The Gr1 Thekweni Stakes top two, Stuart Pettigrew’s Anything Goes and Paul Matchett’s War Of Athena, top the log for the 2020 renewal of the R900 000 Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup (Presented by Bloodstock South Africa) which will be run over 1400m at Turffontein on Saturday 31 October.
Anything Goes, an unbeaten Equus Champion daughter of Var, and Act Of War’s dual Gr1 placed War Of Athena, are the big-hitters on the first log published on Wednesday 16 September for the Charity Mile Day showdown.
Log-leader Anything Goes wins the Gr1 Thekweni Stakes (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
The Non-Black Type race is open to eligible graduates of the 2019 Bloodstock South Africa Emperor’s Palace Summer Ready To Run Sale.
BSA CEO Michael Holmes said that the popular sales race concept had stood the test of time and was an attractive incentive, and a deserved reward for owners and investors who supported industry leader Bloodstock South Africa over the years.
“The partnership with Emperors Palace has been a winning one since its inception some twelve years ago and we are thrilled to again be joining forces with Bob Yearham and his team on a headline day on the Highveld feature season calendar. The co-operation between all stakeholders has been heartening and charity and racing will again be the big winners on the day,” he added.
Basie & Suzette Viljoen’s Gavel Strike could get a run – currently number 8 on the log (Pic – Candiese Marnewick)
A Charity Mile Day stalwart, Peermont Emperor’s Palace Chief Operating Officer Bob Yearham echoed Holmes’ sentiments and said that the event was a flagship occasion, with the multi-faceted spin-offs of community and industry stakeholder involvement, making it unique.
“It has always been a great South African day at the races on the exciting platform of quality horseracing, with tremendous benefits for a wide range of deserving charities. The year has been a testing one for everybody, and our team are determined to overcome the challenges in order to assist those who need our help the most,” added the man who has become a familiar face in the sport over the past decade.
- Entries for the race close at 11h00 on Monday 19 October, with a supplementary entry opportunity that closes at 09h00 on Monday 26 October.
- Declarations close at 11h00 on Tuesday 27 October.
- The field will be limited to 16 runners plus two reserves and will be determined by a panel appointed by the racing operator.
The race is on the programme of the Gr2 Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile race meeting and includes three Gr3 races.
The RTR log:
| 17-Sep | Horse | Age | Sex | MR | Wns | Trainer | |
| 1 | ANYTHING GOES | 3 | F | 111 | 4 | Stuart Pettigrew | |
| 2 | WAR OF ATHENA | 3 | F | 110 | 2 | Paul Matchett | |
| 3 | MISS ELEGANCE | 3 | F | 98 | 1 | Lucky Houdalakis | |
| 4 | AFTERNOON TEA | 3 | F | 97 | 1 | Ashley Fortune | |
| 5 | MK’S PRIDE | 3 | C | 91 | 1 | Paul Peter | |
| 6 | BOLD FORTUNE | 3 | F | 87 | 1 | Stuart Pettigrew | |
| 7 | ICE MAN COMETH | 3 | C | 86 | 1 | Gary Alexander | |
| 8 | ASTRAL PLANE | 3 | F | 84 | 1 | Gary Alexander | |
| 8 | GAVEL STRIKE | 3 | C | 84 | 1 | Lezeanne Forbes | |
| 10 | DESERT ILLUSION | 3 | G | 83 | 0 | Brett Crawford | |
| 10 | KOKESHI | 3 | F | 83 | 1 | Mike De Kock | |
| 12 | MYNAGE | 3 | F | 82 | 0 | Mike De Kock | |
| 13 | HARLEQUIN JACK | 3 | G | 81 | 0 | Mike De Kock | |
| 14 | SWISS BANK | 3 | F | 80 | 0 | David Nieuwenhuizen | |
| 15 | THE VILLA GRAND | 3 | F | 78 | 1 | Paul Matchett | |
| 16 | SOWETO HALL | 3 | F | 77 | 0 | Kumaran Naidoo | |
| 16 | EMERALD FLOE | 3 | F | 77 | 0 | J A Janse van Vuuren | |
| 18 | ONLY THE BRAVE | 3 | F | 75 | 0 | Paul Matchett | |
| 18 | MAESTRO SONADOR | 3 | C | 75 | 0 | Lezeanne Forbes | |
| 20 | GIGGIN | 3 | G | 74 | 0 | Michael Miller | |
| 21 | LIVERPOOL LEGEND | 3 | F | 72 | 0 | St John Gray | |
| 22 | FORWARD MARCH | 3 | F | 71 | 0 | J A Janse van Vuuren | |
| 22 | WATCHING CLOSELY | 3 | F | 71 | 0 | Gerald C Walker | |
| 24 | BELLA’S FORTUNE | 3 | F | 70 | 0 | WDF Badenhorst | |
| 24 | DUSTED DONUT | 3 | G | 70 | 0 | Ashley Fortune | |
| 26 | CHAMPINGATTHEBIT | 3 | G | 69 | 0 | Paul Matchett | |
| 27 | FROZEN PALACE | 3 | G | 66 | 0 | Fabian Habib | |
| 27 | JAEGER MOON | 3 | C | 66 | 0 | Gavin Smith | |
| 29 | MONEY MONEY MONEY | 3 | F | 63 | 0 | Corrie Lensley | |
| 30 | RUBONDO | 3 | G | 62 | 0 | Louis Goosen | |
| 31 | CHAKALAKA GUY | 3 | G | 57 | 0 | Yogas Govender | |
| 32 | NDIKHALELE | 3 | F | 40 | 0 | Corrie Lensley |
