De Kock v Bremner

TRAINER Mike de Kock as brought out the heavy artillery in his goal to win the R2-million SA Classic. This Grade 1 race, over 1 800m, will be run on the Turffontein Standside track on Saturday, March 2.

This race forms the second leg of the SA Triple Crown with only National Park having the chance to claim the R2-million bonus for winning the Gauteng Guineas, the SA Classic and the SA Derby.

The Port Elizabeth-based son of Gimmethegreenlight, trained by Yvette Bremner, won the Guineas and is also among the entries for the SA Classic.

All three runner De Kock ran in the Gauteng Guineas – Hawwaam (2nd), Barahin (3rd) and Alyaasaat (9th) – have been entered, as well as Grade 1 Cape Guineas winner and L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate runner-up Soqrat.

Only 11 runners have been nominated so at least the barrier positions will not be as relevant as they were in the Guineas, where National Park was drawn No 1 with Hawwaam at No 11 and Barahin at No 15.

This time Barahin has a plum No 2 draw with Hawwaam at No 7, while Soqrat is drawn No 2. National Park is drawn at No 9.

Sean Tarry has two improving young horses in the line-up in the form of Vontreo and Zillzaal.

Also run on the same day over the identical distance is the R1,25-million Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic (Grade 1) which is the second leg of the Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara. Fillies Guineas winner Nafaayes is among the entries and the De Kock stable will be delighted she has landed No 1 draw. However, even if she wins this event, De Kock feels she in unlikely to stay 2 450m in the SA Oaks.

Fillies Guineas runnerup Running Brave has also been entered along with the fourth, fifth and sixthplaced runners, Ronnie’s Candy, Chitengo and Dagmar respectively.

Supplementary Entries close at 1100 on Friday with declarations by 1100 on Monday. - Phumelela

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