A Champions Day not to be missed at Turffontein

JOHANNESBURG – Racing fans are in for a real treat after the final fields for Champions Day at Turffontein on April 4 were released.

The three Grade 1 races and five Grade 2 events on the 12-race card have garnered a plethora of quality thoroughbreds, starting with the jewel in the crown, the 2 million rand (S$151,000) Grade 1 HKJC World Pool Premier’s Champions Challenge (2,000m), which will feature an exciting field of 11 runners.

The Justin Snaith-trained See It Again and Okavango head the list, as well as the 2025 winner and runner-up, Alec Laird’s Fire Attack and Royal Victory, who is now trained by Weichong Marwing.

Interestingly, log-leading jockey Craig Zackey will be riding the World Sports Betting Cape Town Met (2,000m) winner See It Again this time, while Richard Fourie, who was on See It Again at his last-start second to Tin Pan Alley in the Grade 1 Wilgerbosdrift H F Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes (1,600m) on March 7, will be aboard Okavango.

The latter, a Master Of My Fate five-year-old, recorded his fifth win with Tristan Godden up in the Listed Kings Cup (1,600m) at Scottsville on March 15.

Trainer Alec Laird also has 2024 Group 1 Betway Summer Cup (2,000m) winner Atticus Finch in the field while his fellow Johannesburg trainer Tony Peter saddles two runners, The Ultimate King and UK import The Equator.

Of particular interest are the two three-year-olds in the field, the Sean Tarry-trained Grand Empire and Candice and Tammy Dawson’s Trust, first and second respectively in the Grade 1 TAB SA Classic over 1,800m at this course.

Only a short head separated the pair and both give the impression they will handle the additional 200m.

The 1 million rand Grade 1 TAB Empress Club Stakes over 1,600m sees the Snaith-trained three-time Grade 1 winner Double Grand Slam make her debut on the Highveld.

Another Western Cape raider is the Candice Bass-trained Rainbow Lorikeet, who was narrowly beaten by Double Grand Slam in the Grade 1 Majorca Stakes over 1,600m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Jan 31.

Again, Zackey has picked up the ride for the Snaith yard on Double Grand Slam, while Aldo Domeyer is back on Rainbow Lorikeet. Zackey himself did the honours at the barrier draw ceremony and drew gate 8 for the Vercingetorix mare.

Fairview trainer Alan Greeff entered Golden Palm for both the Empress Club Stakes and the 750,000 rand Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Bridget Oppenheimer SA Oaks over 2,450m but he has opted for the 1,600m race and Fourie will be on board.

It comes as no surprise that ex-Kranji hoop Ryan Munger will be riding Corne Spies’ charge, William Robertson, in the 1 million rand Grade 1 Computaform Sprint (1,000m).

The 17-time winner by Rafeef is the defending champion but he will have to face the Peter-trained Buffalo Storm Cody, the highest rated horse in the country, this time. Fourie will be aboard the Buffalo Bill Cody five-year-old, who boasts the Grade 1 Mercury Sprint (1,200m) among his record of nine victories.

Of course, much interest on the day will be on the Spies-trained Hazy Dazy in the Grade 2 SA Oaks, as she will be attempting to close out the Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara. The Act Of War filly has drawn wide at No. 13 and will have apprentice jockey Trent Mayhew up again.

It is interesting that Mike and Mathew de Kock have opted to run Ormond Ferraris Oaks Trial (2,000m) winner Curious Girl in the 1.25 million rand Grade 2 TAB SA Derby (2,450m) where she will take on the colts. The three-year-old Futura filly has drawn well and will have the benefit of a 2.5kg sex allowance. 4RACING