With the sun having set on the Cape Summer Of Champions, the national spotlight switches to Classic Day at Turffontein on Saturday where Day 2 of The Championships sees a bumper card of ten races, including three Gr1 contests.
Gimme A Nother – SA Triple Tiara leg 2 in sight! (Pic – JC Photos)
Classic Day features three Grade 1 races, headed by the R1,5 million TAB SA Classic, and including the R1,25 million Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic, and a vintage renewal of the R1,5 million H F Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes, named in honor of the legendary Horse Chestnut, South Africa’s Triple Crown winner in 1999 and his part-owner and breeder, Mr. H F Oppenheimer.
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 | 10 | Sandringham Summit | 60 | 123 | T A | Gavin Lerena | David Nieuwenhuizen | |
| 2 | 7 | Hotarubi | 60 | 116 | TCA | S’manga Khumalo | Sean Tarry | |
| 3 | 5 | William Iron Arm | 60 | 116 | A | Calvin Habib | Tony Peter | |
| 4 | 1 | Purple Pitcher | 60 | 114 | A | Kabelo Matsunyane | Robyn Klaasen | |
| 5 | 6 | Gimmeanotherchance | 60 | 111 | A | Craig Zackey | Mike de Kock | |
| 6 | 9 | Guy Gibson | 60 | 105 | A | Piere Strydom | Roy Magner | |
| 7 | 2 | Pure Predator | 60 | 104 | A | Denis Schwarz | Fanie Bronkhorst | |
| 8 | 4 | Storm Brasco | 60 | 104 | TBA | Richard Fourie | Sean Tarry | |
| 9 | 8 | Navajo Nation | 60 | 103 | A | Serino Moodley | Robbie Hill | |
| 10 | 11 | Barbaresco | 60 | 102 | A | Ryan Munger | J A Janse van Vuuren | |
| 11 | 3 | Mondial | 60 | 100 | A | Muzi Yeni | M G Azzie/A A Azzie | |
| Same Trainer | ||||||||
| (2,8) | ||||||||
The SA Triple Crown and Triple Tiara kicked off at the same venue on 3 February and both first leg stars Sandringham Summit and Gimme A Nother return in a bid to make it two from two.
Dean Kannemeyer – travels with Cosmic Highway (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
While the visitors have ducked the two 3yo contests, Cape trainers Brett Crawford, Dean Kannemeyer and Candice Bass-Robinson will hit the long road with runners engaged in the R1,5 million Wilgerbosdrift Gr1 HF Oppenheimer Stakes.
Mrs Bass-Robinson won the race last year with Trip Of Fortune and takes her chances with WSB Cape Town Met fifth placer Sugar Mountain, who looks to have a big task on his hands.
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 | Gimme A Nother | 60 | 121 | A | Juan Paul v’d Merwe | Mike de Kock | |
| 2 | 8 | Silver Sanctuary | 60 | 116 | A | Richard Fourie | Mike de Kock | |
| 3 | 1 | My Soul Mate | 60 | 115 | A | Piere Strydom | Candice Dawson | |
| 4 | 4 | Bavarian Beauty | 60 | 112 | A | Calvin Habib | Tony Peter | |
| 5 | 6 | Let’s Go Now | 60 | 111 | BA | S’manga Khumalo | Sean Tarry | |
| 6 | 5 | Egyptian Mau | 60 | 110 | a | Craig Zackey | Lucky Houdalakis | |
| 7 | 2 | Champagne Cocktail | 60 | 104 | T A | Gavin Lerena | Mike de Kock | |
| 8 | 3 | Beating Wings | 60 | 91 | A | Denis Schwarz | Stuart Pettigrew | |
| 9 | 9 | Tamil Tigress | 60 | 87 | A | Ryan Munger | Lorenzo Karriem | |
| Same Trainer | ||||||||
| (1,2,7) | ||||||||
Dean Kannemeyer is fresh off his SplashOut Gr1 Cape Derby victory and saddles Cosmic Highway, who had no luck in Saturday’s Khaya Stables Gr2 Diadem Stakes. The son of Gimmethegreenlight hass never won over a mile, but should relish running at them late off a pace on the long Turffontein home straight.
Kannemeyer told the Sporting Post that his charge departs Milnerton on Wednesday morning and he is looking to emulate the feat of Free My Heart, who won this race in 2002 under Karl Neisius.
Brett Crawford has a satellite base at Randjesfontein and saddles the super consistent At My Command and 2023 Hollywoodbets Durban July winner, Winchester Mansion.
Star 3yo Main Defender – will he, won’t he stay the mile in this company? (Pic -JC Photos)
Trainer Tony Peter has thrown a potential cat amongst the pigeons with the 3yo Main Defender, who is reported to be ‘flying back home’, but there are question marks against the mile.
The race will surely provide a guide for the connections as to where to go in the next five months with the son of Pathfork.
1st R937500, 2nd R300000, 3rd R150000, 4th R75000, 5th R37500
WILGERBOSDRIFT H F OPPENHEIMER HORSE CHESTNUT STAKES (Grade 1)
Weight for Age
WFA: 3yrs-3kgs 4yrs-0kgs
No Apprentice / Female Sex Allowance
| 1 | 4 | At My Command | 60 | 126 | A | Luyolo Mxothwa | Brett Crawford | |
| 2 | 1 | Puerto Manzano (ARG) | 60 | 125 | BA | Gavin Lerena | J A Janse van Vuuren | |
| 3 | 14 | Cousin Casey | 60 | 123 | A | Grant van Niekerk | Sean Tarry | |
| 4 | 10 | Dave The King | 60 | 122 | A | Piere Strydom | Mike de Kock | |
| 5 | 8 | Winchester Mansion | 60 | 121 | CA | Kabelo Matsunyane | Brett Crawford | |
| 6 | 11 | Cosmic Highway | 60 | 117 | A | Craig Zackey | Dean Kannemeyer | |
| 7 | 7 | Melech | 60 | 117 | T A | Muzi Yeni | Roy Magner | |
| 8 | 13 | Mk’s Pride | 60 | 116 | BA | Chase Maujean | Tony Peter | |
| 9 | 3 | Safe Passage | 60 | 116 | A | Juan Paul v’d Merwe | Mike de Kock | |
| 10 | 6 | Son Of Raj | 60 | 115 | BA | S’manga Khumalo | Weiho Marwing | |
| 11 | 2 | Sugar Mountain | 60 | 115 | A | Aldo Domeyer | Candice Bass-Robinson | |
| 12 | 12 | Back In Business | 60 | 90 | A | Philasande Mxoli | Joe Soma | |
| 13 | 5 | Princess Calla | 57.5 | 127 | A | Richard Fourie | Sean Tarry | |
| 14 | 9 | Main Defender | 57 | 121 | A | Calvin Habib | Tony Peter | |
| Same Trainer | ||||||||
| (1,5) (3,13) (4,9) (8,14) | ||||||||
