Charity race gathers momentum
Trainer Geoff Woodruff nominated his best four-year-old horses for the Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile (grade 2) to be run over 1 600m at Turffontein on November 2.
The Charity Mile is a unique race in which each of the runners also races on behalf of a charity. Each horse is represented by a celebrityand R550 000 is shared between the 16 charities with R100 00 for first. No charity goes home empty-handed and those represented by the last five each get R20 000.
Gauteng Guineas winner Tellina, Master Sabina, Killua Castle, Yorker and Sabadell were among the best three-year-olds on the Highveld last season and could all support the Woodruff stable during the summer season.
Killua Castle is the only one of the quintet who has raced as a four-year-old and he has already notched up two impressive victories on the Vaal sand. All five are ideally suited to the 1 600m event, so it will be interesting to see which of the five line up for this race.
Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara winner, Cherry On The Top, is also among the entries. The Ormond Ferraris-trained filly and Sean Tarry’s charge, Whiteline Fever, have the highest merit rating of those entered – 118. That will result in her having to give weight to virtually all the other runners.
Also among the nominations is last year’s Summer Cup winner, Wagner. Joey Soma’s charge put up an excellent preparation run when he came in third, behind Potala Palace in the Grade 3 Joburg Spring Challenge over 1 450m on the standside track.
Potala Palace is also among the entries and this race should be ideal for the Mike Azzie-trained runner.
Link Man finished second in the Joburg Spring Challenge and is one of only two entries from the Mike de Kock yard. The other is Red Barrel.
In-form Weiho Marwing yard has nominated Grade 1 SA Derby winner Wylie Hall, Uncle Tommy and Here Comes Billy, while Charles Laird has entered Grade 1 SA Classic winner Love Struck, who could be backed up by Distinguished.
Supplementary entries closed on October 18, after which the weights will be announced. Declarations must be in by 10am on October 23 and the final field and draws will be made at a function later that day. The names of the celebrities and charities will be announced soon.
Nominations for the R600 000 Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile to be run over 1 600m at Turffontein on November 2 are Always AL (S G Tarry); American Storm (R P Lerena); Baracah (S G Tarry); Cherry On The Top (O A Ferraris); Depardieu (F C De Beer); Distinguished (C Laird); General Sherman (S G Tarry); Glorious Jet (S J Gray); Here Comes Billy (W H Marwing); Jet Jamboree (D Zaki); Killua Castle (G V Woodruff); Knock On Wood (O A Ferraris); Link Man (M F De Kock); Living With Heart (A J Rivalland); Love Struck (C Laird); Master Sabina (G V Woodruff); Meissa (G M Alexander); Moon Of (G H Van Zyl); POTALA PALACE (M G Azzie); Pyrotechnics (A G Laird); Red Barrel (M F De Kock); Royal Zulu Warrior (K Naidoo); Sabadell (G V Woodruff); Tellina (G V).
