The Matchem Stakes-Diana Stakes double feature, run for 20% less stakes than last season, is set to get the Cape Summer Of Champions Season off to a flying start at Durbanville on 5 October.
Top-class African Warrior could line up in the Matchem (Pic – Candiese Marnewick)
Weights were published on Friday for the early summer Gr3 contests run at weight-for-age plus penalties.
The Matchem is in its 61st year and much like the Drill Hall Stakes run on the eve of the SA Champions Season, it can be an awkward pipe-opener for a couple of the big guns.
It was won last year by Rainbow Bridge, and we all know that the big son of Ideal World went on to win the Sun Met and the Champions Cup – as well as chasing Do It Again home in the Vodacom Durban July.
The Jockeys Charity Chase is on the same afternoon – and we hear plenty of additional side-shows to be announced soon.
Supplementary entries are due by 11h0 on Friday 27 September, with declarations closing by 11h00 on Monday 30 September.
Here are the weights:
MATCHEM STAKES (Grade 3)
Open at Weight For Age + Penalties
WFA: 3yrs-7kgs 4yrs-0.5kgs
No Apprentice Allowance
| 2 | Undercover Agent | (5H) | 60 | 130 | A | Brett Crawford | |
| 3 | Head Honcho | (6G) | 59 | 129 | AT | Andre Nel | |
| 15 | One World | (4C) | 58.5 | 127 | A | Vaughan Marshall | |
| 5 | Twist Of Fate | (4C) | 58.5 | 127 | BA | Joey Ramsden | |
| 17 | Tap O’ Noth | (5G) | 57 | 120 | BA | Vaughan Marshall | |
| 18 | Search Party | (7G) | 57 | 115 | A | Brett Crawford | |
| 10 | New Caledonia | (7G) | 57 | 109 | A | Geoff Woodruff | |
| 4 | Star Chestnut | Accepted | (7G) | 57 | 109 | A | Justin Snaith |
| 1 | Bishop’s Bounty | Accepted | (6G) | 57 | 107 | A | Justin Snaith |
| 20 | Fifty Cents | (7G) | 57 | 105 | A | Justin Snaith | |
| 12 | Ready Steady Go | (5G) | 57 | 105 | A | HWJ Crawford/M Rix | |
| 8 | Silva’s Bullet | (5G) | 57 | 101 | A | Dean Kannemeyer | |
| 13 | Photocopy | (5G) | 57 | 95 | A | Paul Reeves | |
| 22 | Meraki (AUS) | (5G) | 57 | 94 | BA | Candice Bass-Robinson | |
| 16 | Orakal | (5G) | 57 | 93 | BAT | Michael Robinson | |
| 9 | Pleasedtomeetyou | (4G) | 56.5 | 112 | A | Andre Nel | |
| 14 | Charles | (4G) | 56.5 | 111 | A | Brett Crawford | |
| 19 | Sacred Arrow | (4G) | 56.5 | 110 | A | Candice Bass-Robinson | |
| 21 | Herodotus | (4G) | 56.5 | 109 | BA M | Glen Kotzen | |
| 11 | The Sultans Bazaar | (4G) | 56.5 | 100 | A | Dean Kannemeyer | |
| 6 | Sugar Girl | (5M) | 54.5 | 108 | A | Dean Kannemeyer | |
| 23 | African Warrior | (3G) | 52 | 112 | A | Dean Kannemeyer | |
| 7 | #Seventh Gear | (3C) | 50 | 94 | A | Dean Kannemeyer | |
| (23) | |||||||
Front And Centre – top rated Diana Stakes entry (Pic -Chase Liebenberg)
DIANA STAKES (Grade 3)
Fillies and Mares at Weight For Age + Penalties
WFA: 3yrs-7kgs 4yrs-0.5kgs
No Apprentice Allowance
| 1 | Front And Centre | (4F) | 59.5 | 122 | A | Brett Crawford | |
| 16 | Santa Clara | (4F) | 58.5 | 122 | A | Candice Bass-Robinson | |
| 6 | Freedom Charter | (5M) | 58 | 114 | A | Candice Bass-Robinson | |
| 17 | Nastergal | (4F) | 57.5 | 103 | A | Candice Bass-Robinson | |
| 10 | Dynamic Diana | Accepted | (5M) | 57 | 110 | A | Justin Snaith |
| 12 | Sugar Girl | (5M) | 57 | 108 | A | Dean Kannemeyer | |
| 13 | Talitha Borealis | (5M) | 57 | 102 | A | Justin Snaith | |
| 2 | Libra | Accepted | (5M) | 57 | 99 | A | Justin Snaith |
| 15 | Intothelimelight (AUS) | (5M) | 57 | 96 | BA | Candice Bass-Robinson | |
| 3 | Helen’s Ideal | (4F) | 56.5 | 109 | BAT | Paul Reeves | |
| 5 | Star Fighter | (4F) | 56.5 | 105 | A | Candice Bass-Robinson | |
| 4 | Shamrock Wind | (4F) | 56.5 | 101 | A | Brett Crawford | |
| 8 | Lesedi La Rona | (4F) | 56.5 | 100 | BAT | Candice Bass-Robinson | |
| 14 | Madonna | (4F) | 56.5 | 99 | A | Justin Snaith | |
| 7 | March Music | (4F) | 56.5 | 97 | BAT | Yvette Bremner | |
| 11 | Secret Depths | (4F) | 56.5 | 89 | A | Michael Robinson | |
| 9 | Sleeping Single (GB) | (4F) | 55.5 | 94 | A | Justin Snaith | |
| (17) | |||||||
