Classic Day 2026
Monday 09 March, 2026The sense of renewal is one of the most exciting aspects of racing. Things are constantly changing in the game with stars emerging or falling by the wayside.
Progressive 3YO, Tin Pan Alley was a value alternative at 12/1 to proven stars The Real Prince and See It Again in the G1 Horse Chestnut. As it happened, The Real Prince failed to raise a gallop on his Highveld debut whilst See It Again found a mile too sharp (though he did stay on for a well beaten second) as Sean Tarry’s galloper drew off for a resounding victory.
Tin Pan Alley was heavily punted into 4/1, (even shorter on the World Pool Tote) and earned a career top speed figure of 108 + in a mighty display. Jockey, Keagan de Melo positioned the son of The United States perfectly on the rail in midfield before pouncing down the inside.
The second legs of the Triple Crown/Tiara were also staged Saturday at Turffontein. Cheaply bought but strongly favoured, Act of War 3YO, Hazy Dazy (s/s 90 +, has run 98 previously) easily took out a false run fillies edition over 1800m precisely as the market anticipated from Golden Palm. But the colts’ version was nip and tuck between middle pins, Grand Empire and Trust.
Tarry trained Grand Empire (sired by Vercingetorix) just got in on the bob, worthy of a speed fig of 104 with his narrowly defeated rival, Trust earning the same excellent number.
Jan van Goyen was below his previous best of 104 attained in the Cape Guineas - only managing 97 this time. MM de Kock stablemate, Splittheeeights s/s 102 fared better to be a running- on third.
De Kock and Tarry, who have powerful strings, won juvenile feature races earlier on the card. The former trains unbeaten World Attraction s/s 84 + who took out the Storm Bird Stakes at deep odds on. And Tarry’s speedball, Secretary Bird s/s 90 + skated clear in the Ruffian in a final time that was .4 seconds quicker over the 1000m rain-softened, straight track.
William Robertson s/s 107 is a remarkable winning machine for trainer Tobie Spies and connections. Later in the program, the 7YO won the JJ the Jet Plane Stakes (G3) over the same 1000m trip in a final time of 57 seconds, carrying 62kg’s.
This is his 17th career victory from 55 starts and reflects the sprinter’s class and durability – not even draw 1 (often a disadvantage at Turffontein in the wet) could scupper this valiant thoroughbred’s determined efforts.
Finally, the performance of four- on- the- bounce winner, Precocious is notable. Tony Peter’s filly was ridden to a third successive victory by apprentice Blaine Marx Jacobsen in a time just .45 seconds slower than William Robertson.
That merits a speed figure of 100, which fully justified the market confidence in her claims as she was once again backed into odds on. She has complied a flawless record since moving to the Highveld.
