Majmu has accepted to run in the R2-million President’s Champions Challenge over 2000m at Turffontein on Saturday 25 April. Trainer Mike de Kock intimated the Australian-bred filly would line-up on Champions Day, probably in the President’s Champions Challenge, as long as she pulled up well after her victory in the Grade 1 L Jaffee Empress Club Stakes last Saturday.
There are five Grade 1 races on Champions Day – the President’s Champions Challenge, the R2-million SA Derby over 2450m, the R1-million Computaform Sprint over 1000m, the R1-million SA Nursery over 1160m and the R1-million Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks over 2450m.
Four Grade 2 events will also be run on the day – the Gold Bowl over 3200m, the Camellia Stakes for fillies and mares over 1160m, the Gerald Rosenberg Stakes for fillies and mares over 2000m and the SA Fillies Nursery over 1160m.
In total, almost R9 million in stakes money is there to be won.
Just 11 runners will contest the President’s Champions Challenge and Majmu will carry bottom weight of 54kg. That makes her the best handicapped runner in the line-up, which is why De Kock decided to test her in this event.
Louis The King was drawn very wide when the original nominations came out but with so many withdrawals Geoff Woodruff’s charge will now jump from barrier No 10, sandwiched between stablemates Tellina on his inside and Killua Castle on his outside. Piere Strydom keeps the ride on Louis The King with Gavin Lerena on Tellina and Stuart Randolph aboard Killua Castle.
Wylie Hall had a winning comeback run in a Pinnacle Stakes recently and as this horse loves Turffontein, Weiho Marwing’s charge will not be short of supporters. Bernard Fayd’Herbe takes the ride.
Trainer Johan Janse van Vuuren has opted to run Unparalleled in the Champions Challenge rather than the SA Derby, probably because he feels 2000m is a better distance for his charge. The Dingaans winner has not been blessed with decent draws in his last couple of starts so this time he will appreciate jumping from barrier No 3.
One person who will be delighted De Kock opted for the Champions Challenge rather than the Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks is Sean Tarry. His charge, Siren’s Call, will be looking to clinch the R1-million bonus on offer for winning all three legs in the Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara. With the Gauteng Fillies Guineas and the SA Fillies Classic already in the bag, the daughter of Elusive Fort is just one win away from becoming the third filly to claim the Tiara.
The SA Derby could be heading for an exciting conclusion with all of SA Classic Winner French Navy, runner-up Amsterdam and Cape Derby winner Ertijaal in the final field. Ertijaal failed in the SA Classic but that is not his true form and could be a different horse in the Derby, a race assistant Mathew de Kock has always said is the Australian-bred runner’s main mission. While Raymond Danielson has retained his ride on French navy, Piere Strydom now gets aboard Amsterdam and Anthony Delpech rides Ertijaal.
There are a couple of unknowns added to field, the first being Cool Chardonnay who won the Aquanaut Handicap over the course and distance, and the second is Karrar for the De Kock yard, who has apparently improved with gelding.
The speedsters will be on show in the Computaform Sprint over 1000m and this could be won a member of the fairer sex with three Grade 1 winners in Carry On Alice, Alboran Sea and Fly By Night contesting the race. Leading the boys’ challenge are Captain Of All, Trip Tease and Willow Magic.
De Kock may have thrown another spanner in the works by running Shaama in the Grade 1 SA Nursery over 1160m, rather than the Grade 1 SA Fillies Nursery over the same distance. The Australian-bred filly won impressively on debut last Saturday and De Kock has clearly decided to take advantage of the 2.5kg weight advantage.
He also saddles and unraced Australian-bred colt named Rafeef, who is by Redoute’s Choice and out of a former South African Equus orse Of The Year winner, National Colour. The grey mare, a top-class sprinter, was by National Assembly and trained by Sean Tarry.
Trainer Gavin van Zyl could have the strongest hand in the race with two unbeaten runner in Isca and Redcarpet Captain, both already feature race winners.
