Easter weekend racing is headlined by a blockbuster Champions Day meeting at Turffontein on Saturday, when racing fans trackside, in TABs and at home will be treated to world-class racing.
This is one of Joburg’s biggest race days and nine of the 12 races are features with eight graded events and a Listed contest. They include the final legs of the TAB SA Triple Crown and the Wilgerbosdrift SA Triple Tiara, which could deliver an outright winner this year.
There’s more. A R1-million Pick 6 carryover is expected to generate a R5-million pool and a R500,000 Jackpot THREE carryover will offer the chance to land a big win late in the day. TAB Win, Place, Exacta, Quinella and Swinger bets on Races 6 to 9 will go into Hong Kong’s mammoth World Pool tote, enhancing your chances of collecting a big payout.
Bournemouth accounted for Zatara’s Magic in last year’s Glenair Trophy over 2800m and, with his old rival withdrawn, shapes as the principal contender in the 2026 edition of this quality staying contest (Race 7). Bournemouth is set to shoulder 62kg though which could leave him vulnerable. That brings Bad Medicine (57kg) firmly into the picture. He has turned the corner in Kelly Mitchley’s yard and arrives in this contest off a hat-trick. While yet to race beyond 2400m, the manner of those victories suggests he will relish the extra 400m here. Last year’s runner-up Juan Carlos merits respect.
Five-year-old Ancient World has had his share of niggles, but he’s a gelding with some ability and should give punters a good run for their money in the topliner over 1800m (Race 3). Recently transferred to Dominic Zaki, Ancient World showed pace in a Progress Plate won by Talk To The Master and seems to be recovering his form. He meets weaker this time, returns to his favoured Polytrack after a long absence and could score at good odds.
The Aus$4 million Group 1 2026 Doncaster Mile (Race 8) is the topliner on Day 1 of the Championships at Sydney’s premier track. Sheza Alibi is the early short-priced favourite, but has a sticky draw and there is better value about Ciaron Maher’s 12-time winner Gringotts, a proven weight carrier who is in super form. He should get all the favours from barrier No 2. There are four Group 1 events on the 10-race card and TAB Win, Place, Quinella and Swinger bets on Races 3 to 10 will go into the HKJC World Pool tote. The meeting starts at 04:35.
Hazy Dazy chases a dream and a R1-million bonus in Race 10, the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Bridget Oppenheimer SA Oaks over 2450m. A solid winner of the Grade 2 Gauteng Guineas and the Grade 1 SA Fillies Classic, she seeks to complete the elusive treble for the Spies stable, stalwarts of the South African racing industry for decades.
The prospect of a big payout for a small stable is one of many highlights on a spectacular day’s racing backed by two big carryovers. Load up your TAB account and strap yourself in for an electrifying afternoon! Below is a leg-by-leg guide to the R1-million carryover Pick 6.
Leg 1 (13:15): Race 4 - 2850m WILGERBOSDRIFT CARADOC GOLD CUP (Listed)
Four runners stand out and all are proven stayers with strong form at this track, making it risky to leave any of them out. The highest rated is rested 1 POETS WARRIOR, who enjoys racing handy. He may dispute the early lead with another strong galloper 3 DAIMYO, who won the recent Aquanaut Handicap over 2450m by 2.30 lengths from 2 ALADDIN’S LAMP (changed stables since; 2kg better off) and 7 ENFLAME (0.5kg better off). What’s of note is that Enflame was the fastest finisher that day and won his one previous race over this course and distance. He should give a good account of himself.
Leg 2 (13:50): Race 5 - 1400m TAB HAWAII STAKES (Grade 2)
Class act 2 MAIN DEFENDER won this race from 1 COSMIC SPEED last year and is 4kg better off at the weights, which makes him hard to oppose on paper. He was taken out of training for knee surgery after that run and has made encouraging progress in his two comeback starts. A five-time winner from six attempts over this course and distance, he should now be nearing peak fitness and is expected to return to winning ways. Up-and-coming 8 ONE EYE ON VEGAS has shown himself capable at Graded level and has a nice turn of foot but is not well treated under the weight conditions.
