Dennis Drier had wondered at one stage during the SA Champions Season whether Punta Arenas’ best days were behind him, but he has now put that thought well into the back of his mind.
Punta Arenas (Nkosi Hlophe)
The famously evergreen eight-year-old Silvano gelding will be travelling up to Johannesburg on Thursday in order to run for the first time in Johannesburg’s most prestigious race, the Gr 1 Sansui Summer Cup over 2000m, which takes place on Turffontein Standside on Saturday.
Drier is currently in Cape Town taking care of his Cape Summer Of Champions Season string, but said, “I was at Summerveld two weeks ago and he looked magnificent, he certainly didn’t look like an eight-year-old. His last couple of runs have been faultless, he hasn’t put a foot wrong.”
Drier excluded the Gr 1 Mike and Carol Bass Champions Cup ( where he ran a 3,45 length 7th) in the latter statement as he was badly cut into in that race.
However, before that he won the Gr 3 Delta Airlines 2200 on Vodacom Durban July day with topweight. Then in his seasonal reappearance on October 16 over a too sharp 1400m at Scottsville he ran a half-a-length second to the useful speedster London Call. “That run was a cracker,” said Drier.
Punta Arenas has always given the impression of thoroughly enjoying himself when galloping and his fans will be thrilled to hear he has been doing so well.
Drier “absolutely” believes he has turned the corner since the dip which saw him running unplaced seven times in succession following his unlucky second place in last year’s Vodacom Durban July.
Drier concluded, “I am very happy with his preparation.”
Punta Arenas is drawn superbly in five and his regular pilot Keagan de Melo is aboard.
Travelling from sea level to altitude is not easy for a horse running in a race beyond a mile, but as five-times-champion trainer Geoff Woodruff once pointed out, Summerveld is not at sea level and is in fact at a third of the altitude of Johannesburg.
By David Thiselton