Final fields for the Graded races on Champions Day at Turffontein on Saturday 25 April :
President’s Champion Challenge (Grade 1) R2 million 2000m
1 - 10 LOUIS THE KING (G V Woodruff) P Strydom 60.0 - 116
2 - 5 WYLIE HALL (W H Marwing) B Fayd'Herbe 58.5 - 112
3 - 2 HALVE THE DEFICIT (S G Tarry) A Marcus 58.5 - 111
4 - 8 NO WORRIES (G H Van Zyl) K de Melo 58.5 - 111
5 - 1 JUDICIAL (T Zackey) K Zechner 58.5 - 102
6 - 7 HEAVY METAL (S G Tarry) S Khumalo 57.5 - 112
7 - 11 KILLUA CASTLE (G V Woodruff) S Randolph 57.5 - 109
8 - 9 TELLINA (G V Woodruff) G Lerena 57.5 - 109
9 - 4 HENRY HIGGINS (P A Peter) I Sturgeon 57.5 - 103
10 - 3 UNPARALLELED (J A Janse van Vuuren) D Mansour 55.0 - 108
11 - 6 MAJMU (M F De Kock) A Delpech 54.0 - 114
Same Trainer: (1,7,8) (3,6)
SA Derby (Grade 1) Brought to you by Gordon's Gin R2 million 2450m
1 - 8 FRENCH NAVY (S G Tarry) R Danielson 58.0 - 110
2 - 14 AMSTERDAM (P A Peter) P Strydom 58.0 - 108
3 - 5 ERTIJAAL (M F De Kock) A Delpech 58.0 - 107
4 - 9 DEPUTY JUD (M G Azzie) G Lerena 58.0 - 106
5 - 3 COOL CHARDONNAY (W H Marwing) S Khumalo 58.0 - 98
6 - 6 PRINCE OF ORANGE (R R Magner) S Randolph 58.0 - 97
7 - 16 LEGAL EAGLE (S G Tarry) A Marcus 58.0 - 89
8 - 7 DIESEL JET (E Verdonese) M V'Rensburg 58.0 - 88
9 - 1 DANTE'S LEGACY (G H Van Zyl) M Yeni 58.0 - 85
10 - 13 KARRAAR (M F De Kock) J Geroudis 58.0 - 82
11 - 15 SUN ON AFRICA (G H Van Zyl) K de Melo 58.0 - 82
12 - 4 SAVE THE RHINO (O A Ferraris) M Byleveld 58.0 - 76
13 - 11 AL COUTURE (W H Marwing) S Cormack 58.0 - 75
14 - 2 SCENT (O A Ferraris) C Murray 58.0 - 75
Reserve Runners
15 - 12 DANCE KID (B D Botes) Reserve 1 58.0 - 71
16 - 10 ALL THE BIDS (C Spies) Reserve 2 58.0 - 62
Same Trainer: (1,7) (3,10) (5,13) (9,11) (12,14)
Computaform Sprint (Grade 1) R1 million 1000m
1 - 9 CAPTAIN OF ALL (D R Drier) S Cormack 60.0 - 116
2 - 14 COPPER PARADE (Y Bremner) G Lerena 60.0 - 114
3 - 3 TRIP TEASE (L W Goosen) P Strydom 60.0 - 114
4 - 5 TEVEZ (M W Bass) G van Niekerk 60.0 - 111
5 - 1 NORMANZ (C Laird) A Marcus 60.0 - 107
6 - 11 WILLOW MAGIC (S G Tarry) R Danielson 60.0 - 104
7 - 8 DOLLAR DAZZLER (A G Laird) D Mansour 60.0 - 103
8 - 6 ONE MAN'S DREAM (L W Goosen) J Sampson 60.0 - 101
9 - 4 TIGER TERRITORY (M F De Kock) R Simons 60.0 - 96
10 - 2 GREASEPAINT (R R Magner) S Randolph 60.0 - 93
