David Thiselton

SUMMER PUDDING galloped in to the hearts of the nation yesterday with an emphatic victory in the Grade 1 WSB Summer Cup over 2000m at Turffontein Standside to give Paul Peter and Warren Kennedy their first win in Johannesburg’s biggest race.

The four-year-old daughter of Silvano had to break a Summer Cup weight carrying record for a female to do it and also had to overcome a wide draw but she made it look easy.

Her nine wins from nine starts is now just two short of the South African record unbeaten run of eleven set by Homeguard in the late 1960s.

The race had similarities to the Vodacom Durban July in that a pacemaker who was a stablemate of the eventual winner was sent out to set fast fractions.

Riverstown’s race record suggested he was best at 1400m to a mile so some wondered whether he was put in the Summer Cup as a hare and so it proved. He stayed out wide from his wide draw until he was in front. He then set fractions that were fast enough to draw the other front-running to handy types into going too quickly, thus nullifying their threat to Summer Pudding.

Kennedy had meanwhile expertly placed Summer Pudding midway through the field where she relaxed nicely.

The plan worked superbly especially considering one of the horses in the vanguard was the dangerous front-runner Running Brave.

This gallant mare cruised up to Crown Towers who had assumed the lead at the top of the straight after Riverstown had fallen away.

Last year’s winner Zillzaal was unable to go with the front two and neither could Tristful and Seven Patriots or Divine Odyssey who looked to have been ridden too handy for a closer.

Paul Peter had said one of the most pleasing aspects of Summer Pudding’s recent comeback run was the lack of the flat spot she had usually hit at the top of the straight.

This was again evident yesterday as she quickly shot into third place in the straight and opened a gap to the rest of the field.

Kennedy had actually had to wake her up at about the 1000m mark after which she came on to the bit superbly and perhaps that is how the champion jockey now gets rid of that flat spot.

Nevertheless, she now had Running Brave in her sights and it was clear from a long way out that despite carrying 59kg and conceding the five-year-old mare 2kg she was traveling better.

It was also clear that nothing from behind was going to catch her so solid and powerful was her stride.

She moved into the lead at the 200m mark at which point Muzi Yeni accepted second place and just kept Running Brave concentrating.

Tree Tumbo ran on well from the back half to give Silvano a first and third and the worst weighted horse, according to official merit ratings, Dance Class, came from a mile back to snatch fourth from the joint topweight Tierra Del Fuego.

The latter ran a fine race considering he had to rush around Summer Pudding on the turn to find cover.

Atyaab finished sixth ahead of Victoria Paige and Crown Towers.

Pack Leader was backed into favourite but could only manage eleventh. He probably prefers faster ground, although the penetrometer reading of 23 suggested good ground.

It was a dream come true for Peter who  grew up in Turffontein and used to sneak on to the course as a youngster.

He dedicated the win to his recently late head groom John Tshabalala, who had been with him from the beginning and who he said had taught him so much.

He also reserved special praise for Summer Pudding’s owners Stephen and Jessica Jell of Mauritzfontein Stud, who bred her together with Jessica’s mother Mary Slack of Wilgerbosdrift Stud.

But Peter spared the final word for Summer Pudding.

Kennedy said he had been concerned about the weight and draw and was full of accolades for a filly he called a true champion.

Many felt Summer Pudding had been a weak award for Equus Horse Of The Year last season as she had only competed against her own gender and age group barring her second start when taking on older females in a handicap.

So yesterday was an acid test and she came through it with flying colours.

Her next hurdle will be to take on the best in the Cape and if emerging on top she will take a step up from public darling to great.