Tarry enters nine runners in R1-million Charity Mile

FRENCH Navy is one of nine runners from the stable of champion trainer Sean Tarry entered to run in the R1-million Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile over 1 600m at Turffontein on Saturday, November 4.

The two-time Grade 1 race winner had his merit rating up as high as 115 but over the past few months it has dropped to 108 which makes him competitive once again. He has also been nominated for the Grade 1 Sansui Summer Cup over 2 000m on Saturday, October 25 and this could be a warm-up for the R2-million race.

The other Tarry-trained runners are Matador Man, Finchatton, Tilbury Fort, Tahini, Samurai Blade, Count Tassilo, Donny G and Social Order.

With 35 horses having been nominated, French Navy’s No 12 draw looks decent as he is likely to come in to No 5 or 6.

Johan Janse van Vuuren has entered six horses, including Brazuca and New Predator.

He will no doubt be delighted that last year’s winner, new Predator is beautifully drawn at No 5 but Brazuca was landed up with No 27. However, good news for the yard is that filly She’s A Giver was drawn No 4.

Mike de Kock has entered four horses including a new stable inclusion in Secret Captain who was previously with Duncan Howells in KwaZulu-Natal. Sadly for the connections the grey gelding, a half-brother to Bela-Bela, drew No 32.

De Kock has also entered Kilrain, who suffered massive interference on Saturday at Turffontein, Al Fahad and Elevated.

Mike and Adam Azzie has nominated Argentinian-bred Hat Puntano, who had great form in his home country but has yet to produce it in South Africa, and Arctica.

The Charity Mile is more than just a horse race. Celebrities will team up with 16 charities who will share in R1 million, the value of which is determined by the outcome of the race. Each horse is represented by a celebrity and a charity.

The charity who draws the winning horse gets R150 000 and the joy, excitement and tears of the representatives of the winning charity are the most touching moments in horseracing annually. No charity goes home empty handed, with the last placed charity getting R20 000.

Supplementary entries close at 1100 on Friday with declarations by 1100 on Tuesday, October 24.

The final fields will be embargoed and will be announced at an event on Wednesday, October 25 at a venue and time to be announced.