While the Triple Crown saw Mr P Murugasa’s Splittheeights take the TAB Gauteng Guineas for the Mike & Mathew de Kock stable under Raymond Danielson and Mrs Heinrich Kuhn’s Grand Empire (Sean Tarry / Craig Zackey) take the World Pool HKJC SA Classic in a tussle, there will be no series winner this year, but nevertheless, an intriguing field has assembled for the 2026 World Pool HKJC SA Derby. Mr M Havenga’s Diogenes has thrived since moving to the Highveld and the care of Weichong Marwing and the 3yo son of Hawwaam announced himself as a Derby contender when he ran out a fitting winner of the WSB Hawwaam Stakes on 14 March.

There are three entries from KZN - Salani Khale (Gareth van Zyl / Sean Veale), Sword Speed (Alyson Wright / Keagan de Melo) and Reign On Impact (Frikkie Greyling / Athandiwe Mgudlwa). While Gavin van Zyl won the race with Seal in 2011, the horse had been based at his Highveld satellite yard under the care of son Chesney and one has to go all the way back to 1986 when Terrance Millard raided with Potomac to find the last winning raider.

This year has one filly in the race, Hollywood Racing’s Curious Girl from the Mike & Mathew de Kock stable, who will be partnered by Gavin Lerena. While the Derby has been won by fillies in the past, the feat has not been achieved since Noble Lady in 1917.

The SA Derby originates in Port Elizabeth, with the inaugural event, run for a stake of 400 sovereigns, dating back to Saturday, 17 October 1885, when it was won by Mr Hilton Barber’s Oxygen (Plunger). By the turn of the century, Johannesburg had become the racing centre of South Africa in the wake of the gold rush and the race relocated to Turffontein where it has remained ever since and with its rich history and illustrious honour roll, the SA Derby remains one of South Africa's oldest and most prestigious racing events.

Photo: 4Racing