SA Triple Crown contender Soqrat was a shock scratching yesterday from the Grade 1 SA Classic to be run over 1800m at Turffontein on Saturday and instead will line up in the Grade 2 Hawaii Stakes over 1400m as his chief target now is the Grade 1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes on March 30.

This has left Yvette Bremner’s Gauteng Guineas winner National Park as the only horse able to still win the Triple Crown, but she reported earlier this month that no matter what happens on Saturday he would not run in the last leg, the Grade 1 SA Derby.

Soqrat’s Mike de Kock-trained stablemate Hawwaam will now have an easier task in Saturday’s race although he has to reverse a 2,70 length defeat by National Park from the Guineas. He was drawn wide that day and after being dropped out began over-racing a touch. This meant his finishing effort was not quite as devastating as it had been in the Grade 2 Dingaans over that same Turffontein Standside 1600m course and distance. However, he did still finish well. If the same tactic is employed on Saturday he will have a better draw of settling, being drawn five out of eleven. The field only has nine runners compared to 15 in the Guineas so he will be running on from closer to the front too. However, it should all depend on how well Gavin Lerena can relax him. If he manages to switch him off the classy Silvano colt he will be the one to beat. He has been made the 12/10 favourite by WSB.

The long-striding National Park had the advantage of pole position in the Guineas and found the box seat. Unlike Hawwaam he was relaxed throughout and proved his wide margin Graham Beck Stakes win was no fluke when turning it on effortlessly and stretching out all the way to the line. His sire Gimmethegreenlight was essentially a miler but finished a narrow third in the Met and his six-time winning dam Fancy Park (Camden Park) was a miler. However, on that last performance he should have no problem with the 1800m trip. He is drawn seven out of nine so Richard Fourie will have his work cut out this time. He is the 5/2 third favourite with WSB.

The 22/10 second favourite is the De Kock-trained Barahin, who stayed on from last in the Guineas for third. That was his seasonal reappearance and this Gimmethegreenlight colt out of a Silvano mare should improve from the run and should also get the trip. He will have the advantage of pole position and Anton Marcus aboard so will be a big runner.

All of the other six runners are double figure odds.

The De Kock-trained Grade 1 Cape Derby winner Atyaab is a 12/1 shot. He will enjoy this tough course and distance and jumps from draw three. However, it was not a vintage Derby field and he will have to reverse a 12,10 length defeat by Hawwaam from the Dingaans.

The Sean Tarry-trained Zilzaal finished a 5,3 length fourth in the Guineas but has always struck a one who would improve continuously and who would be looking for middle distance trips. He will be ridden by champion jockey Lyle Hewitson from draw four and is the dark horse of the race at odds of 14/1.          

The De Kock-trained Australian-bred Alyaasaat is comfortably held by National Park having been beaten 8,9 lengths and 10,45 lengths in the Graham Beck and the Gauteng Guineas respectively. However, being by Dawn Approach he should appreciate the step up in trip.

The 50/1 shot Owlinthetree was beaten 7,70 lengths into sixth in the Gauteng Guineas. He has ability but was beaten a head by Atyaab over this course and distance in the Listed Sea Cottage Stakes and is now 2kg worse off so has a tough task.

Approach Control is also 50/1 but has a tough task having been beaten 10,40 lengths in the Gauteng Guineas although he should enjoy the trip being by Potala Palace out of a Jet Master mare who won over 1950m.

The biggest outsider is Roll Of Drums, who is by Seventh Rock out of Galileo mare who won the Grade 3 Fillies Mile. He could only manage a 6,30 length ninth in the Secretariat and is now 2kg worse off with the 0,9 length runner up in in that race, Atyaab, so his long odds are justified.

A lot could depend on the pace and it is difficult to tell where is going to come from. Perhaps Atyaab will be sacrificed to set it as he is under the same Sheik Hamdan ownership as Hawwaam and Barahin.

Otherwise, National Park is a relaxed type who might gain an advantage by dictating in front if able to get their easily enough. In the Dingaans he led but had to work hard to get there and not surprisingly found little extra.

It is going to be a strategic tussle featuring three top class horses and one or two others who could still emerge as horses to reckon with. All in all, a race to savour and not to be missed. 

By David Thiselton