EXCITING RACING ON DAY 1 OF THE CHAMPIONSHIPS 2026

 

Above: Raymond Danielson salutes aboard Splittheeights in the 2026 TAB Gauteng Guineas (image: JC Photographics)


Johannesburg, South Africa — The first day of The Championships 2026 saw Johannesburg show off the very best of its famous summer weather and Turffontein stepped up to the plate with some magnificent racing.

The betting market for the 2026 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas may have allowed Hazy Dazy to drift as far out as 25-1, but she went to post looking a million bucks and returned accordingly under a very polished ride from apprentice Trent Mayhew.


The three year old daughter of Act Of War was bred by the Breedon Stud Close Corporation and campaigns in the interests of Mr D Dasrath & Mrs C Dasrath, Messrs R P Macnab, S Poriazis, Vikash Sobaren, X Spies & D Vayapuri. She is trained by Corne Spies and has forged a successful partnership with Trent Mayhew, who has been aboard for 4 of her 6 career wins, including the Gr3 Ducat Africa Fillies Mile on Betway Summer Cup day 2025. Hazy Dazy now has 5 wins and a place from 7 career starts.


The Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas proved a good hunting ground for visiting raiders, Charge It (Alyson Wright), Golden Palm (Alan Greeff) and Lowveld Lily (Justin Snaith), who filled 2nd, 3rd and 4th places




Race-6  R 750,000    1600m 15:05
WILGERBOSDRIFT GAUTENG FILLIES GUINEAS (Grade 2)
3yo Fillies (1st Leg Wilgerbosdrift SA Triple Tiara)

Stake Breakdown

Total Stakes: R 750000.001st: R 445312.50, 2nd: R 142500.00, 3rd: R 71250.00, 4th: R 35625.00, 5th: R 17812.50, 4RIS: R 37500.00  
Scr: 10 VALENTINA BALDUCCI Robbie Sage 

Gauteng Guineas Day 2025 was the scene of Mike and Mathew de Kock’s newly minted partnership’s first feature race title with Spumante Dolce in the 2025 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas under Raymond Danielson. Today, they repeated the feat in the TAB Gauteng Guineas with Splittheeights (Vercingetorix). The 3yo colt displayed courage and class to deliver a first Gr2 win forJayson and Preshalin Murugasa. Well-supported to start 5-2 second favourite, Mike and Mathew de Kock-trained Splittheeights got to the front in the final 50m with Raymond Danielson in the irons to beat Grand Empire and Craig Zackey by 0.60 lengths. Third place was awarded to 9-4 favourite Trust after an objection with another De Kock runner, One Eye On Vegas (25-2), relegated to fourth. Bred by Ridgemont Highlands, the half-brother to William Robertson was a R600k purchase from the BSA August 2yo Sale, and now has 3 wins and 2 places from 5 career starts.





TURFFONTEIN STANDSIDE (Turf) - Saturday 7 February 2026Race-7  R 1,000,000  1600m 15:40
TAB GAUTENG GUINEAS (Grade 2)
For 3 year-olds (1st Leg SA Triple Crown)

Stake Breakdown
Total Stakes: R 1000000.00
1st: R 593750.00, 2nd: R 190000.00, 3rd: R 95000.00, 4th: R 47500.00, 5th: R 23750.00, 4RIS: R 50000.00

A high quality undercard saw an eventful running of race 5, the SA Derby 4 April Pinnacle Stakes where William Robertson’s rider, Ryan Munger, didn’t get the cleanest of exits from the stalls and lost his stirrups. Fortunately he managed to get home safely, with the front-running Taxi To The Moon (Tony Peter / Gavin Lerena) taking the honours after a protracted battle with Little Ballerina.

Highveld Winter Series champion Choisaanada bounced back to best in race 8, a Pinnacle Stakes over 1600m and Joey Soma charge, Errol Flynn justified all the talk to win the last impressively under Mickaelle Michel.