The East Cape Sophomore Challenge 2020 will kick off at Fairview on Friday 28 February and will carry prize money of R900 000.
It is open to three-year-olds with a purse of R650,000 for the three races and a further R250,000 will go to the winning connections of any horse who can win all three legs.
Cape raider Chestnut Rocket seen winning the Ibhayi Stakes in 2014
All three are Listed races and will be run on the turf track.
- Leg 1 is the R150 000 Ibhayi Stakes over 1400m at Fairview and will be run on Friday, 28 February.
- Leg 2 is also worth R150 000 and is the East Cape Guineas over 1600m and that will be run on Friday, 27 March.
- Leg 3 is the R350 000 World Sports Betting East Cape Derby over 2400m, run at Fairview on Saturday, 16 May.
If ownership of the winning horse changes across the series, the bonus will be shared proportionately among the owners. Of that R250 000 bonus, 5% will be paid to the winning trainer, 5% to the winning jockey and 0.5% to the winning groom.
Horses who participate in both the first and second legs of the Eastern Cape Sophomore Challenge will not be subject to the payment of entry and declaration fees in the third leg, the East Cape Derby.
Should a horse win all three races, a prestigious trophy will be given to the owner in further recognition of this magnificent achievement. Miniatures will also be presented to the successful trainer, jockey and breeder.
With all the money of on offer it will not be surprising to see interest in this event from trainers all over the country.
