The results on Champions Day 2026 were particularly formful with a succession of favorites winning. Whilst a few were capsized (Gimme a Vodka, One Eye on Vegas, Hazy Dazy) the “script” was followed in most of the stake’s races.
From a speed figure perspective, some excellent numbers were recorded by Double Grand Slam s/s 108 +, Buffalo Storm Cody s/s 110 and See It Again s/s 110+.
See It Again comfortably ran down Snaith Racing stable mate Okavango who improved to run 109 from the front, a number which is often good enough to win a G1 in South Africa, but not this time against the remarkable and rejuvenated Twice Over gelding who has such a fluent, beautiful action, according to winning rider Craig Zackey.
See It Again, a 125K purchase has now won over R10 million. The Premier’s Champions Challenge was the 6YO gelding’s fourth G1 success.
Snaith also saddled freaky-good Double Grand Slam to victory in the G1 Empress Club as she quickened past the entire field of overmatched rivals to win by a pole from Minogue s/s 97. This was highly impressive – venturing to the Highveld and running a career peak. Zackey was again the man for the job as she too completed her fourth G1 win.
Buffalo Storm Cody confirmed his status as a tremendous sprinter, racing in the vanguard then dashing away from foes in a smashing win in the G1 Computaform. He too was heavily favoured at 8/10 and made no mistake under Richard Fourie with Tony Peter trained stablemate, Taxi to the Moon s/s 104 a safely held second.
Mia Moo s/s 101, Green Diamond s/s 101 and Mount Pinatuba s/s 100 completed the order of finish.
Cat’s Pajamas s/s 100 + (has done 105 at best) won the Hawaaii Stakes, getting first run on One Eye on Vegas s/s 96 (has previously scored 101) then holding on without much fuss. Nathan Kotzen’s entry started at 10/1, a rare jolt on a day where favourite- laying bookies got punished.
Littlemissmillion s/s 94 won the SA Oaks, scuppering the bid of Hazy Dazy to complete the Triple Tiara.
And heavily backed, Curious Girl took out the SA Derby, the first filly in over a century to do so. Her final time was slightly quicker than the SA Oaks, worthy of a figure of 98.
African Prince s/s 89 +++ was one of the day’s sickest beats. Rock of Bismantova s/s 90 held on for a most fortuitous win, only because African Prince could not obtain clear passage when full of energy in the closing stages of an MR 84 sprint.
As a punter of my acquaintance who stood to land a significant treble said with admirable restraint after African Prince’s misfortune – “that’s racing.” A laudable “postmortem” reaction, as I doubt many gamblers would react with such equanimity to being thwarted under those cruel circumstances.