— 4Racing channelled the spirit of Power, Grace and Speed at a barrier draw event for Day 3 of The Championships at its Centenary Room on Monday, 23 March.

The barrier draws were conducted for the HKJC Premier’s Champions Challenge, TAB Empress Club Stakes and TAB Computaform Sprint.

R1 million TAB Computaform Sprint

The event kicked off with the draw for the Computaform Sprint and saw defending champion, William Robertson, represented by Xander Spies, draw stall gate 10. Naqeeb Munshi did the honours for Dean Smith’s East Cape challenger, Kingdundee and drew 4. Neil Walters stood in for Gareth van Zyl and pulled gate 6 for KZN entry, Luhamba Phambili. Candice and Tammy Dawson charge Truth drew gate 13. Last Saturday’s Pinnacle Stakes winner Buffalo Storm Cody drew 8 for the Tony Peter stable.

R1 million TAB Empress Club Stakes

Cape representative Rainbow Lorikeet from the Candice Bass stable drew 2, Craig Zackey did the honours for Justin Snaith’s Double Grand Slam and drew gate 8, while the Eastern Cape’s Golden Palm got an 11 draw, courtesy of Naqeeb Munshi.

R2 million HKJC World Pool Premier’s Champions Challenge

There are currently 13 entries for the HKJC World Pool Premier’s Champions Challenge and Justin Snaith charge Okavango secured pole position, while his WSB Met winning stable companion See It Again drew gate 6. Tony Peter’s enigmatic Betway Victory Moon Stakes winner The Ultimate King drew stall gate 5, while Sean Tarry’s HKJC World Pool SA Classic winner Grand Empire drew 8. The field includes two former Betway Summer Cup winners in Atticus Finch (Alec Laird) who drew 12 and Royal Victory (now in the care of Weichong Marwing) who drew gate 11. Gerald Sadlier drew 4 for 2025 Betway Summer Cup runner up, Olivia’s Way.

Photo: Candiese Lenferna