The final fields for Day 2 of The Championships 2025, Classic Day, to be held on Saturday 1 March, were unveiled on Tuesday with the Turffontein ten-race programme hosting three Grade 1 contests and 107 runners.
Main Defender – can defend his title with success (Pic – JC Photos)
The highest rated galloper on the bumper card, Tony Peter’s Main Defender (130) defends his title in the R1,5 million Wilgerbosdrift HF Oppenheimer Gr1 Horse Chestnut Stakes where he takes on eight rivals from a 5 draw.
The son of Pathfork was ridden by Calvin Habib last year and will be partnered by Gavin Lerena this time round. He comes in off three Pinnacle Stakes, and a is winner of 2 of 3 of those.
1st R937500, 2nd R300000, 3rd R150000, 4th R75000, 5th R37500
WILGERBOSDRIFT H F OPPENHEIMER HORSE CHESTNUT STAKES (Grade 1)
For all Horses at Weight for Age
WFA: 3yrs-3kgs 4yrs-0kgs
No Apprentice / Female Sex Allowance
| 1 | 5 | Main Defender | 60 | 130 | A | Gavin Lerena | Tony Peter | |
| 2 | 2 | Barbaresco | 60 | 125 | Ae | Aldo Domeyer | J A Janse van Vuuren | |
| 3 | 7 | Lucky Lad | 60 | 125 | TBA | Richard Fourie | Sean Tarry | |
| 4 | 8 | Imilenzeyokududuma | 60 | 114 | TBA | Raymond Danielson | Gareth van Zyl | |
| 5 | 6 | Texas Red | 60 | 110 | A | Kabelo Matsunyane | Robyn Klaasen | |
| 6 | 4 | Fire ‘N Flames | 60 | 101 | T A | Denis Schwarz | Kobus Roux | |
| 7 | 1 | White Pearl | 57.5 | 114 | A | Ryan Munger | Mike / Mathew de Kock | |
| 8 | 9 | Greaterix | 57 | 120 | A | Muzi Yeni | Mike / Mathew de Kock | |
| 9 | 3 | Cosmic Speed | 57 | 116 | A | Craig Zackey | Sean Tarry | |
| Same Trainer | ||||||||
| (3,9) (7,8) | ||||||||
Gauteng Guineas winner Parisian Walkway is set for the second leg of the SA Triple Tiara and takes on ten contemporaries, including an interesting fairer sex contender in Paul Matchett’s Miss Scaletta.
1st R937500, 2nd R300000, 3rd R150000, 4th R75000, 5th R37500
TAB SA CLASSIC (Grade 1)
For 3 year-olds (2nd Leg of SA Triple Crown)No Apprentice / Female Sex Allowance
| 1 | 4 | Parisian Walkway | 60 | 121 | A | Diego De Gouveia | Alec Laird | |
| 2 | 8 | Aristotle | 60 | 113 | A | Kabelo Matsunyane | Alec Laird | |
| 3 | 5 | Fire Attack | 60 | 111 | A | Gavin Lerena | Alec Laird | |
| 4 | 2 | Legend Of Arthur | 60 | 109 | A | Richard Fourie | Sean Tarry | |
| 5 | 1 | Confederate | 60 | 107 | A | Craig Zackey | Fabian Habib | |
| 6 | 3 | Chestnut Bomber | 60 | 106 | A | Aldo Domeyer | J A Janse van Vuuren | |
| 7 | 11 | Bacchus | 60 | 101 | HA | Muzi Yeni | Fabian Habib | |
| 8 | 6 | Don’t Cry For Me | 60 | 101 | A | Piere Strydom | Sean Tarry | |
| 9 | 9 | Grey Jet | 60 | 96 | A | #Rachel Venniker | Weichong Marwing | |
| 10 | 10 | Busstopinhounslow | 60 | 95 | A | Ryan Munger | Grant Maroun | |
| 11 | 7 | Miss Scaletta | 57.5 | 98 | A | Philasande Mxoli | Paul Matchett | |
| Same Trainer | ||||||||
| (1,2,3) (4,8) (5,7) | ||||||||
Mike and Mat de Kock’s unbeaten Vercingetorix filly Spumante Dolce is on track for honours in the 2025 SA Triple Tiara and the Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas winner looks the veritable beacon of light in leg 2, the Wilgerbosdrift Gr1 SA Fillies Classic.
Raymond Danielson is aboard again as she bumps VJ’s Angel and Fiery Pegasus in a second leg that may lack other serious threats.
1st R781250, 2nd R250000, 3rd R125000, 4th R62500, 5th R31250
WILGERBOSDRIFT SA FILLIES CLASSIC (Grade 1)
3yof (2nd Leg Wilgerbosdrift SA Triple Tiara)No Apprentice / Female Sex Allowance
| 1 | 7 | Spumante Dolce | 60 | 119 | A | Raymond Danielson | Mike / Mathew de Kock | |
| 2 | 8 | Vj’s Angel | 60 | 119 | BAe | Gavin Lerena | Tony Peter | |
| 3 | 10 | Fiery Pegasus | 60 | 115 | A | Richard Fourie | Joe Soma | |
| 4 | 3 | Olivia’s Way | 60 | 110 | A | Muzi Yeni | Roy Magner | |
| 5 | 9 | World Of Alice | 60 | 108 | BA | Craig Zackey | Sean Tarry | |
| 6 | 1 | Willy Meet Again | 60 | 107 | A | Diego De Gouveia | Lucky Houdalakis | |
| 7 | 11 | Care Forgot | 60 | 98 | A | #Rachel Venniker | Barend Botes | |
| 8 | 4 | Bakwena | 60 | 97 | A | Aldo Domeyer | J A Janse van Vuuren | |
| 9 | 2 | Hat’s Queen | 60 | 96 | A | Chase Maujean | Tony Peter | |
| 10 | 5 | Gerbera | 60 | 88 | HA | Ryan Munger | Sean Tarry | |
| 11 | 6 | Sensoria | 60 | 84 | A | Kabelo Matsunyane | Robyn Klaasen | |
| Same Trainer | ||||||||
| (2,9) (5,10) | ||||||||
See all ten races here.
The highlight of the season, Champions Day follows on 29 March.The latter will once again be a World Pool event, featuring four Grade 1 races and four Grade 2s.
