Paul Peter said the racing would be so competitive at tomorrow’s Champions Day meeting at Turffontein Standside he would prefer to not make any predictions on where his winners would come from if any.

He also pointed out Turffontein was usually one of the worst hit when there was a lot of rain, as there had been lately, because the training centre did not have natural tracks and he added there were some horses who were effected by missed work while others were not.

He said, “We were able to get on to the tracks on Tuesday though and they were all able to get good work outs.”

In the big one, the Grade 1 TAB weight for age Premier’s Champions Challenge his chief runner is Grade 1 Wilgerbosdrift HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes winner MK’S Pride (Willow Magic).

The powerfully built chestnut has drawn wide in nine.

Muzi Yeni stays aboard after giving him a superb ride in the Horse Chestnut.

Peter said, “It it was over a mile I would be super, super confident because he has come on since his Horse Chestnut win, so the only doubt is whether he will stay. I think he could stay because he has been switching off so well. Muzi is under the impression he might stay and if we don’t try we will never know.”

He also runs Astrix (Vercingetorix) and Shangani (Soft Falling Rain) and said, “This is also borderline range for Astrix so he will be ridden conservatively. For Shangani it is borderline his minimum range. In his last start he was disappointing but it was quite dark when they raced and extremely wet and his prep had not gone 100% to plan. I think he could run better but he does prefer further. But for that kind of stakes money you have to take a chance.”

He runs Big Burn (Elusive Fort), Master Archie (Rafeef), Heavens Girl (Soft Falling Rain), Bold Ransom (Bold Silvano), Winter Stories (What A Winter) and Val D’Orcia (Vercingetorix) in the Grade 1 Computaform Sprint.

The two most fancied among them are Master Archie and Big Burn, who are favourite and second favourite respectively.

Peter said, “Big Burn is extremely well, it is her first time over 1000m but she has a lot of gas. But I would not be able to make a call between her and Master Archie because they can never work together. They are very strong workers so work on their own. Over the Turffontein 1000m there is very little margin for error. For example just losing half-a-length at the start can make all the difference. You could get a different result every time you ran the race. But the whole team has come through their preps exceptionally well. We will see how they do, but they are in a good space.”

Peter said a line could be drawn through Freed From Desire’s last start. The progressive Jackson filly runs in the Grade 2 Racing 240 Camellia Stakes over 1160m and Peter said, “That race did not pan out for her. She likes to be given a chance but she was trapped out wide and hit the front far too soon. That race can be ignored and she will be a much better filly come Saturday.”

He runs Sprinkles (Elusive Fort) in the Grade 2 4Racing Gerald Rosenberg Stakes and said, “I think we are all running for second (behind Rain In Holland). In her last start she was drawn terribly and is better than that run. We tried to chase her to get over and it didn’t work out. She is well and has a good place chance.”

The yard run Set To Go (Erupt), Cool Winter (What A Winter) and Miss Cool (What A Winter) in the Grade 2 Heineken SA Nursery and Peter said, “They are all very well and have each-way chances. I am not overly confident about any of them. I think Mike de Kock’s runner Union Square (Rafeef) is the one to beat, he was very impressive first time out.”

He runs Maharanee (Flower Alley) and Queen Of Gaul (Vercingetorix) in the Grade 2 4Racing SA Fillies Nursery and said, “They are extremely good fillies and I expect very big runs from both. Queen Of Gaul is extremely fast but I’m not sure if she will get 1160m but if she does get it she is a massive runner. Maharanee is a top, top filly but I like both of them.”

His other runner on the day is Oathkeeper in the first and he said, “He has come on from his first run but is up against Shoemaker again and has him to beat. He will enjoy the mile.”

Peter has been active at the Sale and said from day one he was particularly happy with the two Erupts he bought early from Maine Chance Farms, a colt for R100,000 and a filly for R140,000, which he called “bargains”. 

Picture: MK’s Pride (Candies Lenferna).