ALTERNATIVE. Three-year-old Surcharge, who drew No 18 for the R2-million SA Classic over 1800m at Turffontein on Saturday 7 April, has been nominated to run in the Grade 1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m on the same day. Picture: JC Photographics
Three-year-old colt Surcharge is among the entries for the R1-million HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m at Turffontein on Classic Day, Saturday 7 April.
This son of Gimmethegreenlight has been aimed at the R2- million SA Classic over 1800m on the same day but trainer Stuart Pettigrew was apparently so frustrated after his charge drew No 18 for the Grade 1 race for three- year-olds that he decided to give himself an alternative on the same card.
Only 11 runners have been entered for the Grade 1 Horse Chestnut Stakes but among them is arguably the best miler we have seen in this country for many years Legal Eagle. Sean Tarry’s charge has an unblemished record over 1600m, winning eight out of eight races over the distance, five of them being Grade 1 races while two were Grade 2 events. His five Grade 1 races comprise three L’Ormarins Queen’s Plates and two Horse Chestnut Stakes, which he has won for the last two years.
All of these races are run on weight-for-age terms which means Legal Eagle, with his merit rating of 127, is 11 points clear of Deo Juvente, and will have a 5.5kg advantage on handicap. Third rated Coral Fever is even worse off as he has a merit rating of 110 which puts him 8.5kg under sufferance with the six-year-old son of Greys Inn.
In the case of Surcharge, who gets a 2.5kg weight-for-age allowance, he has a merit rating of 110 which would make life tough for him to beat Legal Eagle.
Mike de Kock has also entered five-year-old mare Nother Russia and four-year-old filly Orchid Island but both of those could be looking at the Grade 1 Empress Club Stakes over 1600m and the R4 million Premier’s Champions
Challenge over 2000m on Saturday 5 May.
Pettigrew will have until Wednesday to make up his mind with regard to where he wants Surcharge to run as declarations for the SA Classic close at 11am.
Legal Eagle’s entry may have scared off a few owners and trainers but they will get a second crack at it because owing to insufficient entries, nominations have been extended until 9am to- day. Supplementary entries close at 9am on Thursday 29 March with declarations by 11am on Tuesday 3 April.
Entries for the R1-million HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes (Grade 1) over 1600m at Turffontein on Saturday 7 April.
BRAZUCA (J J van Vuuren) 60.0; CORAL FEVER (R R Sage) 60.0; DEO JUVENTE (G V Wood- ruff) 60.0; FRENCH NAVY (S G Tarry) 60.0; LEGAL EAGLE (S G Tarry) 60.0; LIEGE (S G Tarry) 60.0; ROMANY PRINCE (O A Ferraris) 60.0; UNAGI (G M Alexan- der) 60.0; NOTHER RUSSIA (M F de Kock) 57.5; ORCHID ISLAND (M F de Kock) 57.5; SURCHARGE (S T Pe igrew) 57.5.