Marinaresco took his first SA Champions step to Vodacom Durban July glory by winning the Gr2 Drill Hall Stakes in 2017. Is there another big hitter lurking in the 13 runners declared on Wednesday for the 2018 renewal?
Flasback to 2017 – This pic tells a story!
This competitive 1400m race under the lights is a traditional starting point for many SA Champions Season feature hopefuls and it has attracted a nationally representative field again, with Brett Crawford’s Gr1 winner Sail South topping the weights.
Crawford also has the exciting 3yo and recent Gr3 Byerley Turk winner Undercover Agent in his attack.
| 1 | 2 | Sail South | 60 | 123 | A | B Fayd’Herbe | Brett Crawford | |
| 2 | 7 | Will Pays | 58.5 | 114 | A | C Zackey | M G Azzie/A A Azzie | |
| 3 | 13 | Copper Force | 57 | 115 | A | G van Niekerk | Justin Snaith | |
| 4 | 12 | Saratoga Dancer | 57 | 112 | A | A Marcus | Duncan Howells | |
| 5 | 8 | Captain Aldo | 57 | 111 | BA | …………… | St John Gray | |
| 6 | 1 | Our Mate Art (AUS) | 57 | 109 | A | A Domeyer | Candice Bass-Robinson | |
| 7 | 5 | Amazing Strike | 57 | 107 | BA | K de Melo | Alec Laird | |
| 8 | 10 | Doing It For Dan | 57 | 104 | T A | G Wrogemann | Louis Goosen | |
| 9 | 9 | Lord Balmoral (AUS) | 57 | 102 | A | M Byleveld | Vaughan Marshall | |
| 10 | 11 | Red Chesnut Road | 57 | 102 | BA | R Fourie | Robbie Hill | |
| 11 | 4 | Perovskia | 57 | 99 | A | C Murray | Harold Crawford | |
| 12 | 6 | Undercover Agent | 55 | 110 | A | C Orffer | Brett Crawford | |
| 13 | 3 | Prince Of Kahal | 55 | 95 | A | R Danielson | Roy Magner | |
| Same Trainer – Not Coupled on Tote | ||||||||
| (1,12) | ||||||||
Another Crawford – this time Harold – saddles his recent Jet Master Stakes winner Perovskia, seen as something of an optimistic visitor to the holiday province. He has drawn well and gets the services of Callan Murray.
For 3 year-old FilliesNo Apprentice Allowance
| 1 | 5 | Snowdance | 60 | 114 | A | B Fayd’Herbe | Justin Snaith | |
| 2 | 9 | Lady In Black | 60 | 111 | A | S Veale | Dennis Drier | |
| 3 | 7 | Elusive Heart | 60 | 105 | A | R Fourie | Glen Kotzen | |
| 4 | 3 | Fiorella | 60 | 101 | A | A Marcus | Duncan Howells | |
| 5 | 8 | Roy’s Riviera (AUS) | 60 | 96 | A | *L Hewitson | Frank Robinson | |
| 6 | 4 | Twice As Smart | 60 | 94 | A | S Randolph | Wendy Whitehead | |
| 7 | 6 | Desert Rhythm | 60 | 93 | T A | S Khumalo | Sean Tarry | |
| 8 | 2 | She’s A Dream | 60 | 90 | A | K de Melo | Mark Dixon | |
| 9 | 1 | London Secret | 60 | 85 | A | R Danielson | Sean Tarry | |
| Same Trainer – Not Coupled on Tote | ||||||||
| (7,9) | ||||||||
The other two features declared for the opening night of the 2018 SA Champions Season are the Gr2 Daisy Guineas and the Gr2 Daisy Fillies Guineas. The exciting Justin Snaith filly Snowdance makes her KZN debut as the highest rated of nine runners. Bernard Fayd’herbe gets the ride.
For 3 year-oldsNo Apprentice Allowance
| 1 | 10 | Do It Again | 60 | 110 | A | B Fayd’Herbe | Justin Snaith | |
| 2 | 8 | Roy Had Enough (AUS) | 60 | 110 | A | *L Hewitson | Frank Robinson | |
| 3 | 3 | Tap O’ Noth | 60 | 110 | A | M Byleveld | Vaughan Marshall | |
| 4 | 4 | White River | 60 | 109 | A | A Marcus | Brett Crawford | |
| 5 | 9 | Sniper Shot | 60 | 105 | A | K de Melo | Paul Lafferty | |
| 6 | 2 | Wonderwall | 60 | 103 | T A | S Khumalo | Sean Tarry | |
| 7 | 6 | Premier Show | 60 | 94 | BA | C Murray | Clinton Binda | |
| 8 | 1 | Kazaar | 60 | 90 | A | R Fourie | Dennis Bosch | |
| 9 | 5 | Mardi Gras | 60 | 90 | A | R Danielson | J A Janse van Vuuren | |
| 10 | 7 | Oh Susanna (AUS) | 57.5 | 121 | A | G van Niekerk | Justin Snaith | |
| Same Trainer – Not Coupled on Tote | ||||||||
| (1,10) | ||||||||
Her stablemate and Sun Met winner Oh Susanna is pitted against the boys iin the Daisy Guineas. Justin Snaith always said he would keep the stars on separate tracks!
