Geoff Woodruff continued his stranglehold on the Gr1 Gauteng Sansui Summer Cup as Master Sabina recorded back-to-back wins at Turffontein yesterday. It was also Woodruff’s fourth consecutive win and sixth overall threatening Mike de Kock’s record of seven.

It took 26 years for back-to-back winners after the filly Roland’s Song but it was not all plain sailing as Gavin Lerena punched his mount through a narrow gap to deny The Conglomerate a rare Vodacom Durban July and Sansui Summer Cup double. Master Switch, who delayed the start when bursting through his gate, finished a close-yup third with Liege some way back in fourth.

The start had been a problem all afternoon with gates opening prematurely and horses bursting through and the Cup start proved no different. Master Switch came through his gate and had to be re-loaded but when the start was effected there were a number who blew their chances before that race had hardly begun.

Anthony Delpech was not one caught napping and was quickly away from his outside gate to race Master Switch up into third as the Sean Tarry pair of Stonehenge and Liege set the gallop. Master Sabina was another who did not get the best of breaks. “Things did not work out for me early,” said Lerena. “But he is all heart and determination,” he said of his mount.

Once clear of traffic in the straight Lerena found himself confronted with the battle between Master Switch and The Conglomerate and quickly running out of track. So he took the direct route. With the gap between the two closing and still plenty of horse still under him, Lerena barrelled his way through to the line.

Woodruff was almost matter-of-fact. “This is a handicap and in a handicap, you need luck. He nearly got cleaned up by my other horse.”

There was little place for the small stables at Turffontein yesterday as Sean Tarry, Woodruff and Johan Janse van Vuuren held sway. Tarry won five of the first eight races with Woodruff a double including the Gr2 Investec Dingaans and the very smart Green Pepper winning the Gr3 Magnolia Handicap for Van Vuuren.

Chase Maujean is one of the unsung heroes of the weighing room but makes the most of what comes his way and grabbed his opportunity with both hands. He rode a cracking race on Woodruff’s colt Singapore Sling in the Dingaans, a race that surely needs to be up-graded to Gr1 status as it draws a top class field year after year.

Woodruff was lavish in his praise of Maujean. “That was one of the very best rides that I have ever seen recently from any jockey,” he complimented.  Quickly over from a wide gate, Maujean stalked the opposition like a hunting lion and pounced with a perfectly timed run. Graham Beck winner Doosra hit the front two furlongs out seemingly with plenty in hand but once off the bit he came up empty as Graham Beck runner-up Heavenly Blue took over. However, once Maujean let his lion loose it was a case of race over and the drinks were on owners Dave and Tiaan Shaw.

Trip To Heaven, denied in the boardroom in the Gr1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge last season, has really turned the corner for Tarry as a sprinter and produce possibly the performance of the day in the G2 The Citizen Merchants. Slowly away as is his want, S’Manga Khumalo had him at the back of the field in company with Talktothestars. Hot favourite Kangaroo Jack threatened briefly at the 400 m mark but Trip To Heaven was in full cry and reeled in the opposition with a sustained run. Bull Valley tried hard in second while Talktothestars also rallied from off the pace for third.

Andrew Harrison