Sparkling Water still bubbling a week later

Royal Race Day at Turffontein was postponed for a week due to cats and dogs last weekend, and the entire race card has been transported, as if via a time machine, with remarkably few dropouts.

The major difference is a slightly more cheerful weather forecast, but there is little cause to revisit forecasts for Saturday’s on-turn action.

The field for the Grade 1 headliner, the HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes, is packed with quality. Among the fillies and mares lining up at the 1600m pole are a sprinkling of Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal raiders, adding more intrigue than usual to an event that was originally named after one of the South African turf’s greats and latterly had Benoni’s second-most famous person’s moniker attached.

Trainer Mike de Kock’s four-year-old Sparkling Water is a wonderfully versatile horse. Her biggest triumph to date was in the 2800m Western Cape Stayers (Grade 2) at Kenilworth in late January, but she has also won over 1450m – as recently as last October at Turffontein.

After her Cape Town sojourn, Sparkling Water had a couple of months out of competitive action before stepping out again in the 2000m Colorado King Stakes at the Big T. She probably needed that run, but still put in a good showing in finishing a close third behind smart Second Base.

It is alleged that De Kock might know a thing or two about winning big races at the big city course. With the magic hands of S’Manga Khumalo in assistance, the maestro could steal the thunder from a couple of better-backed opponents.

Those rivals include two erstwhile Cape Town horses recently transplanted to the Highveld: Princess Calla and Zarina. These fillies have matched strides with the very best and carry their connections’ lofty expectations of making a mark on up north.

And there are more runners with talent and form to force their way into consideration. Sprinkles, She’s A Keeper, Mount Laurel, Bold Fortune and Under Your Spell would not be outlandish winners.

Selections

1: 8 Vasilikos, 4 Mercantour, 3 Lebanese Pound, 2 Existentialist

2: 4 Blue Waters, 2 Ashanti Sword, 8 Up The Irish, 7 Trentino

3: Eye Of The Prophet, 2 Climate Control, 5 Good Council, 4 Golden Prospect

4: 1 Quest From Afar, 5 Twice A Miracle, 4 Pretty In Pearls, 2 High Flyby

5: 2 Blonde Act, 1 Jaipur Jewel, 3 Mcebisi, 8 Portfirio

6: 4 Paisley Park, 5 Imperial Master, 1 Golden Pheasant, 3 Green Haze

7: 8 Quiet Rebellion, 4 Un Deux Trois, 2 Opera Glass, 9 Aryaam

8: 4 Sparkling Water, 2 Zarina, 1 Princess Calla, 12 Sprinkles

9: 1 JP Two Thousand, 3 Written In Stone, 5 Icy Night, 2 Tiger In The Sun

10: 1 Permesso Avanti, 3 Picture Perfect, 2 Vegas Hi Rise, 4 Twice As Splendid

Pick 6: 1,4,5 x 1,2 x 1,3,4,5 x 2,4,8,9 x 1,2,4,5,6,11,12 x 1,3,5 (R2016)

PA: 2,3 x 1,5 x 2 x 4,5 x 2,4,8 x 1,2,4 x 1,3 (R144)