South African horse racing fans are in for a treat next Saturday, March 29, as Turffontein plays host to Day 3 of The Championships—a 12-race card stacked with top-class action. 

A major highlight of the day is the Hong Kong World Pool event, allowing punters to wager into massive international TAB pools while ensuring that local bets do not negatively affect payout values. With a R1 million carryover in the Pick 6, the pool is expected to swell to around R5 million, adding extra excitement for bettors.

Four Grade 1 Races Set to Thrill

The headline event is the R2-million Hong Kong Jockey Club World Pool Premier’s Champions Challenge (2000m), where last year’s winner Royal Victory makes his return. Trained by Nathan Kotzen, the five-year-old gelding has already claimed both the Betway Summer Cup and the Champions Challenge at Turffontein. Muzi Yeni, who guided him to both victories, is back in the saddle.

Adding intrigue to the race is three-year-old Fire Attack, trained by Alec Laird and ridden by Richard Fourie. Carrying just 55.5kg, he enters with a weight advantage and could pose a serious threat. Laird also saddles Betway Summer Cup winner Atticus Finch, with Calvin Habib taking the reins.

The SA Derby (2450m) sees the unbeaten Immediate Edge, trained by Mike and Mathew de Kock, put his flawless record on the line. Jockey Ryan Munger retains the ride as the colt faces his toughest test yet. His main rival could be Parisian Walkway, winner of the Grade 2 Gauteng Guineas, representing the Alec Laird stable.

In the Empress Club Stakes (1600m), the talented filly Spumante Dolce will renew her rivalry with VJ’s Angel, the duo having finished first and second in the Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas. They’ll also have to contend with Cape Fillies Guineas champion Fatal Flaw, trained by Brett and James Crawford.

The Computaform Sprint (1000m) features the experienced William Robertson, who continues to defy age and improve with time. However, Sean Tarry-trained Lucky Lad looms as a formidable challenger. Adding further intrigue, Cruise Control makes the trip from the Eastern Cape and could relish the blistering-fast 1000m trip.

Strong Supporting Card Featuring Four Grade 2 Races

Beyond the Grade 1 contests, the Wilgerbosdrift Bridget Oppenheimer SA Oaks (2450m) will test South Africa’s best three-year-old fillies. The Hawaii Stakes (1400m), SA Nursery (1160m), and SA Fillies Nursery (1160m) round out an action-packed lineup of high-caliber races.

With elite fields, world-class betting pools, and massive prize money on the line, Day 3 of The Championships promises to be one of the most exciting race days of the year at Turffontein. Will Royal Victory defend his title? Can Immediate Edge stay unbeaten? Will a new sprinting star emerge? Racing fans won’t want to miss a second of the action.

PREMIER'S CHAMPIONS CHALLENGE (G1) – R2,000,000 – 2000m

Weight-for-Age | All Horses

1 Royal Victory (N Kotzen) - M Yeni (60.0) [124]

2 Purple Pitcher (R Klaasen) - K Matsunyane (60.0) [123]

3 Atticus Finch (A G Laird) - C Habib (60.0) [121]

4 Son of Raj (A P Peter) - G Lerena (60.0) [119]

5 Imilenzeyokududuma (G van Zyl Jnr) - R Munger (60.0) [114]

6 Hotarubi (S G Tarry) - P Strydom (60.0) [112]

7 Navajo Nation (W H Marwing) - K J Lihaba (60.0) [102]

8 Silver Sanctuary (M/M de Kock) - J P v'd Merwe (57.5) [117]

9 None Other (M N Houdalakis) - C Zackey (57.5) [115]

10 Fire Attack (A G Laird) - R Fourie (55.5) [116]

11 Chestnut Bomber (J J van Vuuren) - S Khumalo (55.5) [104]

Same Trainer: (3,10)

