Charity Turf suggestions

David Thiselton

Turffontein’s rich racemeeting last Saturday and Clairwood’s Sunday meeting provided some final clues to the exciting Champions Season competition, the Charity Turf Challenge, for which the deadline for entries is on Saturday.

The best performance on the day at Turffontein could have come from the Mike de Kock-trained Welwitschia (Oasis Dream).

Anthony Delpech said at the beginning of the season that he believed it would be a filly’s season for the de Kock yard and, among others, he was really looking forward to riding Welwitschia.

However, she was disappointing until proving on Saturday that sprinting is her game.

She came from last in the Gr 2 Camelia Stakes over 1160m and passed the field as if they were standing still.

She was one of the few winners on the day that came down the centre of the track as the going clearly appeared to be superior on the outside.

The SA Derby dead-heaters Pomodoro (Jet Master) and Royal Bencher (Grey’s Inn) also put their hands up.

Pomodoro impressed with his relaxed gait during the running, his turn of foot and his resolve in coming back when looking beaten and is the preferred one of the two for CTC puposes.

Gavin Lerena was forced to go early on him when caught behind a horse that was going nowhere and Pomodoro was another of the few on the day that won going down the apparently inferior going in the centre.

He has a chance in the Gr.1 Vodacom Durban July, although Sean Tarry said a week or two ago that he might avoid Jackson before that, so the Gr.1 Daily News 2000 might not be on his program.

Royal Bencher also put himself into the Champions Season picture, although he still has to prove he can turn it on quickly in a less testing race the way Pomodoro did in the Gr.1 SA Classic over 1800m.

Ilha Bela (Fort Wood) later stamped herself as a July possible with a scintillating victory in the Gr.1 SA Oaks and she has clearly improved, while de Kock’s words that “she was a big runner in the July” were ominous.

The Gr.1 Woolavington 2000 is going to be a humdinger with Ilha Bela, SA Fillies Classic winner Bambina Stripes (Equal Stripes) and Paddock Stakes winner Thunder Dance (Jet Master) involved and all three should be definite considerations for the CTC.

Europa Point’s (Rock Of Gibraltar) Gr.1 President’s Champion’s Challenge win can’t go down as a world beating performance due to the proximity of three big July outsiders, but, as they say, you can only win.

She has won six in a row and it will be interesting to see if she can make another step up as she will need to in races like the Rising Sun Gold Challenge and the July.

Sage Throne (Dynasty) ran a cracker in the Challenge and the further the better for him so he will have a chance in the Gr.1 Ladbrokes Gold Cup, although he is clearly suited to a more galloping track than Greyville.

Gorongosa (Montjeu) and Shea Shea (National Emblem) stamped themselves during the day as specialist stayer and sprinter candidates respectively.

Princess Victoria (Victory Moon) was not fully wound up for her Champions Season pipe opener in the Gr.3 Poinsettia Stakes over 1200m on Sunday at Clairwood.

However, she still overcame a tough inside draw with ease by using her tremendous speed and from then on never looked in danger of defeat.

Her renowned cruising speed and turn of foot will be even better when at her peak.

A week ago she appeared to have the Gr.1 SA Fillies Sprint at Scottsville on May 26 at her mercy but that’s changed for not only has Welwitschia showed her class, but the brilliant Justin Snaith-trained Ebony Flyer (Jet Master) is now also likely to take part.

Ebony Flyer has recently had a very successful second wind operation and her breathing is much better, so it is exciting to think what she could achieve having won the Gr.1 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes before the operation.

Princess Victoria, Ebony Flyer and Welwitschia should all be considered for the CTC, especially the former pair, for being effective up to a mile or more will give them plenty of opportunities.

Beach Beauty’s (Dynasty) flying second to Princess Victoria over a too sharp trip on Sunday put her in good stead for the Champions Season in which the Vodacom Durban July will be her ultimate target and as a horse that loves Greyville she should be a strong consideration for the CTC.

Last week Taipan (Dynasty) ran a fantastic preparation race behind Polar Bound (Western Winter) at Greyville and Tajmeel impressed with her winning preparation for the KRA Fillies Guineas.

Polar Bound looks ideally suited to Greyville and is one to consider for the CTC as he could win a race like the Gr.2 Betting World Greyville 1900 and might be well weighted in the July.

Dean Kannemeyer said Taipan would have to rely on the Daily News 2000 on June 2 or the Gr.2 Betting World Gold Circle Derby over 2400m on June 24 to qualify Taipan for the July.

He added that he was very pleased with that last run and with the wellbeing of all of his horses including Divine Jet (Jet Master), who could be a big threat in a race like the Mercury Sprint if he fails to see out a mile in Saturday’s Gr.1 KRA Guineas.

In conclusion, the top 21 horses for this year’s Charity Turf Challenge, in no particular order, could be, Variety Club (Var), Taipan, Jackson (Dynasty), Pomodoro, Thunder Dance, Polar Bound, Bambina Stripes, Princess Victoria, Beach Beauty, Ebony Flyer, Welwitschia, Gorongosa, Shea Shea, Antious (Pure Prize), Divine Jet (Jet Master), Political Playboy (Dehere), Tajmeel (Nadeem), Ilha Bela, Blake (Dynasty) and Castlethorpe (Not A Single Doubt), but there are a few looking in including Gimmethegreenlight (More Than Ready), Europa Point and What A Winter (Western Winter) as well as Brooks-Club (Strike Smartly) and E-Jet (Jet Master) who could be lively contenders in the Betting World Gold Circle Derby and other races.