Turf Talk Newsletter – 30 March, 2026

Hazy Dazy will be carrying the hopes of most exotic-bet players on Saturday. (JC Photos).

Final fields for Champions Day have been published and racing fans are in for a real treat at Turffontein this Saturday, 4 April.

There are three Grade 1 races and five Grade 2 events on the 12-race card and there will be Hong Kong World Pool betting on four races which will allow TAB punters to bet into massive pools.

A Pick 6 Carryover of R1-million is expected to boost the TAB Pick 6 Pool to R5-million, and there will also be a Jackpot Three Carryover of R500,000, for which a R2-million pool is possible.

There are 11 runners for the Grade 1 HKJC World Pool Premier’s Champions Challenge over 2000m and a really exciting field has been assembled. They are headed up by Justin Snaith-trained See It Again and Okavango, as well as last year’s winner, Alec Laird’s Fire Attack, and runner-up Royal Victory who is now trained by Weichong Marwing.

Interestingly, log-leading jockey Craig Zackey will be riding the World Sports Betting Cape Town Met winner See It Again this time while Richard Fourie will be aboard Okavango.

Jonathan Snaith said the stable feels that Zackey’s  riding style will suit See It Again, while Fourie’s style will suit Okavango.

Laird also has 2024 Betway Summer Cup winner Atticus Finch in the field.

Trainer Tony Peter also has two runners in the field, The Ultimate King and UK import The Equator.

Of particular interest are the two three-year-old acceptors, Sean Tarry-trained Grand Empire and Candice and Tammy Dawson’s Trust, first and second respectively in the Grade 1 TAB SA Classic over 1800m at this course on 7 March. There was just a short head separating the pair and both give the impression they will handle the additional 200m.

The Grade 1 TAB Empress Club Stakes over 1600m sees Snaith-trained three-time Grade 1 winner Double Grand Slam make her debut on the Highveld. She, too, has Zackey aboard for the first time.

Another Western Cape raider is Candice Bass-trained Rainbow Lorikeet who was narrowly beaten by Double Grand Slam in the Grade 1 Maine Chance Farms Majorca Stakes over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on 31 January. Again, Zackey has picked up the ride for the Snaith yard on Double Grand Slam, while Aldo Domeyer will partner Rainbow Lorikeet.

Alan Greeff had entered Golden Palm for both the Empress Club Stakes and the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Bridget Oppenheimer SA Oaks over 2450m, but he has opted for the 1600m race and secured Fourie for the ride.

It comes as no surprise that Ryan Munger will be riding Corne Spies’s charge, William Robertson, in the Grade 1 TAB Computaform Sprint. The 17-time winner is the defending champion, but he will have to face Peter-trained Buffalo Storm Cody, the highest rated horse in the country, this time. Buffalo Storm Cody has the services of Richard Fourie for the big race.

Of course, much interest on the day will be on Spies-trained Hazy Dazy in the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Bridget Oppenheimer SA Oaks as she will be attempting to close out the Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara. She has drawn wide at No 13, but will have apprentice Trent Mayhew up again.

It is interesting that Mike and Mathew de Kock have opted to run Ormond Ferraris Oaks Trial winner Curious Girl in the Grade 2 TAB SA Derby where she will take on the colts. The three-year-old Futura filly has drawn well and will have the benefit of a 2.5kg sex allowance.

There are many punters who will feel that the absence of Curious Girl from the Oaks will make this an easier race to win for Hazy Dazy, and that she will be the best Pick 6 banker on what promises to be a super day’s racing.

Full fields with form are online. The fields for the feature races are below:

HKJC WORLD POOL PREMIER’S CHAMPIONS CHALLENGE (Grade 1)(For all horses at Weight for Age) R2000000 2000m

1 – 3 SEE IT AGAIN (J S Snaith) C Zackey 60.0 – 130
2 – 10 ATTICUS FINCH (A G Laird) G Lerena 60.0 – 127
3 – 11 FIRE ATTACK (A G Laird) C Habib 60.0 – 124
4 – 9 ROYAL VICTORY (W C Marwing) R A Venniker 60.0 – 124
5 – 1 OKAVANGO (J S Snaith) R Fourie 60.0 – 123
6 – 7 THE EQUATOR (A P Peter) K de Melo 60.0 – 117
7 – 5 THE ULTIMATE KING (A P Peter) C Murray 60.0 – 117
8 – 2 MADISON VALLEY (N Kotzen) M Yeni 60.0 – 116
9 – 4 OLIVIA’S WAY (R R Magner) M V’Rensburg 57.5 – 114
10 – 8 GRAND EMPIRE (S G Tarry) R Munger 56.5 – 120
11 – 6 TRUST (C/T Dawson) S Moodley 56.5 – 119

