A bumper feature entry was received on Monday for the 2024 Classic Day, the second raceday of 4Racing’s The Championships Season, a four legged horseracing festival held at Turffontein from 3 February and reaching a climax on Saturday 27 April.
Cosmic Highway – Dean Kannemeyer is considering his options (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
The R1,5 million Gr1 Horse Chestnut Stakes to be run on Saturday 2 March has attracted 21 first entries, including Cosmic Highway from the Dean Kannemeyer yard, Candice Bass-Robinson’s Sugar Mountain, and Justin Snaith’s Cape Town Met third-placer Without Question.
Mrs Bass-Robinson’s Trip Of Fortune became the first Cape raider since Captain America in 2015 to win the R1 million HF Oppenheimer Gr1 Horse Chestnut Stakes in 2023, and we have to go back to Captain America (2015) and then some year to Dean Kannemeyer’s Free My Heart in 2002 to find the 21st century winners who braved the long road from the fairest Cape.
HORSE CHESTNUT STAKES (Grade 1)
| 17 | Anfields Rocket | Grant Maroun | 115 | |
| 6 | At My Command | Brett Crawford | 126 | |
| 19 | Back In Business | Joe Soma | 90 | |
| 15 | Cosmic Highway | Dean Kannemeyer | 117 | |
| 21 | Cousin Casey | Sean Tarry | 123 | |
| 14 | Dave The King | Mike de Kock | 122 | |
| 18 | Feather Boa | Stuart Pettigrew | 114 | |
| 13 | Main Defender | Tony Peter | 121 | |
| 10 | Melech | Roy Magner | 117 | |
| 20 | Mk’s Pride | Tony Peter | 116 | |
| 12 | Mujbar (GB) | Mike de Kock | 105 | |
| 8 | Princess Calla | Sean Tarry | 127 | |
| 3 | Puerto Manzano (ARG) | J A Janse van Vuuren | 125 | |
| 5 | Safe Passage | Mike de Kock | 116 | |
| 1 | Sandringham Summit | David Nieuwenhuizen | 123 | |
| 9 | Son Of Raj | Weiho Marwing | 115 | |
| 4 | Sugar Mountain | Candice Bass-Robinson | 115 | |
| 16 | Texas Red | Robyn Klaasen | 98 | |
| 2 | Unzen | Robbie Sage | 109 | |
| 11 | Winchester Mansion | Brett Crawford | 121 | |
| 7 | Without Question | Justin Snaith | 120 | |
| (21) | ||||
The first legs of the SA Triple Tiara and SA Triple Crown were run on 3 February and both Gimme A Nother and Sandringham Summit are back as likely contenders in the second leg 1800m contests, the Gr1 SA Fillies Classic and Gr1 SA Classic, respectively.
Sandringham Summit is entered in two Gr1’s (Pic – JC Photos)
Interestingly Sandringham Summit, along with arch-rival Main Defender, are the two 3yo’s in the 21 strong Horse Chestnut Stakes entry list.
SA CLASSIC (Grade 1)
| 12 | Barbaresco | J A Janse van Vuuren | 102 | |
| 7 | Gimmeanotherchance | Mike de Kock | 111 | |
| 10 | Guy Gibson | Roy Magner | 105 | |
| 8 | Hotarubi | Sean Tarry | 116 | |
| 3 | Mondial | M G Azzie/A A Azzie | 100 | |
| 9 | Navajo Nation | Robbie Hill | 103 | |
| 2 | Pure Predator | Fanie Bronkhorst | 104 | |
| 1 | Purple Pitcher | Robyn Klaasen | 114 | |
| 11 | Sandringham Summit | David Nieuwenhuizen | 123 | |
| 4 | Silver Sanctuary | Mike de Kock | 116 | |
| 5 | Storm Brasco | Sean Tarry | 104 | |
| 6 | William Iron Arm | Tony Peter | 116 | |
| (12) | ||||
This year, Champions Day on 6 April introduces a world-class premier World Pool event that allows punters worldwide to participate in a unified pool, generating unprecedented liquidity.
The highlight includes a multi-million dollar betting experience and a strategic partnership with the renowned The Hong Kong Jockey Club, celebrated for its extensive and fluid pari-mutuel pools.
SA FILLIES CLASSIC (Grade 1)
| 4 | Bavarian Beauty | Tony Peter | 112 | |
| 3 | Beating Wings | Stuart Pettigrew | 91 | |
| 2 | Champagne Cocktail | Mike de Kock | 104 | |
| 5 | Egyptian Mau | Lucky Houdalakis | 110 | |
| 7 | Gimme A Nother | Mike de Kock | 121 | |
| 6 | Let’s Go Now | Sean Tarry | 111 | |
| 1 | My Soul Mate | Candice Dawson | 115 | |
| 8 | Silver Sanctuary | Mike de Kock | 116 | |
| 9 | Tamil Tigress | Lorenzo Karriem | 87 | |
| (9) | ||||
The highlight of the season is Champions Day 2024, presenting four Grade 1 races and being a World Pool event with worldwide liquidity for the first 10 races, this is set to captivate horseracing enthusiasts globally.
Concluding the season is The Championships Finale, taking place on Saturday, 27 April.
Supplementary entries for the Classic Day features close at 09h00 on Friday 23 February, while declarations are due by 11h00 on Tuesday 27 February.
