MIKE de Kock is likely to play his two trump cards in the upcoming R2-million SA Classic and R1-million Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic. The two Grade 1 races will be run over 1800m on the Turffontein standside track on Saturday 28 March.

The Triple Crown looks unlikely to be won this year as Cape Guineas winner Act Of War has not been nominated for the SA Classic while Betting World Gauteng Guineas winner Harry’s Son, even if he does win the Classic, is unlikely to go for the SA Derby over 2450m in April.

The Triple Tiara, however, looks to be heading for a thrilling finish as both contenders – Cape Fillies Guineas winner Majmu (photo below) and Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas champion Siren’s Call – will be chasing the R1-million bonus, only won twice before – by Igugu in 2011 and Cherry On The Top in 2013.

De Kock, who trains Majmu, and Sean Tarry, trainer of Siren’s Call, have both expressed the view that their runners will be suited to the 1800m of the Fillies Classic and the 2450m of the Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks. Majmu drew well enough at No 9 but Siren’s Call is at No 14 of the 20 nominations.

Unbeaten Ertijaal, winner of the Grade 1 Investec Derby over 2000m at Kenilworth in January, tops the 17 entries for the SA Classic but he has landed a wide No 16 draw. Also nominated are the first four past the post in the Gauteng Guineas – Harry’s Son, French Navy, Forest Fox and Unparalleled.

The bad news for Harry’s Son is that he will have to jump from the widest draw of all, although over 1800m on the standside track it is not necessarily a disaster as you have a 400m straight before you hit the turn.

Mike Azzie has nominated Deputy Jud and Greek Legend, who finished second and third respectively behind Ertijaal in the Listed Sea Cottage Stakes, which has produced one of the strongest form lines in SA racing with six horses having won their next starts. Second-placed Deputy Jud and third-placed Greek Legend are among those.

Harry’s Son won the Guineas with authority but will be moving into unchartered territory in what is likely to be his first race over 1800m. French Navy, who was flying in the closing stages of the Guineas, will no doubt benefit from the extra 200m while the connections of Unparalleled and Mljet will be delighted that after their hopeless draws in the Guineas they have landed barriers No 4 and No 1 respectively in the Classic.

Same Jurisdiction, who started favourite for the Fillies Guineas but ran into all sorts of problems, has also been entered into the Fillies Classic. Duncan Howells’ charge raced wide, suffered interference and still managed to finish fifth, beaten just 2.85 lengths. Howells was planning to leave her in Joburg with Joey Soma for the next month so the daughter of Mambo In Seattle will be more in harmony with her surroundings in the Fillies Classic, especially as she has landed draw No 4. .

Supplementary entries close at 11am on Monday 16 March with declarations by 11am on Thursday 19 March.

Nominations for the R2-million SA Classic (Grade 1)(2nd Leg of SA Triple Crown) over 1800m at Turffontein on Saturday 28 March.

17 HARRY’S SON (AUS)  (3C) 58.0 114   Paul Lafferty       4 UNPARALLELED       (3G) 58.0 112   Johan Janse van Vuuren 16 ERTIJAAL (AUS)     (3C) 58.0 107   Mike de Kock        2 FRENCH NAVY        (3G) 58.0 105   Sean Tarry          1 MLJET              (3G) 58.0 105   Vaughan Marshall    6 FOREST FOX         (3G) 58.0 102   Paul Peter         13 ILLUMINATI         (3G) 58.0 100   Weiho Marwing      11 PRINCE OF ORANGE   (3C) 58.0  99   Roy Magner         10 MUTAMAKKIN (AUS)   (3C) 58.0  97 B Mike de Kock        3 ARNISTON           (3G) 58.0  94   Joe Soma           15 DEPUTY JUD         (3C) 58.0  94   Mike Azzie         14 GREEK LEGEND       (3C) 58.0  94 B Mike Azzie          9 AMSTERDAM          (3G) 58.0  88   Paul Peter          5 DIESEL JET         (3C) 58.0  88   Erico Verdonese     8 MAC DE LAGO (AUS)  (3C) 58.0  86   Weiho Marwing       7 RAMPANT ICE        (3G) 58.0  86   Weiho Marwing      12 FINCHATTON         (3C) 58.0  83   Sean Tarry

Nominations for the R1-million Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic (Grade 1) (2nd Leg of Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara) over 1800m at Turffontein on Saturday 28 March.

9 MAJMU (AUS)        (3F) 58.0 114   Mike de Kock        4 SAME JURISDICTION  (3F) 58.0 110   Duncan Howells     14 SIREN’S CALL       (3F) 58.0 105   Sean Tarry         12 BANBURY            (3F) 58.0 104   Gavin van Zyl      17 PINE PRINCESS      (3F) 58.0 103 B Mike de Kock        6 TROPHY WIFE        (3F) 58.0 103   Sean Tarry         11 SMART CALL         (3F) 58.0 101   Alec Laird          8 SENSIBLE LOVER (AU (3F) 58.0  99   Weiho Marwing      18 TAMAANEE (AUS)     (3F) 58.0  99   Sean Tarry         19 BILATERAL          (3F) 58.0  98 B Weiho Marwing      13 ATAAB (AUS)        (3F) 58.0  97   Mike de Kock        3 KILEIGH            (3F) 58.0  94   Gavin van Zyl      16 SILVER CLASS       (3F) 58.0  92   Johan Janse van Vuuren  1 ESTIDRAAJ (AUS)    (3F) 58.0  90   Mike de Kock       15 KISSIMMEE          (3F) 58.0  85 B Mike Azzie         20 ZRINSKI            (3F) 58.0  85 B Robbie Sage         5 MAAYAAT (AUS)      (3F) 58.0  83   Mike de Kock        7 MODERN MUSE (AUS)  (3F) 58.0  83   Mike de Kock       10 WITHBATEDBREATH    (3F) 58.0  83   Gavin van Zyl       2 FIRE DANCING       (3F) 58.0  78   Corne Spies