Same Trainer: (1,5) (2,3) (6,7)

TAB EMPRESS CLUB STAKES (Grade 1)(For Fillies and Mares at Weight-for-Age) R1000000 1600m

1 – 7 DOUBLE GRAND SLAM (J S Snaith) C Zackey 60.0 – 122
2 – 2 RAINBOW LORIKEET (C Bass) A Domeyer 60.0 – 115
3 – 9 CALLMEGETRIX (S G Tarry) K de Melo 60.0 – 113
4 – 6 RODEO DRIVE (S G Tarry) P Mxoli 60.0 – 113
5 – 5 MINOGUE (C/T Dawson) M Yeni 60.0 – 112
6 – 4 KISSHOTEN (A P Peter) C Habib 60.0 – 107
7 – 8 FAMOUS LADY (D Nieuwenhuizen) R A Venniker 60.0 – 103
8 – 3 PAST IS PROLOGUE (G van Zyl (Jnr)) N Patel 60.0 – 81
9 – 10 GOLDEN PALM (A C Greeff) R Fourie 57.5 – 115
10 – 1 SCARLETT HEART (F Bronkhorst) G Lerena 57.5 – 108

Same Trainer: (3,4)

TAB COMPUTAFORM SPRINT (Grade 1)(For all horses at Weight for Age) R1000000 1000m

1 – 7 BUFFALO STORM CODY (A P Peter) R Fourie 60.0 – 132
2 – 3 KINGDUNDEE (D G Smith) C Habib 60.0 – 127
3 – 9 WILLIAM ROBERTSON (C Spies) R Munger 60.0 – 124
4 – 12 TRUTH (C/T Dawson) S Moodley 60.0 – 120
5 – 14 TAXI TO THE MOON (A P Peter) K Matsunyane 60.0 – 119
6 – 11 ZIYASHA (C Binda) G Lerena 60.0 – 118
7 – 1 FUTURE VARIETY (C Bass) A Domeyer 60.0 – 116
8 – 5 LUHAMBA PHAMBILI (G van Zyl (Jnr)) S Veale 60.0 – 112
9 – 10 ARCTIC WIZARD (G W Ennion) M Yeni 60.0 – 110
10 – 15 MOUNT PINATUBO (J J van Vuuren) K de Melo 60.0 – 109
11 – 4 MOVER AND SHAKER (F P Habib) M Mbuto 60.0 – 109
12 – 17 CHOCOLATE SOLDIER (C Spies) T Mayhew 60.0 – 108
13 – 6 CONSTELLATION (M/M de Kock) C Murray 58.0 – 114
14 – 2 ALMOND SEA (A P Peter) C Zackey 57.5 – 119
15 – 16 MIA MOO (S G Tarry) M K Katjedi 57.5 – 119
16 – 13 WHISTLE THE TUNE (C/T Dawson) C Little 57.5 – 116
17 – 8 GREEN DIAMOND (S G Tarry) P Mxoli 55.5 – 111

Same Trainer: (1,5,14) (3,12) (4,16) (15,17)

TAB SA DERBY (Grade 2)(3 year olds (3rd Leg SA Triple Crown)) R1250000 2450m

1 – 10 RADIO STAR (M G Azzie) C Zackey 60.0 – 107
2 – 7 TOMMY SHELBY (F P Habib) J Gates 60.0 – 101
3 – 12 COPPER EAGLE (R Klaasen) C Murray 60.0 – 100
4 – 11 SALANI KAHLE (G van Zyl (Jnr)) S Veale 60.0 – 97
5 – 4 TEXAS MISSILE (A G Laird) C Habib 60.0 – 94
6 – 5 TITANS OF WAR (R R Magner) R Danielson 60.0 – 91
7 – 3 BELLEROPHON (F P Habib) K Matsunyane 60.0 – 89
8 – 13 MASTER SPY (S G Tarry) R Munger 60.0 – 88
9 – 1 SWORD SPEED (A Wright) K de Melo 60.0 – 87
10 – 8 DIOGENES (W C Marwing) M Yeni 60.0 – 86
11 – 6 CULTURATI (G J Maroun) R A Venniker 60.0 – 85
12 – 9 REIGN ON IMPACT (F Greyling) A Mgudlwa 60.0 – 74
13 – 2 CURIOUS GIRL (M/M de Kock) G Lerena 57.5 – 92

