The entry cut off time for the R2 million Gr 1 SA Classic over 1800m to be run on April 1 at Turffontein was extended to 9am on Tuesday after only eight horses had initially been entered by 11am on Monday.

However, Western Cape-based Andre Nel was the only trainer to take advantage of the situation and entered two horses, Loadshedder and Kampala Campari, to increase the entry list to ten.

Andre Nel (Supplied)

The initial eight entries were from only four yards. Mike de Kock entered Gr 2 Betting World Gauteng Guineas winner Janoobi alongside Heavenly Blue and Alaadel.

National Champion trainer Sean Tarry had three entries, Al Sahem, Furiosa and Tilbury Fort. Johan Janse van Vuuren entered Crowd Please and Gary Alexander entered Unagi.

Nel has reportedly said Loadshedder would be unlikely to make the journey due to preferred targets in either Cape Town or Port Elizabeth.

He added about Querari colt Kampala Campari, who has only raced three times for two wins from 1200-1600m, ““He is a very nice horse. We’ve been planning this raid for a while and have brought horses up to Joburg twice in preparation for this trip north. Both were successful, with three of the five horses we floated up placing and two of the fillies just not acting in the soft going. I’m not scared, but it is daunting.”

Al Sahem and Heavenly Blue could be the pair to beat in the Classic.

Heavenly Blue finished third in the Gauteng Guineas, but will have come on from the run and will relish the step up in trip.

He has 1,5 lengths to make up on Janoobi, but the latter was at his peak for the Guineas and the 1800m trip will likely be at the upper end of his stamina range.

Al Sahem was unbeaten in two runs before finishing a 0,2 length second in the Gauteng Guineas. He is by Silvano out of Gr 2 winner Alderry, who won up to 1800m, so will enjoy the step up trip. Furthermore, he had an interrupted preparation into the Guineas due to the weather and is likely to have benefited from the run.

By David Thiselton