The SA Derby (Gr1); the SA Oaks (Gr2) and the Horse Chestnut Stakes (Gr1) are scheduled to be run at Turffontein on Saturday 2 May and in anticipation of the big day, the Gold Circle team reached out to some of the Highveld trainers.
MIKE DE KOCK:
The Grade 1 winners Hawwaam, Soqrat and Queen Supreme are all fit, doing very well and raring to go. The trio will line-up in the Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m but 11 days out Mike was hesitant to venture a preference at this stage.
"They are all in a good space and each will be competitive, but there's a way to go yet," added Mike.
Following the Horse Chestnut Stakes, Hawwaam and Sograt will head for the President's Champions Challenge over 2000m on 30 May while Queen Supreme's mission will be the 1600m Empress Club Stakes on the same day.
When asked about Barahin, Mike replied "He is only in light work having been injured and gelded. We should see him later in the Season."
The undefeated 2yo Alibi Guy has not been seen as a 3yo but is taking aim at the Derby. "He was sidelined with an injury so we took the opportunity to geld him. Clearly winning a stamina sapping race like the Derby first up after a lengthy absence from racing action is a real challenge but he has the class and has been in full work for quite a while now."
Alibi Guy was last seen on Gold Cup day in July 2019 when winning a Juvenile Plate over 1900m, beating subsequent Dingaans winner Shango and these two are likely to renew rivalry in the Derby.
Alibi Guy is from the first SA crop of Flower Alley who sired the 2012 Kentucky Derby winner, I'll Have Another.
Mike is thin on the ground when it comes to the Oaks. Unfortunately Oaks Trial winner Fayrooz is out with an injury and the De Kock hopes rest with Pomander. She ran last in the Oaks Trial but was found to be coughing badly after the race and the run is best ignored. "She is much better than that and is a true stayer but it will be tough for anyone to beat the Paul Peter-trained Summer Pudding."
STABLE NEWS from Graeme Hawkins - PAUL PETER
With the 3rd leg of the Triple Tiara, the Gr2 SA Oaks, due to be run on over 2450m at Turffontein on Saturday 2 May, the question on everyone's lips is whether undefeated Summer Pudding is ready to lift the Crown.
"She is doing exceptionally well, both on and off the track," says trainer Paul Peter. "Her work is really good and she's eating up a storm. In fact, in my view, Summer Pudding has never been better," added Peter.
"I have no doubts about Summer Pudding staying the trip and I fully expect her to win," he concluded.
As far as the Derby is concerned, Paul is fairly bullish about the chances of Western Fort. The son of Elusive Fort, himself a former winner of the SA Derby, has won 2 of his 5 starts to date and is still maturing and improving.
"He had no luck in the Classic, finishing a little more than 5 lengths off Gotthegreenlight," explains Peter.
"He was very badly drawn that day and Warren (Kennedy) just could not get a position. Under the circumstances it was a fair effort and, given his progress since, I expect him to make his presence felt in the Derby," said Peter.
The stable will most likely run both Vistula and the useful 3yo Astrix in the Horse Chestnut Stakes but Peter concedes they face an uphill battle against the established stars at WFA terms.
Astrix, by the exciting new boy on the block Vercingetorix, has won 3 of his 10 starts, ran 4th in the Guineas and more recently 2nd to Al Mutawakel at level weights - both very decent efforts.
TABLE NEWS by Graeme Hawkins: SEAN TARRY
Sean Tarry chats to us about his arsenal for the Horse Chestnut Stakes (Gr1), the SA Derby (Gr1) and the SA Oaks (Gr2) at Turffontein on Saturday 2 May.
CIRILLO and TIERRA DEL FUEGO are the stables' leading lights for the 1600m Horse Chestnut and Sean reports that both are in very good shape and there will be no excuses from a fitness point of view.
Cirillo made a slow start to his 4yo campaign but bounced back to easily win the recent Gr 2 Hawaii Stakes, with Tierra Del Fuego finishing a distant second.
On that form Cirillo, who was runner-up in last year's Horse Chestnut under a length behind Sograt, should again have the edge over his stable companion.
The talented Guineas winner Ikigai has the WSB Guineas at Hollywoodbets Greyville at the end of May as his main target but Sean revealed he may well start in the Horse Chestnut. If he does, we will get an opportunity to guage the current 3yo crop against the older generation.
The Dingaans winner, SHANGO, will head the Tarry charge for Derby glory. "He ran a close second to the unbeaten Alibi Guy over 1900m at the back end of his 2yo campaign. He hit the line hard that day which gives us hope he will stay the Derby trip," said Tarry. "But I guess only the race itself will confirm that," he added.
CORNISH POMODORO and NEBRAAS have also been pencilled in for a crack at the Derby. Both are largely unexposed lightly raced 3yo's but Cornish Pomodoro finished 2nd behind Green Laser in the 1800m Sea Cottage Stakes while Nebraas was runner-up in the Derby Trial at his last start. The latter has a very interesting pedigree being by Vercingetorix out of a daughter of Archipenko, who won the QE 11 Cup at Shatin for Mike de Kock.
"Cornish Pomodoro and Nebraas are both well above average with plenty of scope and the Derby distance should not be a problem for either of them," said Tarry.
Sean has two fillies bound for the SA Oaks. KEEP SMILING, by Flower Alley, has only won once from 12 starts but Sean was quick to remind us that she was a close second at level weights behind Summer Pudding in the Gr3 Fillies Mile back in November. "She has very good form and boasts a nice Oaks pedigree. I expect her to be competitive," said Tarry.
VICTORIA PAIGE is an interesting Oaks prospect. "She is by Captain Al but there is plenty of stamina on her dam's side. She gives us the impression she will stay and class is on her side," suggested Tarry.
"Unfortunately Victoria Paige was sidelined for the Fillies Classic due to a high temperature - a great pity as I really fancied her to give Summer Pudding a proper run for her money. She was beaten less than a length by Paul Peter's charge in the Fillies Guineas and I have always held Victoria Paige in high regard," he concluded.
So what of Al Mutawakel? "He could possibly run in the Presidents Champions Challenge at the end of May but my preference may be to head straight to Durban with him," responded Sean.
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