OFF THE RECORD #116

Champions Day Unpacked

Expert Plays, Smart Bets and the Perfect Punter’s Menu 

We've got you covered with Everything you need for Champions Day 2026

Easter weekend racing reaches a fitting crescendo at Turffontein on Saturday, when Champions Day delivers a 12-race spectacle packed with quality, intrigue and betting opportunities at every turn.

With seven big exotic bets on offer, it promises to be a feast for punters, whether you’re trackside or watching from home. For those unable to make it to the track, the next best seat is the comfort of your own armchair, where the afternoon’s action can be savoured in full.

This is a programme designed to be enjoyed from start to finish, and Off The Record has consulted a few experts for their plays in the exotics, as well as some culinary enthusiasts for guidance on the afternoon’s eats and drinks.

To settle in for the day, it’s worth remembering that alcohol and punting are not the best of friends. Save the wine for later. It’s all too easy to do your bundle early, and a couple of early tequilas or a Jägerbomb can quickly turn a minor setback into a costly chase. Once that happens, your punting day is likely to be over before it has really begun.

We asked 4Racing’s Johnny Geroudis – who faked a return to race-riding on April Fools Day – to tip us a permutation for Jackpot One, that starts with Race 1 at 11:35. 

First of all, remember that early start and do play what looks like a winnable Jackpot. Also, to stay bright, don’t have too many Hot Cross Buns before you study form. Stay focused, have a good coffee and perhaps some fruit before a lethargic Easter nap costs you a Jackpot One win.

Johnny tells us that he is bankering Sean Tarry’s filly Get Up in Race 2, the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Nursery over 1160m. He said: “I spoke to Sean and jockey Ryan Munger about her and got some very encouraging feedback. Ryan reckons it’s race over, and I tend to agree. She’s already a course and distance winner, a smart-looking filly. There is high enthusiasm for her prospects from her connections.”

Here is Johnny G’s Jackpot One perm, for R45:

1/3/6 x 3 x 2/4/6 x 1/2/3/4/7

Above: Buffalo Storm Cody (image: JC Photographics)

An early lunch should also be geared towards maintaining focus and energy. If you’re aiming to have a ‘boepie’  like Johnny G or Piere Strydom, by all means tuck into a rich Linguine Alfredo with extra cream – but don’t be surprised if you’re dozing off before the start of the Jackpot Two at 13:50.

A lighter option is the smarter play: a fresh tossed salad (add scrambled eggs if you’re a Frasier fan), washed down with a sugary Grapetiser to keep the energy levels up. And remember, energy drinks like Red Bull and Monster can raise the heart rate and lead to over-hasty betting decisions.

A light lunch will set you up perfectly for the first Bi-Pot, which kicks off with Race 2 at 12:05. For that, we’ve called in the expertise of speed figure analyst and author, Mark van Deventer.

Mark is building his Bi-Pot around Gimme A Vodka (Race 3, SA Nursery) and said: “Scratchings have decimated this event. Of the four remaining entries, Gimme a Vodka has done best so far from his three starts and shouldn’t miss the first two.”

He is not as confident as Johnny G on Get Up (opening leg), and has added Good Day Sunshine and Griselda to hopefully ‘double up’ early.

Mark’s has at least three runners in the other legs: “Enflame, Poet’s Warrior, Daimyo and Aladdin’s Lamp are established stayers with proven records at this class level, and should get you safely through Leg 3, and One Eye on Vegas Cosmic Speed and distance specialist, Texas Red, should suffice in Leg 4.”

He said about Leg 5: “Double Grand Slam makes her first foray to Jozi’s high altitude, always a query for coastal horses no matter how skillfully prepared and good they are, in the Empress Club Stakes (G1). The mare towers above rivals on her peak performances. Rainbow Lorikeet and Golden Palm are back-ups, should Double Grand Slam fail to handle this Highveld mission.”

He is covering the ‘good thing’ – Buffalo Storm Cody, with defending champ, William Robertson, Truth and Ziyasha, but has recommended two perms – a ‘foundation ticket’  and a ‘skinny ticket’ for those on a budget.

Here are Mark’s two Bi-Pot One perms:

Foundation ticket: (R432)
3/4/5 x 2 x 1/2/3/7 x 1/4/8 x 1/2/9 x 1/3/4/6

Skinny ticket: (R36)
3/4/5 x 2 x 1/3/7 x 1/8 x 1 x 1/4

4Racing’s Gabi Soma is using the KISS principle: Keep It Straight and Simple, for his recommended Place Accumulator perm. It’s easy to agree with him, because it does look fairly easy to catch this one. The bet starts with Race 3 at 12:40. Play for good luck, take it multiple times!

Gabi’s P/A Perm (R24):

2 x 2/7 x 2/8 x 1/2 x 1 x 1 x 8/10/13

Ace KZN tipster Devonne Govender has structured an interesting Pick 6 perm, with no bankers. A carryover of R1-million will boost this pool to around R5-million, and a single upset can make a huge difference in the yield.

