Countdown To Royal Raceday

Entries for the stakes boosted R1,25 million Gr1 HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes for fillies and mares to be run at weight-for-age over 1600m at Turffontein on Saturday 16 April were received on Monday.

There are a handful of current and former Cape Town-based runners among the entries

Now based at the Vaal with Ashley Fortune, Princess Calla, who ran close-up behind Captain’s Ransom in a number of feature races in the Cape is among the entries

Chat Ching is based with Ashley Fortune at the Vaal (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)

With a recent run already under the belt, Milnerton-based Candice Bass-Robinson has Chat Ching and Gr1 winner Zarina amongst the entries, while Wendy Whitehead and Gareth van Zyl may travel from KZN with Mount Laurel and the well travelled She’s A Keeper.

Supplementary Entries close at 09h00 on Friday 8 April.

Declarations are due by 11h00 on Monday 11 April.

Draws and the final field will be embargoed and announced at a live event on Monday 11 April at a venue and time to be advised.

Hollywoodbets are offering an ante-post market: please click here for more

The theme for this year’s Royal Race Day is ‘A Touch of Class with the Sport of Kings’. Mike Wittstock, the father of HSH Princess Charlene, has from the outset been an enthusiastic supporter of this event and numerous charities as well as schools from disadvantaged backgrounds in the south and east of Johannesburg, have benefitted as a result of his involvement.

A dress code is encouraged on the day with ladies elegantly dressed with hats or fascinators and gentlemen smartly attired.  This has been in keeping with the race being held on the royal day and exciting prizes will be on offer to patrons who make the added effort and dress appropriately.

The day also sees the running of the Listed Spook Express Stakes over 2400m.