Champions Day at Turffontein on Saturday 29 March features four Grade 1 and four Grade 2 events, as well as a Listed contest, on a bumper 12-race card billed as the betting bonanza of the year.
The Standside fixture includes three Jackpot opportunities, two BiPot bets and a carryover Pick 6 megapool not to be missed.
In addition, Races 6 to 11 which includes all four Grade 1 events as well as the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks and Hawaii Stakes.
Champion jockey Richard Fourie is in rampant form and riding at the top of his game, which has seen him usurp Gavin Lerena in second spot on the national jockeys’ standings which is currently led by Craig Zackey.
However, as the cream usually rises to the top – especially on the big days – it should pay handsome dividends to follow the country’s record-breaking champion jockey whose nine rides at the meeting include good winning chances in two of the Grade 1s, and in two Grade 2s aboard last-start Grade 1 scorers.
Fourie’s hopes of top-level success come on Sean Tarry-trained runners Lucky Lad in the 1000m Computaform Sprint (Race 7) and in the SA Derby (Race 9) over 2450m.
The former, a multiple Grade 1 winner over 1200m, has just his second crack at the shorter trip for last year’s winning jockey-trainer combination and it would not come as much of a surprise to see this Gimmethegreenlight colt emerge victorious at generous each-way odds.
Stablemate Legend Of Arthur placed in both the Grade 2 Gauteng Guineas (Leg 1) and Grade 1 SA Classic (Leg 2) so he wouldn’t be winning out of turn. On the evidence of his fast-finishing displays over the shorter distances, the step up to 2450m in the SA Derby should eke out improvement from this Lancaster Bomber three-year-old who Fourie knows well.
Grade 1 Fillies Classic winner Fiery Pegasus steps up to 2450m in the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks (Race 10) after an emphatic last-start success over 1800m. Joe Soma’s charge need not improve much – if at all, really – over the extra 650m to add a Grade 2 success to her résumé. Fourie partnered this Captain Of All filly to top-level glory last time and, unsurprisingly, retains the partnership.
He and Tarry team up again in Race 11, the Grade 2 Hawaii Stakes, with recent Grade 1 Horse Chestnut Stakes champion Cosmic Speed. This three-year-old Querari gelding raised his game to score at the highest level and with further progress on the cards, is good value to follow up
In the Grade 1 Premiers Champions Challenge (Race 8), defending champion Royal Victory seems primed to make a successful defence of his title under regular rider Muzi Yeni and KwaZulu-Natal-based trainer Nathan Kotzen.
The Grade 1 Empress Club Stakes has attracted a small but quality lineup and it could be worth siding with Fatal Flaw, who Gavin Lerena rides for Brett and James Crawford.
Clive Robinson
