Jack Milner
The Joburg summer season kicks off in earnest at Turffontein on Saturday with the running of the Listed Sprint Spree Stakes and the Non-Black Type The Lady’s Stakes, both over 1200m on the Inside track.
Both events have been well supported with 26 entered for the Spring Spree Stakes and 16 for The Ladies Stakes.
To celebrate the arrival of spring there will be a Pick 6 carryover to Saturday’s Turffontein meeting of R1 million with the pool likely to reach R5 million.
Champion trainer Paul Peter has six entries, including Grade 1 Mercury Sprint third-placed Big Burn and Grade 2 Post Merchants champion Val D’Orcia.
Both have drawn well at Nos 7 and 2 respectively but Big Burn has been allocated top weight of 66kg.
Peter has nominated three-time winner Mercury Rising for both races but as she drew wide in the Spring Spree Stakes and pole position in the fillies’ event, the latter looks the better option.
Johan Janse van Vuuren has entered Prince Of Fire, a winner of five of his nine races, as well as Grade 2 Tibouchina Stakes winner Homely Girl, both for the Spring Spree Stakes.
The fields for Saturday’s meeting will be finalised on Tues day.
Entries for the R175,000 Spring Spree Stakes (Listed) over 1200m
7 BIG BURN (P A Peter) 66.0
22 CAPTAIN LANNISTER (A B Fortune) 62.5
20 PRINCE OF FIRE (J J van Vuuren) 62.0
21 WINTER STORIES (P A Peter) 61.5
27 ULTRA MAGNUS (M F De Kock) 61.0
2 VAL D'ORCIA (P A Peter) 60.5
26 BOLD RANSOM (P A Peter) 60.0
13 HOMELY GIRL (J J van Vuuren) 59.0
10 SUPREME QUEST (C Spies) 59.0
14 SHEELA (M/A Azzie) 58.5
5 OUTOFTHEDARKNESS (J J van Vuuren) 58.0
25 MERCURY RISING (P A Peter) 57.5
1 VASEEM (R R Magner) 57.5
23 BON VIVANT (J J van Vuuren) 57.0
19 ROLLWITHTHEPUNCHES (R R Magner) 57.0
24 KAYLA'S CHAMP (F Bronkhorst) 56.5
15 MIND READER (M/A Azzie) 55.5
17 BARD OF AVON (A B Fortune) 55.0
6 MARYAH (P A Peter) 55.0
4 NOBLE STRIKER (C Spies) 54.5
11 TEAM GOLD (R R Magner) 54.0
9 MAY QUEEN (H E Adamson) 52.5
16 CAPTAIN HINDSIGHT (A B Fortune) 52.0
3 GIMME A SHOT (M/A Azzie) 52.0
12 MISS DAISY (B B Ruiters) 52.0
18 SIR MICHAEL (C Dawson) 52.0
8 TWICE AS SPLENDID (G J Maroun) 52.0
Entries for the R150,000 The Lady's Stakes (Non-Black Type) over 1200m
9 SUPREME QUEST (C Spies) 63.0
1 MERCURY RISING (P A Peter) 61.5
8 BON VIVANT (J J van Vuuren) 61.0
13 KAYLA'S CHAMP (F Bronkhorst) 60.5
2 GLITTERING GIRL (P A Peter) 59.5
4 MARYAH (P A Peter) 59.0
3 NAARAH (R R Magner) 59.0
14 FOLLOW ME (S T Pettigrew) 58.0
10 LUCY IN THE SKY (B Webber) 57.0
7 MAY QUEEN (H E Adamson) 56.5
15 MIDNIGHT GEM (P P Labuschagne) 56.0
12 TIME FOR GLORY (W C Marwing) 52.5
16 GREENS (C Dawson) 52.0
5 MISS DAISY (B B Ruiters) 52.0
11 WOKONDA (S G Tarry) 52.0
6 MIGHTY GODDESS (B B Ruiters) 48.5