 AS YOU LIKE (A G Laird); 2 ATOMIC RUSH (S T Pettigrew); 12 BOUCLETTE TOP (A G Laird); 8 EARL OF DERBY (A G Laird); 14 FLIGHT WARNING (G M Alexander); 3 FORT BELLINI (S G Tarry); 6 GONE BABY GONE (M F De Kock); 1 ILITSHE (M F De Kock); 9 JUDICIAL (T Zackey); 15 LEEULOOP JET (S Moffatt); 4 LOUIS THE KING (G V Woodruff); 11 MERCADO (S G Tarry); 16 SABRE TOOTH (S G Tarry); 5 SUPERTUBE (S G Tarry); 7 TAARISH (M F De Kock); 13 UMGIYO (M F De Kock)

COMPUTAFORM SPRINT (Grade 1) R1-million 1000m

6 CONTADOR (C Laird); 14 COPPER PARADE (Y Bremner); 5 DELIVER THE POWER (D Zaki); 2 DOLOMITI (S G Tarry); 15 GARIBONDY (P V Lafferty); 7 HAPPY FOREVER (J Ramsden); 13 JADE BAY (D Zaki); 10 MAGICO (P A Peter); 8 MISS OCTOBER (G V Woodruff); 9 MR WHATEVER (P L Lunn); 11 SHARP DESIGN (O A Ferraris); 4 TRIP TEASE (L W Goosen); 12 VALBERG (D Zaki); 1 VIA AFRICA (D C Howells); 3 WELWITSCHIA (M F De Kock)

 SA NURSERY (Grade 1) R1-million 1160m

5 BANAADEER (M F De Kock); 14 CARRY ON ALICE (S G Tarry); 6 FLAME CAT (M G Azzie); 4 FOREST FOX (P A Peter); 10 HENRY THE ELEVENTH (R P Lerena); 3 ISPHAN (M G Azzie); 12 KISS ME HARDY (C Spies); 15 MAJMU (M F De Kock); 7 OXFORD UNION (J A Soma); 13 PACYANO (Y Bremner); 2 RAISE THE RED (M N Houdalakis); 11 ROUGH JUSTICE (M G Azzie); 8 SILENCE DESCENDS (S G Tarry); 9 TIGER’S LEGACY (W H Tolmay); 1 TOPOSTWEGO (C Spies)

WILGERBOSDRIFT SA OAKS (Grade 2)(three year-old Fillies) R1-million 2450m

1 ADHIRA (M F De Kock); 17 ASH CLOUD (W H Marwing); 7 BARRACK BABE (S J Gray); 9 BLUEBELL GLADE (W H Marwing); 6 CASHA (J A Janse van Vuuren); 13 CASUAL (R R Sage); 10 CITY OF ATHENS (S G Tarry); 4 COBY (G M Alexander); 3 GALAXY GOLD (J A Janse van Vuuren); 15 IMPLODE (W H Marwing); 11 MOHAVE PRINCESS (G H Van Zyl); 14 NIX POWER (C J Lensley); 12 SQUARE DANCE (M F De Kock); 8 TINSELTOWN (M N Houdalakis); 16 TOUCH THE SKY (G V Woodruff); 2 WILD ASH (G V Woodruff); 5 ZEPHIRA (G V Woodruff)

GOLD BOWL (Grade 2) R500,000 3200m

8 BARACAH (S G Tarry); 1 ILHA BELA (M F De Kock); 6 MAGIC SMOKE (M G Azzie); 7 RODEO SIOUX (J A Soma); 10 S’IL VOUS PLAIT (O A Ferraris); 4 SAVAGE WIND (J A Soma); 11 SEAL (G H Van Zyl); 9 SKY RISE (W H Marwing); 2 STORM WARNING (D Zaki); 3 WINNING LEAP (D Zaki); 5 YER-MAAN (S J Gray)

SA FILLIES NURSERY (Grade 2) R400,000 1160m

3 CARRY ON ALICE (S G Tarry); 2 CORNE’S GIRL (C Spies); 6 FLAME CAT (M G Azzie); 12 GEE I JANE (C Spies); 13 MAJMU (M F De Kock); 14 MIDDLE EARTH (J A Soma); 11 QAWAASEM (M F De Kock); 9 RICH GIRL (C Laird); 8 RIO FILO (S G Tarry); 1 SEATTLE WIND (C Spies); 4 SHIRLEY’S TIME (J A Soma); 10 SILENT RUSH (M N Houdalakis); 5 SNOW CALL (C Spies); 7 SPELLBOUND (B D Botes)

GERALD ROSENBERG STAKES (Grade 2) R400,000 2000m

8 CHERRY ON THE TOP (O A Ferraris); 7 ESPUMANTI (M F De Kock); 3 ILHA BELA (M F De Kock); 5 MAGIC SMOKE (M G Azzie); 4 MYSTIC TIGRESS (G M Alexander); 9 NEGEV (L W Goosen); 1 ORATOR’S DAUGHTER (A G Laird); 10 SEA SHADOW (D Zaki); 2 SKY PIRATE (W H Marwing); 6 TIP TOE (G H Van Zyl); 11 TRESCO (S G Tarry).

CAMELLIA STAKES (Grade 2) R250,000 1160m

17 ALCANINA (B O Wiid); 22 DOLOMITI (S G Tarry); 4 EUPHORIA (J A Janse van Vuuren); 15 EXTRA ZERO (S G Tarry); 3 FANZENE (L Kruger); 16 FESTIVAL OF FIRE (M F De Kock); 14 HONORINE (M F De Kock); 11 IZORA (M F De Kock); 21 KINEMATIC COUNTESS (R R Magner); 24 KINGS V (W H Tolmay); 9 LIELUMS (R du Plessis); 2 MARY STUART (S G Tarry); 19 MY SANCTUARY (D C Howells); 12 PEJ (C Laird); 5 PREAMBLE (P L Lunn); 23 PRINCESS JULIETTA (G H Van Zyl); 25 RIGHT ROYAL DIVA (G V Woodruff); 10 SAMBA SERENADE (D N Stenger); 1 SARASOTA (M N Houdalakis); 8 SHE’S A STUNNER (S G Tarry); 13 TAYBA (M F De Kock); 6 TIGER QUEST (D Zaki); 20 WELWITSCHIA (M F De Kock); 7 WINTER PASSION (S M Ferreira); 18 WINTER STAR (J A Janse van Vuuren).