Louis The King. The exciting racer goes for number 2!
Trainer Geoff Woodruff took a step closer to a berth in South African horseracing’s Hall Of Fame when he accepted with his charges Louis The King and Arcetri Pink for the second legs of the Triple Crown and the Triple Tiara respectively, to be run at Turffontein on Saturday 29 March.
The R2 million SASCOC Gr1 SA Classic is the second leg of the R7 million SASCOC Triple Crown for 3-year-olds, the richest series of races in Africa.
Louis The King, a bargain buy at R55 000 on the KZN yearling sale, won the R1 million Gr2 Gauteng Guineas on 1 March.
The son of Black Minnaloushe took his stake earnings with the win to R842 500 and has only suffered one defeat in his five starts.
He has drawn at 4 and will be huge contender to take a step closer to the Triple Crown.
The R1 million Wilgerbosdrift Gr1 SA Fillies Classic is the second leg of the R3,5 million Wilgerbosdrift SA Triple Tiara, the richest series of races for fillies in Africa.
Arcetri Pink stayed the mile in sticky conditions last time
The Australian bred Arcetri Pink bowled her rivals over to win the first leg, the R500 000 Wilgerbosdrift Gr2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas on 1 March, with her stablemate Not Sulking running second to make it a gigantic day for Woodruff.
She has drawn at 1, and it will be interesting to see whether she copes with the extra 200m.
Gauteng Guineas day was run in sticky conditions and Phumelela will be hoping for an improved weather day.
Another 10 finalists to win a Polo Vivo will be drawn on the day.
The Classic Carnival is again expected to draw large crowds and sees numerous traditional carnival themed activities complimenting the top class horseracing.
Geoff Woodruff. Man of the moment
The growth in the Triple Crown series has been partly due to the organisers ensuring a variety of family focused activities, competitions with large prizes and mostly due to their decision of making access to the race course free of charge.
Michael Varney, National Marketing Manager of Phumelela commented: “Each leg of the Triple Crown has been themed and after the success of the first leg which featured the Johannesburg Prawn Festival we are very excited about the Classic Carnival and of course the second of three Polo Vivos which we will be giving away”.
Apart from enjoying the live entertainment, beer garden and carnival atmosphere, by simply being at the Big T on Saturday 29 March, racegoers will be able to enter the competition to win one of the three Polo Vivos.
The inter-provisional competitiveness will be there too with L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate winner Cape Town Noir travelling to Gauteng to line up in the Gr1 Horse Chestnut Stakes.
This will also be a special day for some of South Africa’s exported thoroughbred who will be racing in the Dubai World Cup at Meydan which will be broadcast on a big screen for spectators to enjoy.
The Fields: (rest of card declares on Tuesday 25 March)
R 1,000,000 1800m WILGERBOSDRIFT S A FILLIES CLASSIC (Grade 1)
For 3 year-old Fillies (2nd Leg of SA Triple Tiara)
| 1 | 1 | ARCETRI PINK (AUS) | 58.0 | 102 | AT | R Fradd | Geoff Woodruf |
| 2 | 14 | WINTER STAR | 58.0 | 100 | AT | D Mansour | Johan Janse v |
| 3 | 11 | NOT SULKING | 58.0 | 99 | A | B Fayd’Herbe | Geoff Woodruf |
| 4 | 9 | ATHINA | 58.0 | 96 | AT | K Shea | Joe Soma |
| 5 | 13 | ALONG CAME POLLY | 58.0 | 95 | A | G van Niekerk | Gavin van Zyl |
| 6 | 2 | MOHAVE PRINCESS (A | 58.0 | 93 | A | M Mienie | Gavin van Zyl |
| 7 | 3 | FOR THE LADS | 58.0 | 91 | AT | S Khumalo | Sean Tarry |
| 8 | 5 | SANTA CAROLINA | 58.0 | 90 | A | A Delpech | Mike de Kock |
| 9 | 4 | ZEPHIRA | 58.0 | 90 | A | P Strydom | Geoff Woodruf |
| 10 | 8 | ASH CLOUD | 58.0 | 85 | A | W Marwing | Weiho Marwing |
| 11 | 10 | CITY OF ATHENS (AU | 58.0 | 79 | A | G Lerena | Sean Tarry |
| 12 | 7 | COBY | 58.0 | 78 | A | *N Juglall | Gary Alexande |
| 13 | 6 | ISWITHI (AUS) | 58.0 | 72 | A | …………… | Kumaran Naido |
| 14 | 12 | WINDHOVER | 58.0 | 71 | AT | G Hatt | Paul Peter |
(1,3,9) (5,6) (7,11)
R 2,000,000 1800m S A CLASSIC (Grade 1)
For 3 year-olds (2nd Leg of SASCOC Triple Crown)
| 1 | 4 | LOUIS THE KING | 58.0 | 109 | A | R Fradd | Geoff Woodruf |
| 2 | 6 | FOREST INDIGO | 58.0 | 104 | A | K Shea | Alec Laird |
| 3 | 8 | AS YOU LIKE | 58.0 | 98 | A | M Mienie | Alec Laird |
| 4 | 12 | BOUCLETTE TOP (ARG | 58.0 | 97 | A | S Khumalo | Alec Laird |
| 5 | 10 | MISTER CRICKET | 58.0 | 97 | A | B Fayd’Herbe | Alec Laird |
| 6 | 14 | TAARISH (AUS) | 58.0 | 97 | A | W Marwing | Mike de Kock |
| 7 | 11 | MERCADO | 58.0 | 94 | BA | R Danielson | Sean Tarry |
| 8 | 3 | LANCE | 58.0 | 93 | A | P Strydom | Sean Tarry |
| 9 | 2 | BEZANOVA | 58.0 | 89 | A | F Herholdt | Alec Laird |
| 10 | 1 | HILLBROW | 58.0 | 88 | A | S Brown | Roy Magner |
| 11 | 9 | UMGIYO (AUS) | 58.0 | 88 | A | A Delpech | Mike de Kock |
| 12 | 13 | SILVA HAWK | 58.0 | 83 | A | K Neisius | Sean Tarry |
| 13 | 5 | FORT BELLINI | 58.0 | 82 | A | G Lerena | Sean Tarry |
| 14 | 7 | SUPERTUBE (AUS) | 58.0 | 82 | BA | G Hatt | Sean Tarry |
(2,3,4,5,9) (6,11) (7,8,12,13,14)
