Louis The King
Louis The King tops the 23 entries for the R2-million Gr1 President’s Champions Challenge over 2000m at Turffontein on Saturday 25 April.
The Geoff Woodruff-trained SA Triple Crown winner has an excellent record on the Turffontein standside track and this weight-for-age event should be ideal for the four-year-old son of Black Minnaloushe who won last year’s Sansui Summer Cup over the course and distance.
However, Mike de Kock has some strong entries, including Grade 1 Investec Cape Derby winner Ertijaal and Grade 1 Avontuur Estate Cape Fillies Guineas champion Majmu. However, they may well go for other races on the day – Ertijaal for the SA Derby and Majmu for the SA Oaks, also both Grade 1 events.
Majmu could also be aimed at the Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara and if she wins the Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic on 28 March, the Oaks is the more likely option.
De Kock has also entered Anjaal, Akii Bua, Pine Princess, Mutamakkin and Raaees.
Woodruff has backed up Louis The King with four other runners – Summer Cup runner-up Killua Castle, Sabadell, Shadow Ofhis Smile and Tellina.
Heavy Metal, winner of this race in 2013, is also among the nominations. The son Of Silvano had an unsuccessful campaign in Dubai and could be making an attempt at winning this race for the second time.
Tarry has also entered Halve The Deficit and Cagiva.
Some Cape trainers could be heading north to contest this race. Joey Ramsden has nominated King Of Pain, who ran third in Saturday’s Cape Mile behind Ze Kaizer, Mike Bass has entered Paterfamilias while Vaughan Marshall has nominated Gothic.
Wylie Hall beats Legislate in July
Another interesting entry is Wylie Hall, who was first past the post in last year’s Vodacom Durban July but lost the race on an objection. Weiho Marwing’s charge has an excellent record at Turffontein and could be a massive contender if he runs.
Second entries close at 11am on Monday 23 March, third entries at 11am on Tuesday 7 April after which the weights and draws will be announced. Declarations close at 11am on Wednesday 15 April.
Nominations for the R2-million President’s Champions Challenge over 2000m at Turffontein on Saturday 25 April.
AKII BUA (M F De Kock); ANJAAL (M F De Kock); ATHINA (J A Soma); CAGIVA (S G Tarry); EARL OF DERBY (A G Laird); ERTIJAAL (M F De Kock); GOTHIC (V H Marshall); HALVE THE DEFICIT (S G Tarry); HEAVY METAL (S G Tarry); JUDICIAL (T Zackey); KILLUA CASTLE (G V Woodruff); KING OF PAIN (J Ramsden); LOUIS THE KING (G V Woodruff); MAJMU (M F De Kock); MUTAMAKKIN (M F De Kock); NO WORRIES (G H Van Zyl); PATERFAMILIAS (M W Bass); PINE PRINCESS (M F De Kock); RAAEES (M F De Kock); SABADELL (G V Woodruff); SHADOW OFHIS SMILE (G V Woodruff); TELLINA (G V Woodruff); WYLIE HALL (W H Marwing)
