A bumper 10-race card featuring three Grade 1 races and an estimated R5-million carryover Pick 6 pool are the highlights of this week’s domestic racing action.
The weekend’s Highveld fixture is headlined by Leg 2 of both the SA Triple Crown and Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara – the Grade 1 SA Classic (Race 7) open to three-year-olds of both sexes and the Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic (Race 6), both over 1800m on the Standside track at the ‘Big T.’
The prestigious HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m (Race 8) completes the Pick 3 of Grade 1 races on a high-quality card.
Unbeaten Vercingetorix filly Spumante Dolce, winner of the 1600m Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas four weeks ago, unsurprisingly takes her place in the Fillies Classic under big-race rider Raymond Danielson for the powerful Mike and Mathew de Kock stable.
She belied her inexperience last time by winning at Grade 2 level in just her third start, and over the extra 200m with added experience under her belt, Spumante Dolce will represent a popular exotic-bet banker for most.
Leg 1 runner-up VJ’s Angel and fourth-placed finisher Fiery Pegasus renew acquaintance with the De Kock filly but are unlikely to turn the tables, given their last-start conqueror has less mileage and more room for improvement.
For Pick 3 purposes, banker Spumante Dolce in Race 6 and Alec Laird-trained Parisian Walkway, winner of the Grade 2 Gauteng Guineas, in Race 7.
Laird’s charge was returning from a short break and making his first appearance as a gelding when winning Leg 1 of the SA Triple Crown under an enterprising start-to-finish ride from Diego de Gouveia, who sticks with the son of Ideal World over stablemate Fire Attack.
The extended 1800m Classic distance is also likely to unlock further improvement from Parisian Walkway, and that expected progress is certainly worth following.
Race 8, the Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m, has attracted a stellar lineup headed by top-rated (thus best-weighted) Main Defender. Tony Peter’s stable star won the 2024 renewal of this race and looks good value to retain his title – over a course and distance which he is undefeated – with top jock Gavin Lerena in the irons.
Clive Robinson
