Turffontein is set for a superb day of racing on Saturday 2 April with the Joburg Seafood & Jazz Racing Festival forming the backdrop for two Gr1 contests, the maiden Gauteng appearance of Cape star Kommetdieding, and Sean Tarry’s bid to win the Wilgerbosdrift SA Triple Tiara for the first time.
Hollywoodbets have priced up Tarry’s Duke Of Marmalade filly at 3-10 in the Gr2 SA Oaks antepost market.
SA OAKS (Grade 2)
| 2 | Clafoutis | Mike de Kock | 105 | |
| 11 | Eternity Ring | B Botes / Y Vosloo | 103 | |
| 5 | Evening Primrose | Gareth van Zyl | 81 | |
| 3 | Go Dream Machine | David Nieuwenhuizen | 75 | |
| 4 | Greengrowthelilacs | Dean Kannemeyer | 76 | |
| 6 | Light Of The Moon | B Botes / Y Vosloo | 76 | |
| 10 | Ontheverge | Candice Dawson | 72 | |
| 8 | Perfect Witness | Candice Dawson | 109 | |
| 1 | Princess Kesh | Ashley Fortune | 83 | |
| 7 | Quiet Rebellion | Stuart Pettigrew | 77 | |
| 9 | Rain In Holland | Sean Tarry | 118 | |
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After fluent wins in the first two legs, Richard Fourie will be looking to guide the Drakenstein flagbearer to victory as she tries the 2450m for the first time.
In the World Sports Betting Gr1 SA Derby, Mike de Kock’s Safe Passage has been priced up as favourite at 14-10, after suffering a defeat at the hands of Joey Soma’s giantkiller Red Saxon in the SA Classic.
SA DERBY (Grade 1)
| 8 | Ablueazure | Paul Peter | 77 | |
| 1 | Aragosta | Mike de Kock | 109 | |
| 11 | Litigation | Sean Tarry | 97 | |
| 10 | London Roads | Paul Peter | 80 | |
| 6 | Platinum Sky | Sean Tarry | 104 | |
| 4 | Red Saxon | Joe Soma | 118 | |
| 2 | Safe Passage | Mike de Kock | 117 | |
| 9 | Super Excited | Paul Matchett | 109 | |
| 7 | Tabebuia | Gavin van Zyl | 81 | |
| 3 | With Pleasure | Dorrie Sham | 79 | |
| 5 | Zeus | Fabian Habib | 99 |
The race is a Hollywoodbets Durban July golden ticket event – meaning the winner is guaranteed a berth in the big one at Hollywoodbets Greyville on 2 July.
While Soma will be keen as mustard to saddle his twelfth Gr1 winner, Red Saxon (7-2) is not a guaranteed runner with his veteran trainer concerned at the impact of the weather on his training programme.
The 2450 contest will be an important stepping stone on the dream road to the R5 million Gr1 Hollywoodbets Durban July for the son of Red Ray, who exploded into our lives with a scintillating effort under Julius Mariba in the SA Classic.
With the prospect of a possible trip to take on the world via New York now on the back burner, 2022 Cape Town Met winner Kommetdieding could line up in the Gr1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes, with an eye on the Gr1 Premier’s Champions Challenge on 30 April.
HORSE CHESTNUT STAKES (Grade 1)
| 8 | Al Muthana (AUS) | Mike de Kock | 122 | |
| 13 | Astrix | Paul Peter | 112 | |
| 9 | Bingwa | Dorrie Sham | 118 | |
| 1 | Captain Lannister | Ashley Fortune | 115 | |
| 11 | Chimichuri Run | Sean Tarry | 115 | |
| 6 | Donald McDonald | Gavin van Zyl | 102 | |
| 5 | Flying Carpet | Sean Tarry | 116 | |
| 4 | Kommetdieding | HWJ Crawford/M Rix | 129 | |
| 3 | Mk’s Pride | Paul Peter | 122 | |
| 2 | Puerto Manzano (ARG) | J A Janse van Vuuren | 111 | |
| 10 | Pyromaniac | Sean Tarry | 113 | |
| 12 | Warrior’s Rest | Sean Tarry | 112 | |
| 7 | William Robertson | Corne Spies | 105 | |
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Milnerton trainer Michelle Rix has placed the popular son of Elusive Fort in the care of Roy Magner at Randjesfontein.
The postponed Joburg Seafood & Jazz Racing Festival will be hosted at Turffontein on Derby Day.
Gates open at 11h00 and entertainment continues to 19h00.
Tickets cost R50 for adults and R25 for under 18’s, with a family ticket for two adults and two children under 12 costing R100.
Guests over the age of 12 need to be fully vaccinated.