Leg 3 (14:25): Race 6 - 1600m TAB EMPRESS CLUB STAKES (Grade 1)
Star filly 1 DOUBLE GRAND SLAM holds a clear edge over 2 RAINBOW LORIKEET, having beaten her in four of five previous encounters. But with both facing the stiff Turffontein 1600m for the first time, this is no foregone conclusion. Three-year-old 9 GOLDEN PALM bounced back from two below-par efforts with a cracking run in the Grade 1 HKJC World Pool SA Classic. She should be fully acclimatised following a lengthy stay on the Highveld and cannot be ignored.
Leg 4 (15:00): Race 7 - 1000m TAB COMPUTAFORM SPRINT (Grade 1)
A quality renewal with champion sprinters 1 BUFFALO STORM CODY and 2 KINGDUNDEE set to trade blows with remarkable seven-year-old and defending champion 3 WILLIAM ROBERTSON. Other speedy contenders include 5 TAXI TO THE MOON, 6 ZIYASHA, 9 ARCTIC WIZARD, 13 CONSTELLATION and even 15 MIA MOO, who is not out of it if she brings her best form to the track. The highest-rated trio holds the edge at the weights, however, and on home turf Buffalo Storm Cody has a strong chance of turning the tables on Kingdundee, his conqueror in January’s Grade 1 Cape Flying Championship.
Leg 5 (15:35): Race 8 - 2000m HKJC WORLD POOL PREMIER’S CHAMPIONS CHALLENGE (Grade 1)
1 SEE IT AGAIN was perhaps marginally below best when easily beaten by Tin Pan Alley in the Grade 1 Wilgerbosdrift HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes. While he ran on nicely late, it is possible that the race came too soon after the World Sports Betting Cape Town Met. Whatever the case may be, he has had four more weeks to prepare for this contest and is set to be fully tuned for his raid from Snaith Racing’s Durban base. The other encouraging aspect from his Horse Chestnut Stakes run was that he broke on terms and now seems to be over his problems at the pens. It is interesting that Richard Fourie has been booked for See It Again’s progressive stablemate 5 OKAVANGO - a factor to keep in mind considering his gutsy win over King Pelles under a massive weight at Hollywoodbets Scottsville recently. Whether Okavango is the better of the pair now only the race will show, but for safety they’ll both have to be included. Smart three-year-old 10 GRAND EMPIRE beat equally talented 11 TRUST by a head in the SA Classic, but the runner-up finished faster and would have won in the next stride. Candice and Tammy Dawson’s colt has been looking for 2000m and has future Grade 1 winner written all over him. He could upset the older runners.
Leg 6 (16:15): Race 9 - 2450m TAB SA DERBY (Grade 2)
No standouts in an open renewal with stamina concerns for a number of contenders. Gareth van Zyl, who has a good record with stayers, raids with 4 SALANI KAHLE, who has won two 1800m races with ease and looks like he’ll enjoy this test of stamina. Alec Laird’s 5 TEXAS MISSILE has high-level stayers’ blood in his female line and is 3kg better off with improving 10 DIOGENES for a 1.50-length beating over 2000m recently. Both have chances. The handicapper’s ratings played a decisive role in Mike and Mathew de Kock’s bypassing the Oaks with 13 CURIOUS GIRL in favour of this contest. With her proven staying ability and a 2.5kg sex allowance, they may be onto something here. Several others have claims in a race it may pay to include the field.
Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 7
Leg 2: 2
Leg 3: 1, 2, 9
Leg 4: 1, 2
Leg 5: 1, 5, 11
Leg 6: FIELD (1-13)
Peter Muscutt’s talented four-year-old I Salute You returns to KwaZulu-Natal following a successful summer campaign in Cape Town, highlighted by a victory in the Grade 2 Premier’s Trophy. He captured last year’s Listed WSB Sledgehammer over 1750m and is out to defend his title in Race 6. While he carried just 53kg when beating Selukwe in 2025, he has since added two feature wins to his record and justifiably shoulders top weight of 62kg. That impost should not prevent him from winning again.