Same Trainer: (2,7)

WILGERBOSDRIFT BRIDGET OPPENHEIMER SA OAKS (Grade 2)(For 3 year-old Fillies (3rd Leg of SA Triple Tiara)) R750000 2450m

1 – 9 HAZY DAZY (C Spies) T Mayhew 60.0 – 117
2 – 4 CHARGE IT (A Wright) S Moodley 60.0 – 113
3 – 3 DAISY JONES (M G Azzie) K de Melo 60.0 – 108
4 – 5 LITTLEMISSMILLION (T Zackey) C Zackey 60.0 – 107
5 – 2 DRUMNADROCHIT (M/M de Kock) R Fourie 60.0 – 105
6 – 8 AMAZON QUEEN (M Pandaram) M Mbuto 60.0 – 81
7 – 7 SHADOWLINE (S T Pettigrew) C Habib 60.0 – 78
8 – 6 STAMPEDE AHEAD (A A Azzie) T Godden 60.0 – 76
9 – 1 CLOUDS CLEARING (W/W Marwing) K J Lihaba 60.0 – 74

TAB HAWAII STAKES (Grade 2)(Open) R500000 1400m

1 – 8 COSMIC SPEED (S G Tarry) R Munger 60.0 – 122
2 – 3 MAIN DEFENDER (A P Peter) C Zackey 59.0 – 130
3 – 1 CATS PAJAMAS (N Kotzen) R Fourie 58.0 – 119
4 – 7 TEXAS RED (R Klaasen) M K Katjedi 58.0 – 119
5 – 5 MONEY HEIST (A P Peter) C Habib 58.0 – 106
6 – 2 WINDS OF CHANGE (M G Azzie) M Michel 58.0 – 102
7 – 4 PRINCE OF KILDARE (B B Ruiters) P Mxoli 58.0 – 80
8 – 6 ONE EYE ON VEGAS (M/M de Kock) G Lerena 55.5 – 115

Same Trainer: (2,5)

TAB SA NURSERY (Grade 2)(For 2 yo R100 000 Win BSA / CRS Bonus) R500000 1160m

1 – 6 BETTER NEVER ENDS (S S Ngcobo) M Yeni 60.0 – 83
2 – 2 GIMME A VODKA (S G Tarry) R Munger 60.0 – 97
3 – 7 KINGS MOUNTAIN (M/M de Kock) C Murray 60.0 – 0
4 – 1 KUDIKARAN (M Pandaram) M Mbuto 60.0 – 0
5 – 3 NIGHTSHINE (A Ndzilana) M K Katjedi 60.0 – 0
6 – 5 THE BRONX BULL (A P Peter) G Lerena 60.0 – 84
7 – 4 TWILIGHT (M G Azzie) K de Melo 57.5 – 82

WILGERBOSDRIFT SA FILLIES NURSERY (Grade 2)(For 2 yof R100 000 Win BSA / CRS Bonus) R350000 1160m

1 – 6 ELUSIVE DRAGON (P F Matchett) R A Venniker 60.0 – 0
2 – 5 FATEFUL LOVE (A C Greeff) C Zackey 60.0 – 88
3 – 3 GET UP (S G Tarry) R Munger 60.0 – 90
4 – 2 GOOD DAY SUNSHINE (M/M de Kock) R Fourie 60.0 – 84
5 – 1 GRISELDA (S G Tarry) K de Melo 60.0 – 90
6 – 7 KAVADY (M Pandaram) M Mbuto 60.0 – 90
7 – 8 QUEEN LEILA (P F Matchett) P Mxoli 60.0 – 88
8 – 4 VOLCANIC HEAT (R Klaasen) C Habib 60.0 – 92

Same Trainer: (1,7) (3,5)

