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.