3 minute read

The fastest horses in the country are set to line up for the G1 Computaform Sprint over 1000m at Turffontein on April 28.

The R1million contest is one of four G1 races and five G2 events on Champions Day at the Johannesburg track.

The other G1 races on the day are the R2million President's Champions Challenge over 2000m, the R1,5million SA Derby over 2450m, the R500 000 SA Nursery over 1160m.

The G2 events are the SA Oaks over 2450m, the Gold Bowl over 3200m, the SA Fillies Nursery over 1160m, the Gerald Rosenberg Stakes over 2000m and the Camellia Stakes over 1160m.

Heading the Computaform Sprint field is last year's winner Val De Ra, who has won 11 of her 12 starts and amassed more than R1.8 million.

Val De Ray defeated What A Winter by 1,25 lengths in last year's event and the pair could meet again.

Also entered are the 2008 winner JJ The Jet Plane, G1 winner Shea Shea, and young speedsters Deliver The Power and Hidden Beauty.

The R1,5-million SA Derby has attracted 25 entries with nine nominations coming from the powerful Mike de Kock yard and six from the Sean Tarry stable.

Among the De Kock entries are Gauteng Guineas winner Golden Chateau, Dingaans champion Silver Flyer and promising Main Dane, who has only raced twice for a win and a second place.

Tarry has nominated G1 SA Classic runner-up Pomodoro and fourth placed E-Jet.

This Derby is the final leg of the SASCOC Triple Crown but there are no contenders for the R2-million bonus. SA Classic winner Slumdogmillionaire is not among the entries.

The SA Nursery is raced as a G1 for the first time and has attracted a 25-strong entry.

Among the nominations is Gavin van Zyl's impressive filly Franny, who could take on the boys although she has also been nominated for the Fillies Nursery. De Kock has entered unbeaten Soft Falling Rain, who has also been unextended in three winning starts.