HERE are Mathew de Kock’s runner comments for Classic Day at Turffontein, where the big day includes the running of the second legs of the SA Triple Crown and the Wilgerbosdrift SA Triple Tiara.

RACE 8: SA CLASSIC

“Ertijaal is doing well. The only hiccup is the draw. Everything else has gone smoothly. I think he is as close to the fitness he showed before the Cape Derby. But the SA Derby is his main mission and, while we obviously want to win, this race is not the be all and end all of everything. Of course, if the form holds up then nothing should come close to him. I think French Navy is a big danger. At this stage I don’t know what tactics we will use. He has won from everywhere – he has run on from well back, he has won from just off the pace and he has led all the way. Gavin (Lerena) know him well. A lot depends on the pace as to whether we will sit. I will leave it up to Gavin. He must make the call. Mutamakkin is a little held at the weights on the Guineas run. I’m taking the blinkers off him, trying to get him to settle. He is a possible pacemaker. I think he will be a better four-year-old.”

RACE 7: WILGERBOSDRIFT SA FILLIES GUINEAS

“Pine Princess has improved a lot from her last run. With her, the further they go the better. She finished only 2.90 lengths behind Inara in the Grade 1 Paddock Stakes and last time in the Fillies Guineas had to jump from a very wide draw. She has a better draw and I make her a big runner. Estidraaj is a bit of an unknown quantity. She’s really only had one bad race and that was in the Jockeys’ International. She hit her head in the pens and shouldn’t even have run. I thought her last race was pretty impressive .”

RACE 3: PRETTY POLLY STAKES

“Entisaar is a nice filly. She’s improved with the run. She was a bit green first time out so she will be better. This time she is at level weights with Speedy Suzy, who finished second, but I think she’s made the necessary improvement.”

RACE 4: ENGLEZAKIS PROTEA STAKES

“Baahir is still going to come from Durban. On breeding, the distance is a concern as it could be a bit short, but he did win impressively.”

RACE 5: JACARANDA HANDICAP

“Maria Theresa ran a very good race last time from a very wide draw. She is very well and should love the distance. I make her a big runner. Santa Carolinia found 2450m too far so she should enjoy the drop in distance. I’m just hoping for a good run.”

RACE 9: MAN O’WAR STAKES

“We’ve been disappointed with Anjaal. We looked up his pedigree and discovered nothing has won over further than 1400m. We had to scratch him last time, which was a bit unfortunate, so we have to try him out in a feature race. He ran fifth over 1200m at Scottsville in the Grade 1. One Fine Day ran well last time. She lost two lengths but we’ve taken her back to the pens to make sure she doesn’t lose ground again. She’s spot on and we’re expecting a good run.”

RACE 10: CARADOC GOLD CUP

“Kingston Mines won a great race last time. I would have liked to have had a prep run but he’s fit and getting better with age. He’s a nice horse. Raees is coming up from Durban. We’re trying long distances again. Unfortunately he tends to lose ground at the start.”

RACE 1

“Saraaba should enjoy the step up to 1400m but she is limited in my opinion. If there is a decent horse she might struggle, otherwise she has a winning chance.”

RACE 11

“Karaar has been gelded. He’s hopefully coming back to his best. We are just hoping for a better performance that is more like his early form. This is probably a touch too short.”

-From The Citizen’s Racing Express.