DEO JUVENTE SHOCK IN CHAMPIONS CHALLENGE
Murray wins 3 G1s on the day
Big money was on offer at Turffontein on Saturday and there were some very classy horses on display but probably the highlight of the day was the impressive performance of Mustaaqeem’s demolition of the Grade 1 SA Nursery over 1 200m. This Australian-bred son of Redoute’s Choice sat just off the early pace but shot clear when it mattered most to smash his rivals. Stable companion from the Mike de Kock yard Naafer ran on well from off the pace to be a clear second thereby turning the form around with third placed Wonderwall. Whorly Whorly after setting the early gallop did well to be fourth. This win was the first of three Grade 1 wins on the day for jockey Callan Murray who was also successful on Deo Juvente and Rafeef. The Sean Tarrytrained Champion Legal Eagle was the form pick and the punters darling to take out the biggest feature of the day, the Premier’s Champions Challenge but things did not go according to the script and he was narrowly beaten by Deo Juvente. Anton Marcus aboard Legal Eagle probably expected a stronger gallop to be set by stable companion Stonehenge so sat further back than normal but into the home straight Marcus set his mount alight and darted to the best going on the outside rail. That move proved telling in the closing stages and Legal Eagle hung in badly across the track enabling Nother Russia and Deo Juvente to come at him late and it was Murray and Deo Juvente who got home first. Tarry was also expected to win the Grade 1 Computaform Sprint with both Trip To Heaven and Carry On Alice at the top of the boards. Once again plans went awry as Trip To Heaven was slow away and Carry On Alice tired very late to finish third. Rafeef gave Mike de Kock another Grade 1 winner finishing well to beat Talktothestars. The SA Derby was expected to go the way of Heavenly Blue after his splendid win in The Classic but Al Sahem was given a good ride by Anthony Delpech and proved too strong for Pagoda and Heavenly Blue.