Turffontein Saturday - Empress Club Stakes

LEASED BY: Phumelela Gaming and Leisure Ltd

A strong field of runners from all over the country will line up for the R1-million HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes over 1600m at Turffontein on Saturday.
Cape Town-based trainer Justin Snaith has opted to bring Star Express, second behind Nightingale in the Grade 1 Majorca Stakes at Kenilworth in January, to Joburg for this Grade 1 race on the Standside track. Bella Sonata, although based on the Highveld with Chesney van Zyl, represents the KwaZulu-Natal-based Gavin van Zyl yard.
The running of this year’s race will be a royal affair as HSH Princess Charlene of Monaco will be at the Joburg track on Saturday. Her support of the raceday means a number of charities are set to benefit among those the Red Cross, Highveld Horse Care Unit and Gugu Lesizwe Primary School.
“I look forward to once again attending a racemeeting at the historic Turffontein Racecourse and of course continuing the support of a number of worthy causes,” Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene said of her involvement on the day.
“To have the horseracing community rally behind this will be amazing and being able to play a part in restoring some of the glamour back into the sport is also special.”
Princess Charlene was a special guest at the same venue back in 2012 when featuring at the Charity Mile meeting which is held annually every November.
In keeping with her passion to fight for the underdog, Princess Charlene will also sponsor two Maiden Plates over 1400m. They will each carry prize money of R250,000.
Three horses stand out in Empress Club Stakes – top-rated Safe Harbour, Fort Ember and Cape raider Star Express. Safe Harbour is one of five runners who hail from the Sean Tarry stable and her trainer admits she must be the stable elect.
The three-year-old was beaten only a neck by Orchid Island in the SA Fillies Classic over 1800m. She is drawn at No 7 in the 16-horse field and will carry 2.5kg less than her two main rivals.
Fort Ember is a five-time winner who finished fifth behind Legal Eagle in the recent Horse Chestnut Stakes (Grade 1) over 1600m. Trainer Paul Peter believes the horse to beat in the race is Safe Harbour, but added: “Fort Ember is exceptionally well, has a great draw (No 1) and a top jockey (Anton Marcus). She’ll run an excellent race. I’m quietly confident.”
Snaith, who has a string of horses based at Summerveld in KwaZulu-Natal, intends to bring Star Express to the Highveld on Friday but is concerned about her wide draw.

any bets on how many people will be on track this saturday?

less than 500
500-1000
1000-2000
2000-2500
more than 2500

LET'S DO THIS FORT EMBER

All the best BB

All the best Big Brass, must be a massive runner from pole and with Marcus up. Recon she has Safe Harbour and Star Express to beat but would be my first choice.

Holding thumbs BigBrass.........gonna go close from that draw and Marcus up!

They got me to beat

Taken a bit of 7/1 on Fort Ember. Excellent price IMO.

shrek wrote: Taken a bit of 7/1 on Fort Ember. Excellent price IMO.

agree

Also like the look of the 10/1 Polyphonic(come from behind type so draw shouldn`t bother)

Bigbrass wrote: LET'S DO THIS FORT EMBER

all the best you have a super filly on your hands.

JUXTAPOSE ON THE 15/11/2015 SHE RAN OVER THIS COURSE AND DISTANCE FROM A DRAW OF 6-13 AND FINISHED 3RD AND 7.25 lengths BEHIND NEGROAMARO WHO WON THE RACE! :lol: THEN ON THE 27/2/2016 JUXTAPOSE RAN THE SAME COURSE AND DISTANCE BUT FROM A DRAW OF 13-17 AND FINISHED 8TH BUT 4.80 LENGTHS BEHIND THE WINNER HEAPS OF FUN WHO HAS A MR OF 104 :lol: AND JUXTAPOSE NEVER RAN THIS COURSE AND DISTANCE AGAIN :side: SO THIS HORSE IS IMPROVING AFTER EVERY RUN OVER THE COURSE AND DISTANCE AND IMPROVING FROM WORST DRAWS :silly: AND SAME JOCKEY FOR THE PAST 10 RUNS SOO KNOWS THE HORSE VERY WELL