It’s Champions Day at Turffontein Racecourse, Johannesburg on Saturday 4th April and we have a tip for the majority of the 12 races on the card.
Please note that the prices quoted are correct at the time of writing but can change significantly before and on race day.
RACE 1: 11:35 WELCOME TO CHAMPIONS DAY MAIDEN PLATE
This maiden plate over 1400m serves up a pretty low key start to what promises to be aa spectacular day overall. The favourite, One Of Thise Days looks hard to beat and will be priced up accordingly. It could be down to Prosper to chase him home but we will keep our powder dry for more attractive betting opportunities to come.
RACE 2: 12:05 WILGERBOSDRIFT SA FILLIES NURSERY (Grade 2)
A smallish field of 2 year old fillies go to post for the first of the Graded contests. The likely top 3 in the betting, Get Up, Fateful Love and Good Day Sunshine all won on debut and are bidding to remain unbeaten. The argument doesn’t stop there though and the remainder of the runners have the benefit of having a bit more experience.
BET: to follow
RACE 3: 12:40 TAB SA NURSERY (Grade 2)
Another nursery which has unfortunately been reduced to just 4 runners due to scratchings. Gimmie A Vodka is your likely favourite and the betting suggests the main dangers are The Bronx Bull and Kudikaran with Better Never Ends also in the field.
BET: to follow
RACE 4: 13:15 WILGERBOSDRIFT CARADOC GOLD CUP (Listed)
Stamina comes to the fore with the listed Gold Cup over a trip of 2850m and it’s pretty open betting heat. A number of the runners met at this course over a slightly shorter 2400m trip on the 14th March, Daimyo came out best that day though weight turnarounds for this race suggest there will be little between him and Aladdin’s Lamp who was runner up. Enflame was third that day and is improving with experience. Poet’s Warrior has won 4 from 6 at this track and is the class package on his day but has to give weight all round.
BET: to follow
RACE 5: 13:50 TAB HAWAII STAKES (Grade 2)
This Grade 2 over 1400m has attracted some classy sorts and the likely favourite is the only 3 year old in the field, One Eye On Vegas. The top rated (and best weighted) is Main Defender who has been brought back steadily and is now having his third run after a break of almost a year. Others can challenge but preference is for No 3 Cats Pajamas who travels up from KZN representing a yard which knows how to raid. Throw in the services of Richard Fourie in the irons and stall gate 1 to jump from and we could well see a bold bid.
BET: No 3 Cat’s Pajamas to win at odds of around 6/1
RACE 6: 14:25 TAB EMPRESS CLUB STAKES (Grade 1)
The first of the Grade 1 events is the girls over the mile trip and the headline act is Double Grand Slam who represents trainer Justin Snaith. This will be the 5 year old mares first race at Turffontein and that could be worth bearing in mind even though she is well clear of her rivals on ratings Golden Palm from the Eastern Cape won the nursery at this meeting last year and run 3rd and 2nd in her two most recent starts which both came at this track whilst Rainbow Lorikeet was only 0.3 lengths behind Double Grand Slam last time out in Cape Town and also gets her first run in Joburg.
BET: to follow
RACE 7: 15:00 TAB COMPUTAFORM SPRINT (Grade 1)
Assuming no scratchings a field of 17 speedsters will go to post for this Grade 1 sprint and despite the size and quality of the field we have a very warm favourite in the shape of Buffalo Storm Cody who has been trading at odds on. At the time of writing the only other horses at single digit prices were Eastern Cape raider King Dundee and 9 time course winner William Robertson.
BET: to follow
RACE 8: 15:35 HKJC WORLD POOL PREMIER'S CHAMPIONS CHALLENGE (Grade 1)
A gross stake of R2m is available for The Premiers which has attracted 11 entries. See It Again, who won this years MET in Cape Town to crown an excellent season there, is the likely favourite although his colours were subsequently lowered in the Horse Chestnut Stakes at this track in March where he could have settled better. Okavango is also trained by Justin Snaith and Richard Fourie’s mount has drawn 1 whilst two 3 year olds Grand Empire and Trust are very prominent in the betting and the only filly in the race Olivia's Way is more than useful on her day. Fire Attack won this race last year, “edging out” Royal Victory who was defending the title he had won in 2024. The latter generally loves this course and distance but has been temperamental since running a place in the July last year and is now having his first run for a new yard. Trainer Tony Peter is double handed with The Equator and The Ultimate King. Atticus Finch would be a factor if recapturing best form and Madison Valley, who has run very well here in the past, makes the trip up from KZN
BET: to follow
RACE 9: 16:15 TAB SA DERBY (Grade 2)
A healthy size field of 3 year old colts and geldings are joined by the only filly in the race, the Mike de Kock trained Curious Girl, who looks set to go off favourite. Although she won the Oaks Trial the fact she takes on the boys looks significant. Radio Star returns to calmer waters having contested the Grade 1 Classic and of those who ran in the Derby Trial last month the winner Diogenes faces a tougher task at the weights against the likes of Texas Missile, Tommy Shelby and Copper Eagle.
Preference here is for the filly.
BET: Curious Girl to win at around 2/1
RACE 10: 16:50 WILGERBOSDRIFT BRIDGET OPPENHEIMER SA OAKS (Grade 2)
After the Derby the girls line up for the Oaks and we have an odds on favourite in the shape of Hazy Dazy who needs a win here to complete the Triple Tiara. She has yet to race beyond 2000m but has won over that trip easing up suggesting 2450m is within the compass. Charge It has chased the favourite home a couple of times and is very game but there is no obvious reason why she could turn the tables. Littlemissmillion, our selection for a top 3 finish may prove to be the biggest danger
BET: Littlemissmillion to run in the first 3 at around 5/4
RACE 11: 17:25 4RACING MR 84 HANDICAP
The penultimate race is a handicap over 1160m and has a really competitive look to it. Some of these are very closely matched on recent form and that includes our selection Xenophon but this course and distance winner has only had the 10 starts (for 2 wins) and could still have the capacity to be ahead of his current rating.
BET: Xenophon to win at around 9/2
RACE 12: 18:00 CHAMPIONSHIP FINALE 25 APRIL MR 74 APPRENTICE HANDICAP
To follow
BET: to follow