2-Million-Rand SA Classic Field announced

The Triple Crown and Triple Tiara are still on the line as the winners of the respective first legs, Abashiri and Heaps Of Fun, have stood their ground for the respective second legs which take place on Saturday, April 2, at Turffontein.

Strong fields for both the Grade 1 R2-million SA Classic and the Grade 1 R1-million Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic, both over 1 800m, were announced.

Abashiri will likely start hot favourite for the SA Classic. The long-striding Mike Azzie-trained chestnut will much prefer this trip to the 1 600m of the Grade 2 Betting World Gauteng Guineas, which he won comfortably after jockey Karl Zechner had set him alight early in the straight. Furthermore, he has landed a plum draw of four.

Champagne Haze ran on strongly from well back for a 2,5-length second in the Gauteng Guineas. He is now drawn in pole position. Of great interest is that Gavin Lerena, currently riding in Hong Kong, has been booked to ride him in place of the injured Gary Alexander stable jockey Andrew Fortune.

The Sean Tarry-trained Malak El Moolook ran a cracker for third in the Gauteng Guineas, but ran well below par over 1 800m last weekend, strengthening the sentiment he might not have the necessary stamina capacity for this trip.

Brazuca finished fourth in the Gauteng Guineas in his first run after returning from the Cape. His runner-up finishes in both the Grade 1 Grand Parade Cape Guineas and Grade 1 Investec Cape Derby over 2 000m suggest he will enjoy this trip. He has class, and Anton ‘Superman’ Marcus will help him overcome a wide draw.

Liege is a most interesting runner. He could only manage seventh in the Gauteng Guineas but earlier ran a close third in the Grade 3 Politician Stakes at Kenilworth, and last time out annihilated a strong Graduation Plate field over this distance last weekend. JP van der Merwe rides from draw six.

Sean Tarry’s stable jockey S’manga Khumalo sticks with Lunar Approach, who will have to overcome a 16,75 length beating in the Gauteng Guineas.

Another Tarry-trained contender, Samurai Blade looks progressive and has a touch of class, so could be a dark horse from a plum draw.

The Ormond Ferraris-trained Romany Prince, a staying on sixth in the Gauteng Guineas, won the Listed Storm Bird Stakes last time out to prove he loves this trip. He is drawn well with Anthony Delpech up.

Suyoof was fancied in the Gauteng Guineas, but only managed eighth from draw 16 and now doesn’t have a much better draw of 12. However, he was asked to do a lot early in the Guineas and could do better if ridden more conservatively. Sherman Brown is now aboard.

Rocketball was also inconvenienced by a wide draw in the Gauteng Guineas and doesn’t have it any better here, but he has done well over this trip before.

Muwaary ran ninth in the Gauteng Guineas when returning from a three-month layoff. This classy sort is an interesting runner as he should be more forward and looks likely to love the trip.

Trading Profit is another dark horse, having finished third to Abashiri in a Graduation Plate field and then causing a massive upset when comfortably beating a top-class field over this 1 800m course and distance in a Pinnacle Stakes event on Guineas day.

Abashiri’s stablemate, Le Clos looks a sort who would prefer the tighter inside track.

Val Et Al is the third of the dark horses, especially as he comes from the Geoff Woodruff yard. The form of his 3,25 length victory over 1 600m last time out looks strong, but he does have a tricky draw of 10.

Abashiri will land a R2-million bonus for his connections if winning both the SA Classic and the SA Derby over 2 450m to complete the Triple Crown.