Trainer Geoff Woodruff has nominated his best four-year-olds for the R600 000 Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile (Grade 2), to be run over 1 600m, at Turffontein, on Saturday, November 2.<\/p>\n
The Charity Mile is a unique race in which each of the runners also races on behalf of a charity.<\/p>
Each horse is represented by a celebrity and R550 000 is shared between the 16 charities, with R100 000 for the first placed beneficiary.<\/p>\n
No charity goes home empty-handed and those represented by the last five home each get R20 000.<\/p>
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.<\/p>\n
Killua Castle is the only one of the quintet who has raced as a four-year-old and he has already notched up two very impressive victories on the Vaal sand.<\/p>\n
All five are ideally suited to 1 600m, so it will be interesting to see which of the five Woodruff horses lines up for this race.<\/p>\n
Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara winner Cherry On The Top is also among the entries.<\/p>\n
The Ormond Ferraris trained filly and Sean Tarry’s charge, Whiteline Fever, have the highest merit rating of those entered – 118.<\/p>\n
That will result in her having to give weight to virtually all the other runners.<\/p>\n
Also among the nominations is last year’s Summer Cup winner, Wagner.<\/p>\n
Joey Soma’s charge put up an excellent preparation run, third behind Potala Palace, in the Grade 3 Joburg Spring Challenge over 1 450m on the standside track.<\/p>\n
Potala Palace is also among the entries and this race should be ideal for the Mike Azzie trained runner.<\/p>\n
Link Man finished second in the Joburg Spring Challenge and is one of only two entries from the Mike de Kock yard.<\/p>\n
The other is Red Barrel.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Supplementary entries closed on Friday, October 18, after which the weights were due to be announced.<\/p>\n
Declarations must be in by 10am on Wednesday, October 23, and the final field and draws will be made at a function later that day.<\/p>\n
The names of the celebrities and charities will be announced soon.<\/p>\n
Nominations for the Charity Mile are:<\/p>\n
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).<\/p>\n