White Pearl To Be Danon Platina’s First Stakes Winner?

Danon Platina will have a chance of having a first black type winner as the Mike de Kock-trained White Pearl no longer has to face her unbeaten stablemate Champagne Cocktail in Saturday’s rescheduled Gr 3 Mother Russia Stakes over 1400m at Turffontein Standside.

The Mauritzfontein Stud-based Japan-bred son of Deep Impact has been well supported at the Sales and was rated by all and sundry as a sire for the future after his first crop did well as two-year-olds. However, he is yet to get off the mark as far as black type success goes.

Champagne Cocktail will instead face the boys in the Gr 3 Betway Got The Greenlight Stakes over 1400m, a race in which Sandringham Summit was due to clash with arch rival Main Defender in the orginal event on Sunday. Sandringham Summit is now scratched, because David Nieuwenhuizen believes the race is too close to the Gr 2 WSB Gauteng Guineas (to be run on February 3).

However, Main Defender won’t have it all his own way because besides the unbeaten Champagne Cocktail Mike de Kock has also entered the classy Gr 2 Jonsson Workwear Dingaans runner up Gimmeanotherchance.

 In the Mother Russia Stakes Danon Platina will also be represented by the Stuart Pettigrew-trained Betula, winner of the BSA Sales Cup for fillies on Hollywoodbets Durban July day. However, bigger threats to Whie Pearl, who has been runner up to Mrs Geriatrix, Egyptian Mau and Gimme A Nother in her last three starts, could come from the Lucky Houdalakis-trained What A Winter filly Elegant Ice, the Houdalakis-trained Act Of War filly Lady Fallon and the De Kock-trained Gimmethegreenlight filly Mary’s Greenlight.

There are 12 races at the meeting and it starts at 11H15.

It is going to be a weekend to savour for SA racing fans as there is also a nine race meeting at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday, which features the Gr 3 Summer Fling Stakes, and an eight race meeting at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday which features the NBT Michael Roberts Stakes over 1750m.

The fields for the aforementioned features races are all ahown below:

Race-8 (Turf) R350 000 1400m 15:20 Ref-461
1st R218750, 2nd R70000, 3rd R35000, 4th R17500, 5th R8750
BETWAY GOT THE GREENLIGHT STAKES (Grade 3)
3 year olds

No Apprentice / Female Sex Allowance

Race-7 (Turf) R200 000 2000m 16:10 Ref-291

1st R118750, 2nd R38000, 3rd R19000, 4th R9500, 5th R4750, RCIS R10000
SUMMER FLING STAKES (Grade 3)
Fo 3yo & Older F & M at Weight For Age + Penalties
WFA: 3yrs-6kgs 4yrs-0.5kgs
No Apprentice / Female Sex Allowance

Race-7 (Turf / Inside) R90 000 1750m 16:10 Ref-379

1st R56250, 2nd R18000, 3rd R9000, 4th R4500, 5th R2250
MICHAEL ROBERTS STAKES
For All Horses – Non-Black Type
WFA: 3yrs-6kgs 4yrs-0.5kgs
No Apprentice / Female Sex Allowance