WILGERBOSDRIFT CARADOC GOLD CUP (Listed)(Open) R300000 2850m

1 – 8 POETS WARRIOR (M G Azzie) G Lerena 60.0 – 114
2 – 1 ALADDIN’S LAMP (M/M de Kock) C Murray 56.0 – 106
3 – 5 DAIMYO (A G Laird) C Habib 56.0 – 105
4 – 6 NEBRAAS (S G Tarry) C Zackey 54.0 – 101
5 – 4 BREEZE OVER (M G Azzie) R A Venniker 54.0 – 99
6 – 9 HOTARUBI (C I Jonker) R Munger 54.0 – 98
7 – 7 ENFLAME (C/T Dawson) S Moodley 52.0 – 98
8 – 2 TAXHAVEN (P F Matchett) M K Katjedi 52.0 – 96
9 – 3 TEO TORRIATTE (C J Lensley) M Mbuto 50.0 – 94
10 – 10 KISSING MACHINE (P F Matchett) P Mxoli 50.0 – 86

Same Trainer: (1,5) (8,10)

Callan Murray rides Future Gamble. (JC Photos).

There looks to be plenty of exciting contests at the Vaal on Tuesday and it is not a race meeting to miss.

James Crawford-trained Future Gamble is the best bet on the card but in the very next race Pompeii Shield should stay in front of his field. And the yard of Sean Tarry, which is in hot form, has bright chances too.

Future Gamble was expected to win her last start after she finished second best behind Tarry’s form runner Galaxy Queen on local debut. But she met another Western Cape relocatee, Southampton, who also enjoyed the change in environment and got first run on her. Callan Murray knows Future Gamble well now and it’s hard to see him allowing anything to get by him this time.

The Futura filly is a workmanlike type, and her pedigree indicates she could be looking for distance. She lines up in a Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 2000m which could prove to be the ideal distance. Future Gamble has the highest merit rating with consistent Vixeninthevineyard, who has been beaten in weak fields, next best.

Pompeii Shield has also had to take home the second cheque in his last two races. The Patrick Labuschagne-trained gelding has run decent races behind the likes of up-and-coming Tintin and Errol Flynn and in some of his races he has had to try different tactics to overcome very wide draws.

Denis Schwarz has ridden this overdue colt in all six starts and knows him like the back of his hand but this time the pair have the advantage of jumping from a plum draw. Schwarz will know that against the field he meets, he sets the standard and is the one to beat.

Tarry could open the racemeeting with a winner. Viking Lass was a bit unlucky not to win on debut as she didn’t get the best of starts and was quite green in running, but she looked dangerous in the closing stages and got within 0.50 lengths of hot favourite, Tony Peter-trained The Bronx Bull. She can make amends in Race 1.

Warning Light (Race 7) and Champion Warrior (Race 8) are big players for the Tarry yard later in the day. Lightly raced Warning Light has been stepped up in distance in all starts and may be headed for the Classics and the way he has been finishing off his races he could pass his test at favourable weight terms.

Champion Warrior can be tough to follow but with a record of three wins out of four starts up the straight at this course, he is not one to take lightly. In fact, he beat Grade 1 winner Cosmic Speed two runs back and as such he could take the honours over gallant one-eyed runner Palace Prince, who should fill the Exacta spot.  – Clive Robinson, 4Racing.

Calandagan finished powerfully to win the 2026 Sheema Classic. (France-Galop)

The best horse in the world in 2025 is French. His name is Calandagan, he is trained in Chantilly by Francis-Henri Graffard and owned by the Aga Khan Studs.

Last Saturday, he made his reappearance in Dubai, in the Longines Dubai Sheema Classic, a Group 1 race — the highest level in world racing — in which he had finished second last year. His last outing dated back to November, when he made history by defeating the Japanese horses on their home turf in the Japan Cup!

In a tactical race, in which the UK-based West Wind Blows set a strong pace, Calandagan produced a finishing straight worthy of the greatest champions, catching his rival close to the post with a tremendous burst of acceleration, his jockey Mickaël Barzalona even patting him before the end of the race! This was the fifth consecutive time he has won at this level.

Graffard commented: “I’m relieved, he is a fantastic champion. I am incredibly fortunate to train a horse of his calibre. This race was very tactical, and I was a little worried, but when he found his stride and entered the home straight, it was simply incredible to watch, and I am very lucky to have him. This is his fifth consecutive Group 1 victory. He is the best racehorse in the world, and he now enjoys an outstanding reputation.”

Picture: Magnitude, DWC hero. (AP)