Saturday is ‘Champions Day’ in South Africa, with the running of three Gr-I’s and five Gr-II’s, including all ages and distances.  The list is composed of the Gr-I’s SA Derby (3yo, 2450m), Gommagomma Challenge (3yo+, 2000m) and Computaform Sprint (3yo+, 1000m), followed by the Gr-II’s Gold Bowl (3yo+, 3200m), SA Oaks (3yo, f, 2450m), SA Nursery (2yo, 1160m), SA Fillies Nursery (2yo, f, 1160m) and Camellia Stakes (3yo+, f&m, 1160m), all run at the Turffontein racecourse.

Most of the local top 3yo’s will square off in the SA Derby, led by Gr-I SA Classic winner King’s Gambit alongside Dingaans winner Lion’s Blood, second in the SA Classic, Senor Versace, winner of the Nijinsky Derby Trial, and stakes winner Causation.

Front running Pick Six, the defending race winner, leads the field in the Gommagomma Challenge, South Africa’s richest race.  Up to challenge him is the upset winner of the recent Colorado King Stakes, Bound by Honor and placegetter Like it Hot, both getting 5lbs, plus the top two  finishers of the Gr-I Horse Chestnut Stakes, Our Giant and Emperor Napoleon, and top mare Stratos, who has been dominant over her sex this year, going 3-3.

Defending race winner Mythical Flight, rated by many the top sprinter in SA, looks like the one to beat, but he will be hard pressed by 3yo J J The Jet Plane, last out winner of the Gr-III Man O’ War Stakes, and Seventh Rock, winner of the Gr 3 Tommy Hotspur Handicap and where he defeated a numbers of his sprint rivals, both of which will get a 5lb break.

The top two finishers in last year's 2-mile marathon, the Gold Bowl, are set to square off as Long Dollar and Pacific Warrior seek to duplicate that event's photo finish.  But both will need to watch out for Prince Asad, although the high weight will be a big factor against, and Membrado.

Leading the field in the SA Oaks will be undefeated Front of House, promising Garota De Ipanema, Jasmine Oaks Trial winner Moon Storm and SA Fillies Classic winner Urabamba, along with that race’s second place finisher Happy Spirit.

Warm White Night, winner of his only race when easily dispatching his rivals in the Protea Stakes, is the headliner in the SA Nursery, while undefeated Merlene de Lago is the one to beat in the Fillies Nursery, most recently easily taking the Gr-III Group Three Pretty Polly Stakes.  And in the final event is Gr-II Camellia Stakes (3yo+, f&m, 1160m), where Gr-I winner Ethereal Lady is the top choice.

Action down under was kicked with a surprise with Sidereus winning the Pago Pago Stakes and earning a trip to the Golden Slipper...

Portillo wins the Magic Night by nipping favorite Sugar Babe right at the wire. Both earned Golden Slipper spots...

Trick of Light wins the Queen of the South over Bellini Rose...

1000 Guineas winner Serious Speed (red) brings home the Hobartville, defeated a tough field of 3yos.  Favorites Triple Honour and Megatic dissapointed and where off the board...

Dealer Principal wins the Rosehill Guineas.  Largo Lad was the top kiwi invader finisher when he crossed the line 4th, while favorite Guillotine was way back...

The Chieftain pulls of a Manion Cup upset in a tight finish, the next leg of the Australian Stayers Challenge, and succesfully defending his race title from last year. Being a Listed race, neither Young Centaur (third) nor Lacey Underall (off the board) garnered any series points.

All Silent takes the Ajax Stakes...

Zarita leaves no doubt she is the best 3yo filly in the country when she scores her fourth straight stakes win in the SA Derby, beating the colts this time...

And Shadoways pulls off a stunner in The Goodwood. All the big name favorites where off the board...

Meanwhile, down in NZ, Pasta Post bounces back from his dismal last outing to defeat a cast of top older horses in the Easter Handicap. Putting in a furious finishing kick, Pasta out fought Sterling Prince as they neared the wire for his eight career win in 10 starts.  Sir Slick was not a factor at any point and finished 12th..

details and images to come...

(images courtesy of sportpix.com.au, racing and sports and nzpa)

A group of some of NZ’s best older horses will line up Saturday in the Gr-I Easter Handicap (3yo+, 1600m). 

The cast is led by the venerable Sir Slick, perhaps the country’s top horse.  The multiple Gr-I winner will be making his 74th career start.  But the task will be anything but easy, as he will be yielding 5 to 20 lbs to the rest of the field, starting with fellow Gr-I winners Spin Around and Special Mission, as well as multiple stakes winners Pasta Post,looking to bounce back from his dismal last start, Ginga Dude, and improving miler Penitentiary.

Eight major stakes and one key listed race are on tap in Australia this weekend...

...starting with the Gr-II Hobartville Stakes (3yo, 1400m), featuring a clash between Triple Honour, last out losing to Weekend Hussler in a photo finish, WA Guineas Megatic, 5 out of 7 lifetime, and 2000 Guineas winner Serious Speed.

A group of invading New Zealanders clash against the locals in the Gr-I Rosehill Guineas (3yo, 2000m).  The kiwi clan features Gr-I winner Mission Critical, and stakes winners Nom Du Jeu, Red Ruler and Largo Lad. Opposing them will be promising Guillotine, Pillar of Hercules and Marching.

The Gr-I SA Derby odds-on favorite is also the country’s top 3yo filly, the outstanding Zarita, coming off her Australasian Oaks win.  Her main rival will likely be Chairmans Stakes winner Zagreb.

The third Gr-I one of the day will the The Goodwood (3yo+, 1200m), where a group of top sprinter will clash, including Carlyon Cup winner Publishing, Hoysted Handicap winner Immortality, Carlyon Stakes and last year’s winner Let Go Thommo, and Recycling Stakes winner Here De Angels.

The Gr-II Magic Night Stakes (2yo, f, 1200m) will feature talented filly Sugar Babe squaring off against prominsing Samantha Miss and Glowlamp. The top two finishers will earn a berth in the Gr-I Golden Slipper.

Two more spots in the Golden Slipper will be up for grabs in the Gr-II Pago Pago Stakes (2yo, 1200m), where unraced Sweet Science, Over the Wicket, off a pair of close seconds, among others are getting a close look.

The Gr-II Queen of the South Stakes (3yo+, f&m, 1600m) appears to be coming down to the trio to Autumn Jeuney, Bellini Rose and Princess Marizza.

Then there is the Gr-II Ajax Stakes (3yo+, 1500m) where the close-but-no-cigar Rubiscent is worth keeping and eye on, as well as Falaise, German Chocolate and Friday Creek.

Finally, we wrap up with the listed Manion Cup (3yo+, 2400m), the next leg in the Australian Stayers Challenge.  Wellington Cup winner Young Centaur, tied for second in the series standings and Adelaide Cup winner Lacey Underall, tied for fourth, lead the field, but watch out for the lightly raced Moreton Bay, who is coming in off back to back wins.