The Pick 6 starts in Race 4 at 13:15, and Devonne has gone wide, saying: “Daimyo and Enflame look to be the principal runners. This is a bit more open than it looks hence I’m including a few. Teo Torriatte is an interesting runner at big odds due to the fact that Mbuto has ridden her five times for two wins and two places. She stays well so can go into larger perms.

Devonne agrees more or less with Mark’s sentiments on Races 5 and 6, and also spotted Truth as a good roughie in Race 7, the Computaform Sprint. He said: “Truth was rather unlucky in his last start, after looking at the head-on he had no clear running and could make a strong challenge should the race map out well for him.”

He has added Justin Snaith’s pair of See It Again and Okavango, also Fire Attack and Grand Empire to Leg 5, and goes with only  Curious Girl and Diogenes in the last leg.

Devonne noted: “For what it’s worth, the majority of the Pick 6 Legs were won by middle to wide draws in 2025.”

Here is Devonne’s R1728 Pick 6 perm:

1/2/3/7/9/10 x 1/2/4/8 x 1/2/9 x 1/4/5 x 1/3/5/10 x 10/13

Above: See It Again (image: Bay Media)

Veteran industry man Ray Curling, whose late father Roy was known as “The Godfather” of jockeys in his heyday, believes Jackpot Two (starts Race 5 at 13:50)  can be landed with a perm costing as little as R12. His full selections can be found on www.racevolt.co.za.

Ray rates three-year-old One Eye On Vegas hard to beat in Race 5, the Grade 2 Hawaii Stakes – echoing strong sentiments expressed by Betway Weighted To Win’s Darryl Maree. He suggests including course-and-distance specialist Main Defender and the talented Cosmic Speed for cover.

Double Grand Slam is the obvious horse to beat in Race 6, the Grade 1 TAB Empress Club Stakes, but the talented younger filly Golden Palm signalled a return to top form last time and rates a genuine danger to the champion.

Buffalo Storm Cody is hard to oppose following the scratching of Kingdundee from the Computaform Sprint. “He’s been fearsome since gelding and looks as good as past the post,” said Ray.

Ray expects See It Again to win the Grade 1 Premier’s Challenge, but adds that Grand Empire is a runner with upside. “It’s interesting that Sean Tarry didn’t opt for the easier SA Derby with him. Perhaps he felt Grand Empire wouldn’t see out 2450m – or that he’s good enough to win this Grade 1 against top older horses. Either way, I’m including him.”

Here is Ray’s R12 Jackpot Two Perm:

1/2/8 x 1/9 x 1 x 1/10.

This will be a good time for solid refreshments, and the recommendation is a Grade A piece of fillet steak, cooked medium rare – and served on a ‘plankie’ (wooden board), with salt and pepper. If you’ve come this far, it is perhaps time to pour your first glass of vino. Meerlust Red (on special at Makro) is always a good choice!

Don’t forget to get your second Bi-Pot on before the start of Race 7 at 15:00, and below is Off The Record’s own perm, bankering Buffalo Storm Cody, See It Again and Hazy Dazy (why go against the obvious?) with good cover elsewhere. We are especially keen on See It Again, who was reported to have suffered a clod of turf in his eye when beaten last time, and should ‘murder’ this field!

Off The Record’s Bi-Pot Two Perm: (R144)
 
1 x 1 x 4/5/10/13 x 1 x 1/2/3/5/6/10 x 1/2/4/5/8/9

Above: Hazy Dazy (image: JC Photographics)

On-course presenter Lyall Cooper is on the recovery trail after illness and structured the Jackpot Three perm for us. This bet starts in Race 9 (16:15) with a carryover of R500,000 and should reach R2-million – for a nice late flutter or get-out stakes, this is the bet. Play it, and then delve into some biltong and chips to see out the day in style.

Flanagans have a new flavour, ‘Truffle and Olive Oil’ – apparently cooked by Sean Flanagan himself in an open kettle, and Lays have hit the shops with ‘Buttered Canadian Lobster’, which will go down well with a glass of Sakkie Mouton’s rare ‘Revenge of the Crayfish’, Chenin Blanc, available from the Wine Menu in Johannesburg, but you’ll have to get lucky.

Lyall says he is placing his trust in Hazy Dazy as a banker, and adding enough runners in the other legs to give us a decent chance of  winning:

Here is Lyall’s Jackpot Three Perm (R240)

1/4/5/8/10/13 x 1 x 1/2/3/5/6/8/10/12 x 1/2/3/4/5

Are we all set to go?

Pad up your TAB tote accounts, enter the TAB Champion Punter competition and enjoy this wonderful day’s racing. And remember to stock up on food and beverages before the start of the meeting at 11:35.

Let’s do this thing!