11 - 12 ISPHAN (M G Azzie) J P v'd Merwe 58.0 - 97
12 - 7 FLY BY NIGHT (M W Bass) B Fayd'Herbe 57.5 - 112
13 - 13 ALBORAN SEA (M F De Kock) A Delpech 55.5 - 111
14 - 10 CARRY ON ALICE (S G Tarry) S Khumalo 55.5 - 107
Same Trainer: (3,8) (4,12) (6,14) (9,13)
SA Nursery (Grade 1) R1 million 1160m
1 - 13 ARABIAN BEAT (D Zaki) C Zackey 58.0 - 95
2 - 2 ARCTIC BLAST (V H Marshall) A Marcus 58.0 - 79
3 - 3 BINDALOO (J A Janse van Vuuren) G Lerena 58.0 - 85
4 - 8 BRAZUCA (J A Janse van Vuuren) D Mansour 58.0 - 88
5 - 14 BUCKINGHAMPSHIRE (S J Snaith) B Fayd'Herbe 58.0 - 93
6 - 9 DOLPHIN (R R Sage) R Munger 58.0 - 0
7 - 1 ISCA (G H Van Zyl) P Strydom 58.0 - 94
8 - 11 JUST AS I SAID (D J Nieuwenhuizen) K de Melo 58.0 - 84
9 - 6 KINGOFTHEWORLD (C Spies) S Chambers 58.0 - 91
10 - 4 MOGOK MASTER (P A Peter) G Wrogemann 58.0 - 93
11 - 10 MYSTICAL TWILIGHT (V H Marshall) M Byleveld 58.0 - 80
12 - 5 RAFEEF (M F De Kock) J Geroudis 58.0 - 0
13 - 7 REDCARPET CAPTAIN (G H Van Zyl) S Khumalo 58.0 - 101
14 - 12 SHAAMA (M F De Kock) A Delpech 55.5 - 88
Same Trainer: (2,11) (3,4) (7,13) (12,14)
Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks (Grade 1) (3rd Leg of Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara) R1-million 2450m
1 - 12 SIREN'S CALL (S G Tarry) P Strydom 58.0 - 109
2 - 11 PINE PRINCESS (M F De Kock) A Delpech 58.0 - 102
3 - 1 BILATERAL (W H Marwing) B Fayd'Herbe 58.0 - 98
4 - 2 OLMA (F Robinson) I Sturgeon 58.0 - 98
5 - 3 KILEIGH (G H Van Zyl) K de Melo 58.0 - 94
6 - 6 WITHBATEDBREATH (G H Van Zyl) M Yeni 58.0 - 94
7 - 10 EPSOM DOWNS (S G Tarry) S Khumalo 58.0 - 88
8 - 9 ROSALIE (G H Van Zyl) W Kennedy 58.0 - 88
9 - 7 ZRINSKI (R R Sage) G Wrogemann 58.0 - 84
10 - 4 THE CENTENARY (M F De Kock) J Geroudis 58.0 - 81
11 - 5 PATCHIT UP BABY (D C Howells) A Marcus 58.0 - 80
12 - 8 LEMON TEA (W H Marwing) S Cormack 58.0 - 74
Same Trainer: (1,7) (2,10) (3,12) (5,6,8)
Gold Bowl (Grade 2) R500,000 3200m
1 - 8 GOTHIC (V H Marshall) B Fayd'Herbe 60.0 - 97
2 - 4 KINGSTON MINES (M F De Kock) G Lerena 59.0 - 100
3 - 9 DESERT SWIRL (V H Marshall) M Byleveld 58.0 - 95
4 - 14 HEART OF A LION (G H Van Zyl) M Yeni 58.0 - 95
5 - 12 S'IL VOUS PLAIT (O A Ferraris) K Zechner 58.0 - 93
6 - 2 COBY (G M Alexander) A Marcus 56.5 - 92
7 - 1 RODEO SIOUX (J A Soma) S Chambers 55.5 - 86
