Final field for Charity Mile
Trainer Sean Tarry has four runners on October 31 Grade 2 Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile over 1 600m at Turffontein, and they could feature prominently in the outcome.
In fact, his runners “top and tail” the weights as Tierra Del Fuego carries top weight of 60kg, with Cornish Pomodoro at the bottom with 52kg. His other two are last year’s Gauteng Summer Cup winner Zillzaal, and filly Victoria Paige.
He also has a string of top jockeys riding his quartet, with Gavin Lerena on Tierra Del Fuego, Aldo Domeyer on Zillzaal, Luke Ferraris aboard Victoria Paige and Lyle Hewitson on Pomodoro.
Justin Snaith leads the group of raiders with Michaelmas Handicap winner Crown Towers. This son of Camelot raced in the Grade 1 Champions Cup over 1 800m at Greyville in August and has to be a strong contender. Grant van Niekerk takes the ride.
Brett Crawford, who like Snaith, operates a yard in KZN from where they are raiding the Highveld. Crawford has Hudoo Magic, who is quoted at 25-1 for Saturday’s race.
Paul Peter has two runners with decent form in Riverstown and Astrix. The former has been priced up joint favourite with Crown Towers at 13-2 and will be ridden by Piere Strydom. Every horse will be running for a charity and it will be a great payday for all 16 charities represented as they will be sharing in a R1-million pool.
The organisation that draws the winning horse will go home with R150 000. The second-placed horse will result in their charity receiving R100 000, R75 000 will be given to the charities represented by the third and fourth-placed horses, and all the other participating charities will receive cheques for R50 000.
To make the day a lot more fun, each charity will be represented by a celebrity. This year eight celebrities will be involved, and each will support two charities.
The celebrities invited are former World Boxing Association junior lightweight champion Brian Mitchell, platinum-selling singer Zahara, jazz and Afro-pop singer Judith Sephuma, actress Itumeleng Bokaba, racing commentator Nico Kritsiotis, radio presenter Rian van Heerden, hilarious sports comedian Shampoonaiza and former Orlando Pirates captain Lucky Lekgwathi.
Brian Mitchell will represent Lesedi Programme, Carpentry and Titans Sky Blues Trust; Zahara has Lesedi Star School – Vosloorus and Lesedi Programme – Electrical; Judith Sephuma has EEP Chambers of Commerce Trust – (Thembisa Print) and Lesedi Programme – Air Conditioning; Lucky Lekgwathi will be with Stars Schools – Springs and Soweto Animal Rescue and Advisory Centre; Itumeleng Bokaba has EP Chambers of Commerce Trust – (Masinga Embroiders) and the Animal Anti-Cruelty League; Rian van Heerden will be supporting the Highveld Horse Care Unit and Lesedi Programme – Plumbing; Shampoonaiza will be entertaining people from Peermont Education Trust and Animal Allies Rescue; while Nico Kritsiotis has Peermont Education Trust and the National Horse Trust.
