Former Vodacom Durban July winner Legislate’s name was notable by its absence from the list of 65 first entries for this season’s event, however there is still a lot of water to flow into the sea with over two months to go before the big race. However, last season’s Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge winner’s name was at the top of the list of entries for the Gr 2 Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes to be run at Greyville Racecourse on Friday, May 6. This meeting will mark the official start of South Africa’s three-month Champions Season.
Legislate, second in the Gr1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate behind Legal Eagle back in January, has not been out since finishing six lengths adrift of Smart Call in the J&B Met.
Legislate (Liesl King)
Justin Snaith’s entire is the highest rated of the 24 entries for the Drill Hall, five points superior to top ‘miler’ Act Of War who did not race in KZN last winter. Also among the nominations is veteran Ice Machine who will be out to defend his title.
With Abishiri’s sights on the SA Derby and third leg of the Triple Crown on Saturday week, Mike Azzie will be looking to Rabada to do duty for the stable in the Gr2 Canon Guineas to be run on the same day.
The son of Brave Tin Soldier has been relatively lightly raced but after a trip to Cape Town when all did not go well, he made a winning return at Turffontein last Saturday and should strip primed for the Guineas should Azzie let him take his place in the field.
Other notable entries are New Predator, Prospect Strike, Baritone, Investec Cape Derby winner It’s My Turn and the Michael Roberts-trained Natal, who now appears to be looking for more ground.
The Mike Bass-trained Silver Mountain, winner of the G1 World Sports Betting Fillies Guineas and beaten less than a length into fourth place in the Gr1 Grand Parade Guineas behind Noah From Goa, heads the list of nominations for the G2 Daisy Fillies Guineas. The diminutive daughter of Silvano rounded off her Western Cape season with a close-up second in the CTS Million Dollar behind the side-lined Illuminator.
Also nominated are the highly regarded Bela-Bela, Gr2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas winner Heaps Of Fun and runner-up Negroamaro.
By Andrew Harrison