8 - 6 LIONS EMBLEM (E Verdonese) P Strydom 55.0 - 89
9 - 10 RAAEES (M F De Kock) A Delpech 54.0 - 87
10 - 13 SKY RISE (W H Marwing) K de Melo 53.5 - 84
11 - 7 SUPERTUBE (S G Tarry) S Khumalo 52.0 - 81
12 - 11 SAVAGE WIND (J A Soma) J P v'd Merwe 52.0 - 80
13 - 3 J'S OUTSIDER (S T Pettigrew) M V'Rensburg 52.0 - 78
14 - 5 THE BARBADIAN (W H Marwing) C Murray 52.0 - 73
Same Trainer: (1,3) (2,9) (7,12) (10,14)
Camellia Stakes (Grade 2) R400,000 1160m
1 - 11 ATHINA (J A Soma) J Geroudis 60.0 - 106
2 - 7 TZIGANE (B D Botes) P Strydom 57.5 - 101
3 - 1 VIRGO'S BABE (D J Nieuwenhuizen) G Wrogemann 57.0 - 98
4 - 8 WINTER PASSION (S M Ferreira) M V'Rensburg 57.0 - 91
5 - 2 WINTER STAR (J A Janse van Vuuren) D Mansour 56.5 - 98
6 - 12 PEJ (C Laird) A Marcus 56.5 - 97
7 - 9 LERTASHA (W H Marwing) S Cormack 56.5 - 81
8 - 6 LAZER STAR (O A Ferraris) Wes Marwing 56.0 - 109
9 - 3 SARVE (C Spies) F Naude 55.0 - 98
10 - 5 BICHETTE (S G Tarry) S Khumalo 54.5 - 92
11 - 4 DRIFTING DUSK (M N Houdalakis) A Delpech 54.5 - 88
12 - 10 LUMYA (D Zaki) C Zackey 54.5 - 85
Same Trainer:
Gerald Rosenberg Stakes (Grade 2) R400,000 2000m
1 - 1 VINO VERITAS (G H Van Zyl) P Strydom 60.0 - 98
2 - 9 ERIN (O A Ferraris) B Fayd'Herbe 60.0 - 94
3 - 10 MOHAVE PRINCESS (G H Van Zyl) M Yeni 60.0 - 93
4 - 4 ENCHANTED SILK (S G Tarry) R Danielson 60.0 - 90
5 - 3 CLASSIC ILLUSION (G M Alexander) S Randolph 60.0 - 88
6 - 5 SANTA CAROLINA (M F De Kock) A Delpech 60.0 - 88
7 - 8 AMBER ORCHID (S G Tarry) A Marcus 60.0 - 87
8 - 11 TOUCH THE SKY (G V Woodruff) G Lerena 60.0 - 87
9 - 6 FORTITUDE (M N Houdalakis) S Cormack 60.0 - 84
10 - 7 MYSTIC TIGRESS (G M Alexander) M V'Rensburg 60.0 - 67
11 - 2 TAMAANEE (S G Tarry) S Khumalo 56.5 - 102
Same Trainer: (1,3) (4,7,11) (5,10)
SA Fillies Nursery (Grade 2) R400,000 1160m
1 - 3 ENTISAAR (M F De Kock) A Delpech 58.0 - 92
2 - 5 FINDING ALICE (M N Houdalakis) M V'Rensburg 58.0 - 75
3 - 10 FROSTED HONEY (M G Azzie) G Lerena 58.0 - 90
4 - 8 KHALEESI (M N Houdalakis) B Fayd'Herbe 58.0 - 0
5 - 4 MELLA MARIA (M G Azzie) J P v'd Merwe 58.0 - 92
6 - 2 NOMVULA (C Spies) F Naude 58.0 - 85
7 - 1 OUTA MY WAY (L J Erasmus) M Thackeray 58.0 - 79
8 - 6 SAPSAN (D J Nieuwenhuizen) S Khumalo 58.0 - 87
9 - 9 SPEEDY SUZY (C Spies) S Chambers 58.0 - 95
10 - 7 VARUMBA (V H Marshall) A Marcus 58.0 - 92
Same Trainer: (2,4) (3,5) (6,9)