The race for the R500 000 prize for South Africa’s top graded race
performer is hotting up with the picture in the Turfstar competition
changing dramatically at the top of the log.
Champion Yard-Arm
still heads the log with 20 points but has come under severe pressure
in recent weeks as the tempo of the graded race programme steps
up and a group of horses are now snapping at his heels.
Justin Snaith’s
filly, Zolaroyale has earned another six points recently to move
her into second place on 17 points. Tobe Or Nottobe holds third
spot on 15 points and Sarabande has improved four points to be on
14 points in fourth position. Legally Blonde and Ilha Da Vitoria
have shot up the log to be on 12 points each.
The competition
is open to all horses in South Africa who compete in graded races
run in KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape under the Gold Circle
banner. The owner of the horse scoring the most points will receive
a cheque for R450 000 at the end of the season with an additional
R50 000 going to the trainer of the winning horse.
A feature of
the competition is that it is run on all graded races and the winner
could come from the sprinter, middle distance or stayer ranks.
Points are allocated
to runners filling the first three places in the graded races. For
Grade 1 races there are 10 points for first, six for second and
four for third. In Grade 2 races the points earned are six, four
and two and for Grade 3 they are four, two and one.
The points position as at May 30 is:
Yard Arm - 20
Zolaroyale -
17
Tobe or Nottobe
- 15
Sarabande -
14
Legally Blond
- 12
Ilha da Vitoria
- 12
Angelina - 10
Candidato Roy
- 10
Dynasty - 10
Emerald Beauty
- 10
Heir Apparent
- 10
Highland Night
- 10
Key of Destiny
- 10
Overarching
- 10
Perfect Promise
- 10
Promisefrommyheart
- 10
