Picture: Sandringham Summit (JC Photos)
South Africa’s leading three-year-old Sandringham Summit who scored an emphatic win in the TAB Gauteng Guineas earlier this month is an entry in both the Grade 1 H F Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes and Gr 1 SA Classic to be run on Classic Day, March 2 at Turffontein Standside.
It would be a surprise if he lined up in the Horse Chestnut as his Triple Crown chances are still alive.
On the other hand the connections might decide the SA Derby distance is beyond him and that a Gr 1 weight for age mile win will look good on his stallion CV.
If he does take his chances in the Horse Chestnut he might face his arch three-year-old rival Main Defender, who is in that race but not in the Classic.
It is not clear why Main Defender was not declared for the Gauteng Guineas. Was he physically incapacitated at the time or was it a strategic move to avoid Sandringham Summit and target the Horse Chestnut instead?
The Horse Chestnut has its probable best entry list for some time.
It not only includes Sandringham Summit and Main Defender but also Equus Horse Of The Year Princess Calla, Hollywoodbets Durban July hero Winchester Mansion, top Cape horses At My Command and Without Question, former winner of this race MK’s Pride, who is back with Tony Peter, Gr 1 winners Puerto Manzano, Safe Passage, Cousin Casey and Anfields Rocket, and a number of other classy customers like Melech and Feather Boa and also the imported Mujbar.
In the SA Classic William Iron Arm will relish the step up in trip and will be a threat to Sandringham Summit. Other exciting entries are the crack filly Silver Sanctuary, the recent revelation Barbaresco and the improving Sean Tarry pair Hotarubi and Storm Brasco.
The smashing filly Gimme A Nother has been unstoppable and bids to remain unbeaten in six starts in the Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic. She may meet Bavarian Beauty, who like Sandringham Summit was the top filly as a two-year-old. Silver Sanctuary will also be a threat if she lines up.
Brilliant racing, bring it on!
HORSE CHESTNUT STAKES (Grade 1)(Weight-for-Age) R1,5 MILLION 1600m 17 ANFIELDS ROCKET (G J Maroun) 60.0 6 AT MY COMMAND (B Crawford) 60.0 19 BACK IN BUSINESS (J A Soma) 60.0 15 COSMIC HIGHWAY (D Kannemeyer) 60.0 21 COUSIN CASEY (S G Tarry) 60.0 14 DAVE THE KING (M F De Kock) 60.0 10 MELECH (R R Magner) 60.0 20 MK'S PRIDE (A P Peter) 60.0 12 MUJBAR (M F De Kock) 60.0 3 PUERTO MANZANO (J J van Vuuren) 60.0 5 SAFE PASSAGE (M F De Kock) 60.0 9 SON OF RAJ (W H Marwing) 60.0 4 SUGAR MOUNTAIN (C Bass-Robinson) 60.0 16 TEXAS RED (R Klaasen) 60.0 2 UNZEN (R R Sage) 60.0 11 WINCHESTER MANSION (B Crawford) 60.0 7 WITHOUT QUESTION (J S Snaith) 60.0 18 FEATHER BOA (S T Pettigrew) 57.5 8 PRINCESS CALLA (S G Tarry) 57.5 13 MAIN DEFENDER (A P Peter) 57.0 1 SANDRINGHAM SUMMIT (D Nieuwenhuizen) 57.0 SA CLASSIC (Grade 1)(For 3-year-olds) (2nd Leg of SA Triple Crown)) R1,5 MILLION 1800m 12 BARBARESCO (J J van Vuuren) 60.0 7 GIMMEANOTHERCHANCE (M F De Kock) 60.0 10 GUY GIBSON (R R Magner) 60.0 8 HOTARUBI (S G Tarry) 60.0 3 MONDIAL (M/A Azzie) 60.0 9 NAVAJO NATION (R A Hill) 60.0 2 PURE PREDATOR (F Bronkhorst) 60.0 1 PURPLE PITCHER (R Klaasen) 60.0 11 SANDRINGHAM SUMMIT (D Nieuwenhuizen) 60.0 5 STORM BRASCO (S G Tarry) 60.0 6 WILLIAM IRON ARM (A P Peter) 60.0 4 SILVER SANCTUARY (M F De Kock) 57.5 SA FILLIES CLASSIC (Grade 1)(For 3-year-olds) (2nd Leg Wilgerbosdrift SA Triple Tiara)) R1,25 MILLION 1800m 4 BAVARIAN BEAUTY (A P Peter) 60.0 3 BEATING WINGS (S T Pettigrew) 60.0 2 CHAMPAGNE COCKTAIL (M F De Kock) 60.0 5 EGYPTIAN MAU (M N Houdalakis) 60.0 7 GIMME A NOTHER (M F De Kock) 60.0 6 LET'S GO NOW (S G Tarry) 60.0 1 MY SOUL MATE (C Dawson) 60.0 8 SILVER SANCTUARY (M F De Kock) 60.0 9 TAMIL TIGRESS (L Karriem) 60.0