A day of unexpected upsets unfolded at Turffontein Racecourse, as Classic Day—run on good-to-soft ground—delivered high drama. After weeks of interrupted training, the tradional Classic Day in saw numerous high profiles runners disappoint and other scratched both on the day and prior. 

Jockey Craig Zackey emerged as the standout performer, securing back-to-back Grade 1 victories in the SA Classic and the Wilgerbosdrift H F Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes.

Confederate's Stunning 9/1 Victory in SA Classic

Zackey’s first triumph came aboard Confederate, who produced a bold front-running display to win the TAB SA Classic (Grade 1, 1800m). The 9/1 upset shattered the Triple Crown dreams of Parisian Walkway, the Guineas champion, leaving South Africa without a Triple Crown winner since Malmoos (2021). The field lacked depth outside of the Alec Laird-trained runners, making Confederate’s performance stand out even more.

Cosmic Speed Wins Horse Chestnut Stakes, but Future Recognition in Doubt

Zackey's Grade 1 double was sealed with Cosmic Speed’s victory in the Wilgerbosdrift H F Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes (Grade 1, 1600m). Recently ranked among the world’s top 100 Group 1 races, the Horse Chestnut Stakes was the only South African race to receive this honor in 2024. However, its future on that prestigious list is now uncertain due to a weakened field and the scratching of the highly rated Main Defender, who finished unplaced but was later declared a non-runner due to an issue with leaving the stalls. 

Fiery Pegasus Stuns in SA Fillies Classic

Another highlight came in the Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic (Grade 1, 1800m), where Fiery Pegasus, under Richard Fourie, ended Spumante Dolce’s Triple Tiara bid. Last won by Rain In Holland (2022), the Triple Tiara remains elusive once again. However, the way Fiery Pegasus won was unexpected, as she delivered a performance unlike anything seen in her past formlines, leaving many surprised by her dominant finishing effort.

Munger’s Perfect Timing in JJ The Jet Plane Stakes

The TAB JJ The Jet Plane Stakes (Grade 3, 1000m) wrapped up the day’s feature events with Canadian based Ryan Munger producing a perfectly timed ride aboard William Robertson. The speedster stormed through late, securing an electrifying victory in a thrilling sprint showdown. The soft underfoot conditions helped him revel in the heavier conditions as opposed to his quicker firmer surfaced rivals. 

Results from Classic Day play a crucial role in the Highveld Feature Season Awards, which will take place on May 17, 2025, at Turffontein. The Championships 2025 season continues with:

Day 3: World Pool Champions Day – March 29

Day 4: The Championships Finale – April 26

Image 4Racing/JC Photos