TAB SA DERBY (G1) – R1,250,000 – 2450m

3-Year-Olds

1 Parisian Walkway (A G Laird) - C Habib (60.0) [121]

2 Legend of Arthur (S G Tarry) - R Fourie (60.0) [109]

3 Grey Jet (W C Marwing) - R A Venniker (60.0) [108]

4 Bacchus (F P Habib) - C Zackey (60.0) [101]

5 Don't Cry for Me (S G Tarry) - P Strydom (60.0) [101]

6 Wild Intent (M N Houdalakis) - G Lerena (60.0) [99]

7 Immediate Edge (M/M de Kock) - R Munger (60.0) [94]

8 Towers of Gold (P F Matchett) - P Mxoli (60.0) [93]

9 Zip Code (D Nieuwenhuizen) - C Maujean (60.0) [89]

10 Solar Sail (M Khan) - J Penny (60.0) [86]

11 Casus Belli (P F Matchett) - R Danielson (60.0) [83]

12 Count Huhtikuu (B/J Crawford) - K Matsunyane (60.0) [79]

13 Olivia's Way (R R Magner) - M Yeni (57.5) [112]

Same Trainer: (2,5) (8,11)

EMPRESS CLUB STAKES (G1) – R1,000,000 – 1600m

Fillies & Mares | Weight-for-Age

1 Beating Wings (S T Pettigrew) - R Fourie (60.0) [116]

2 White Pearl (M/M de Kock) - P Strydom (60.0) [114]

3 Let's Go Now (S G Tarry) - C Zackey (60.0) [113]

4 Lady Fallon (M N Houdalakis) - S Khumalo (60.0) [102]

5 Spumante Dolce (M/M de Kock) - R Danielson (57.0) [119]

6 VJ’s Angel (A P Peter) - C Habib (57.0) [119]

7 Fatal Flaw (B/J Crawford) - G Lerena (57.0) [115]

Same Trainer: (2,5)

COMPUTAFORM SPRINT (G1) – R1,000,000 – 1000m

Weight-for-Age

1 William Robertson (C Spies) - R Munger (60.0) [128]

2 Lucky Lad (S G Tarry) - R Fourie (60.0) [125]

3 Melech (R R Magner) - M Yeni (60.0) [119]

4 Cruise Control (G D Smith) - C Zackey (60.0) [118]

5 Mover and Shaker (F P Habib) - S Khumalo (60.0) [112]

6 Golden Sickle (A P Peter) - G Lerena (57.5) [121]

7 Chocolate Soldier (C Spies) - K Matsunyane (57.5) [115]

8 Pistol Pete (A P Peter) - C Habib (57.5) [115]

9 Taxi to the Moon (A P Peter) - A Fortune (57.5) [110]

10 Time Fo Orchids (J J van Vuuren) - S Moodley (57.5) [107]

11 Winds of Change (M/A Azzie) - J P v'd Merwe (57.5) [107]

12 No Filter (M N Prinsloo) - D De Gouveia (57.5) [103]

Same Trainer: (1,7) (6,8,9)

WILGERBOSDRIFT SA OAKS (G2) – R750,000 – 2450m

3-Year-Old Fillies

1 Fiery Pegasus (J A Soma) - R Fourie (60.0) [119]

2 World of Alice (S G Tarry) - C Zackey (60.0) [108]

3 Gerbera (S G Tarry) - R Munger (60.0) [99]

4 Care Forgot (B D Botes) - S Khumalo (60.0) [98]

5 Hat’s Queen (A P Peter) - C Habib (60.0) [96]

6 Todoque (P F Matchett) - R A Venniker (60.0) [92]

7 Cocomelon (S G Tarry) - G Lerena (60.0) [90]

8 Ancient Wisdom (A P Peter) - K Matsunyane (60.0) [88]

9 Fetching Flyer (P F Matchett) - P Mxoli (60.0) [88]

10 The Mightiest (W H Marwing) - K J Lihaba (60.0) [78]

11 Party Punch (P P Labuschagne) - R Danielson (60.0) [77]

Same Trainer: (2,3,7) (5,8) (6,9)

HAWAII STAKES (G2) – R500,000 – 1400m

1 Main Defender (A P Peter) - G Lerena (60.0) [130]

2 Barbaresco (J J van Vuuren) - S Khumalo (58.0) [125]

3 Texas Red (R Klaasen) - K Matsunyane (58.0) [115]

4 Gimmeanotherchance (M/M de Kock) - C Zackey (58.0) [109]

5 Fire 'N Flames (J S Roux) - S Moodley (58.0) [101]

6 Slinky Mapimpi (P/J Vermeulen) - R Danielson (58.0) [97]

7 Cosmic Speed (S G Tarry) - R Fourie (57.0) [120]

8 Busstopinhounslow (G J Maroun) - R Munger (55.0) [104]

9 Gimmefabulous (M/A Azzie) - J P v'd Merwe (52.5) [102]