The Joburg Seafood & Jazz Racing Festival at Turffontein on Saturday will form a backdrop to what looks to be a superb day of racing.
All eyes will be on Sean Tarry’s Rain In Holland who is set for Wilgerbosdrift SA Triple Tiara honours.
Rain In Holland – on the brink of history (Pic -JC Photos)
After winning the first two legs in such devastating fashion. Rain In Holland looks to have her nine opponents cold and will start at short odds to become the fifth filly in our history to win the coveted title after Igugu (2011), Cherry On the Top (2013), Summer Pudding (2020) and War Of Athena (2021).
1st R468750, 2nd R150000, 3rd R75000, 4th R37500, 5th R18750
WILGERBOSDRIFT SA OAKS (Grade 2)
For 3 year-old Fillies (3rd Leg of SA Triple Tiara)No Apprentice Allowance
| 1 | 8 | Rain In Holland | 60 | 118 | BA | Richard Fourie | Sean Tarry | |
| 2 | 2 | Clafoutis | 60 | 105 | T A | S’manga Khumalo | Mike de Kock | |
| 3 | 10 | Eternity Ring | 60 | 103 | T A | Warren Kennedy | B Botes / Y Vosloo | |
| 4 | 1 | Princess Kesh | 60 | 83 | A | Ryan Munger | Ashley Fortune | |
| 5 | 5 | Evening Primrose | 60 | 81 | A | Calvin Habib | Gareth van Zyl | |
| 6 | 7 | Quiet Rebellion | 60 | 77 | A | Kabelo Matsunyane | Stuart Pettigrew | |
| 7 | 4 | Greengrowthelilacs | 60 | 76 | A | Keagan de Melo | Dean Kannemeyer | |
| 8 | 6 | Light Of The Moon | 60 | 76 | T A | Muzi Yeni | B Botes / Y Vosloo | |
| 9 | 3 | Go Dream Machine | 60 | 75 | T A | Chase Maujean | David Nieuwenhuizen | |
| 10 | 9 | Ontheverge | 60 | 72 | BA | Gavin Lerena | Candice Dawson | |
| Same Trainer | ||||||||
| (3,8) | ||||||||
The absence of SA Classic runner-up Safe Passage in the final field for the Gr1 WSB SA Derby sees Joey Soma’s rising star Red Saxon set for a big bid to snare his second Gr1 title.
Joey Soma welcomes Red Saxon back after his Gr1 strike (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Soma told Gold Circle’s David Thiselton: “He put up a very good grass gallop on Friday and after looking at the field I decided it would be stupid not to go for the Derby. We will see if he stays.”
Whether Red Saxon can see out the tough 2450m trip of the Turffontein Standside course is open to debate because he is by sprint-miler sire Red Ray out of a mare by stamina influence Casey Tibbs who herself won a Non-Black Type event over 2600m and finished second in a Grade 3 over 3200m.
His dam Rodeo Sioux’s first foal was by speed influence Seventh Rock and yet won over 2600m which augurs well for Red Saxon.
1st R937500, 2nd R300000, 3rd R150000, 4th R75000, 5th R37500
WORLD SPORTS BETTING SA DERBY (Grade 1)
3 year olds (3rd Leg SA Triple Crown)No Apprentice Allowance
| 1 | 3 | Red Saxon | 60 | 118 | A | Julius Mariba | Joe Soma | |
| 2 | 1 | Aragosta | 60 | 109 | A | Richard Fourie | Mike de Kock | |
| 3 | 5 | Platinum Sky | 60 | 104 | T A | S’manga Khumalo | Sean Tarry | |
| 4 | 4 | Zeus | 60 | 99 | A | Keagan de Melo | Fabian Habib | |
| 5 | 9 | Litigation | 60 | 97 | T A | Gavin Lerena | Sean Tarry | |
| 6 | 6 | Tabebuia | 60 | 81 | A | Calvin Habib | Gavin van Zyl | |
| 7 | 8 | London Roads | 60 | 80 | BA | Warren Kennedy | Paul Peter | |
| 8 | 2 | With Pleasure | 60 | 79 | A | Raymond Danielson | Dorrie Sham | |
| 9 | 7 | Ablueazure | 60 | 77 | A | Muzi Yeni | Paul Peter | |
| Same Trainer | ||||||||
| (3,5) (7,9) | ||||||||
Soma went on to confirm that they have been patient and took it easy when the conditions were bad.
“There was a recent three week gap where we could do normal work. Red Saxon was able to have a grass gallop and his and the other horses wins all coincided with that good period. It did not rain much last week and this week is sunshine all the way through too. So we have been able to get good work into Red Saxon and others and he is very well.”
Julius Mariba has ridden all of the recent winners and Soma said: “He is the stable jockey. It has been work in motion for 16 months. He has worked very hard, has listened well and changed his seat a little bit. He has a good head on his shoulders and I am very happy to have him as my first call rider. I am shocked he doesn’t get more support as he is very professional and could hold his own with any riders in the country.”
Cape hero Kommetdieding will jump from a 4 gate when he has his first Gauteng start in the Gr1 Wilgerbosdfrift HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes.
The son of Elusive Fort is based with Roy Magner and is reported to have settled in well.
1st R625000, 2nd R200000, 3rd R100000, 4th R50000, 5th R25000
WILGERBOSDRIFT HF OPPENHEIMER HORSE CHESTNUT STAKES (Grade 1)
Weight for Age
WFA: 2yrs-12.5kgs 3yrs-2.5kgs 4yrs-0kgs
No Apprentice Allowance
| 1 | 4 | Kommetdieding | 60 | 129 | A | Gavin Lerena | HWJ Crawford/M Rix | |
| 2 | 7 | Al Muthana (AUS) | 60 | 122 | A | S’manga Khumalo | Mike de Kock | |
| 3 | 3 | Mk’s Pride | 60 | 122 | A | Muzi Yeni | Paul Peter | |
| 4 | 8 | Bingwa | 60 | 118 | BA | Raymond Danielson | Dorrie Sham | |
| 5 | 5 | Flying Carpet | 60 | 116 | TBA | Calvin Habib | Sean Tarry | |
| 6 | 10 | Chimichuri Run | 60 | 115 | T A | Kabelo Matsunyane | Sean Tarry | |
| 7 | 12 | Astrix | 60 | 112 | BA | Warren Kennedy | Paul Peter | |
| 8 | 11 | Warrior’s Rest | 60 | 112 | BA | Denis Schwarz | Sean Tarry | |
| 9 | 2 | Puerto Manzano (ARG) | 60 | 111 | BA | Keagan de Melo | J A Janse van Vuuren | |
| 10 | 6 | Donald McDonald | 60 | 102 | BA | Julius Mariba | Gavin van Zyl | |
| 11 | 1 | Captain Lannister | 57.5 | 115 | A | Ryan Munger | Ashley Fortune | |
| 12 | 9 | Pyromaniac | 57.5 | 113 | T A | Richard Fourie | Sean Tarry | |
| Same Trainer | ||||||||
| (3,7) (5,6,8,12) | ||||||||
There has been no announcement of a Pick 6 carryover on the day. Watch this space for more.
