The Listed Secretariat Stakes for three-year-olds over 1400m heads an eleven race meeting at Turffontein Standside on Saturday and it looks to be an intriguing race as it is run under handicap conditions.

Matador Man came to the racecourse with a big reputation for his debut and his first two losses, after slow starts, were initially disappointing. However, as the form unravelled it became apparent that the pair he lost to by just over two lengths in his second start over 1200m, Al Fahad and Doosra, were top class. He showed his class next time out, also over 1200m, when coming from off the pace to cruise to victory. The race also showed he will relish the step up to 1400m.

Prospect Strike (Nkosi Hlophe)

However, equally impressive was the run of Captain Von Trapp on debut. This horse has a giant stride and plenty of scope for improvement. On debut he had to overcome a wide draw over 1200m around the turn at the Vaal and he ran on to just get up and beat Ebony Knight. The latter franked the form by winning his next two starts. This time Captain Von Trapp has a good draw of three, two inside of Matador man, and he is also receiving 0,5kg from the latter. He might get a couple of lengths start too, because Matador Man was slow away yet again last time. These two are predicted to fight it out. Romi’s Boy is also a long striding sort and led from start to finish on his second start over 1160m, having finished a close second to Doosra on debut. Romi’s Boy will also relish the step up in trip, being by Querari out of a Montjeu mare, but a downside to his chances is he has to give 1kg and 1,5kg respectively to Matador man and Captain Von Trapp and he is also drawn just outside of them. Act Of Loyalty is progressing the right way and has a shout, although his wide draw is against him. Tilbury Fort is a fighter who runs all the way to the line and he runs from a plum draw with a light weight. He could be the dark horse.

In the ninth race, a Pinnacle Stakes race over 1400m, Champagne Haze returns to his best trip from a plum draw and will be hard to beat. He is only 1kg out at the weights with the best in. Captain Aldo runs over the course and distance for the first time since winning the Gr 2 Hawaii Stakes and having dropped to a mark of 99 he has happened to end up at the top of one of the merit rated bands here, so is officially the best weighted horse. He has a fair draw and should put in a bold display. Prospect Strike is full of class and thus could well be his ideal trip, so he could be the dark horse, despite returning from a six month layoff and being drawn wide. Will Pays has topweight, but keeps on defying the odds. However, this time will have to do it from draw 11. Mogok Master should be running on from pole position if allowed to settle off the pace.

The best bet on the card is Bush Pilot in the fifth race, a Mr 80 Handicap over 2000m. On pedigree and running style he should relish the course and distance. Furthermore, he might be running off a capped merit, as four-year-old maiden winners are not allowed to be rated higher than 70 and he is exactly on 70. In his second career start, on the Inside track over 1600m, he had a lot to do in the straight to fetch Charleston Hero. He eventually swept past the latter to win going away by 1,6 lengths and the rest of the field were spread out like the washing about six lengths and more back. The Standside 2000m will give him plenty of time to make up the ground this time under astute rider Chase Maujean and he has a good draw. Baracah is the danger for after coming down from a 102 merit rating to a 61, the key to him appears to have been unlocked, and he is on the way up again.

Polly Wolly Doodle caught the eye in a comeback from a layoff over a too sharp 1000m last time out and this long striding sort could win one of the trickiest races on the card, the seventh, which is a MR 63 Handicap for fillies and mare over 1600m. She has a plum draw and is ridden by in form Lyle Hewitson for astute trainer Candice Dawson.

The horse who won the aforementioned 1000m race, Wrecking Ball, looks to have some class and having not been disgraced against some of the best male sprinters around last time, she can win the tenth, a MR 84 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1000m, with topweight. Paree makes a lot of appeal here too as she might well relish the return to 1000m, having been a bit keen over further lately.

The meeting starts with the first Juvenile race of the season and as always Corne Spies is the man to watch in this 800m scurry. He has two runners, Laurent de Var and Kokachin, although another one who makes appeal on pedigree is the Tony Nassif-trained Snow Boarding.

By David Thiselton

The most intriguing runner in Saturday’s Gr 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas is the Brett Crawford-trained Australian-bred Quick Brown Fox, who has had two career starts, both over 1200m, and won both of them impressively. The big question is whether she will stay the 1600m trip.

Her sire Foxwedge won five races, including a Gr 1, over trips from 1100-1200m. Her unraced dam is the daughter of a mare who won two races over 1200m and 1406m respectively and who has only produced sprinters to date, including a Listed winner. So, Quick Brown Fox’s pedigree has speed and more speed bursting off the page at first sight.

However, her unraced dam is by Hold That Tiger, who won a Gr 1 over seven furlongs in France as a two-year-old, and later that season finished third in the Gr 1 Breeders Cup Juvenile over a mile and one furlong (1800m). He ran on from the back in the latter race and at the finish was staying on under pressure, despite having cornered wide. This gives some hope for Quick Brown Fox staying 1600m. She has used her electric turn of foot to come from off the pace in both of her starts and has won both of them going away by comfortable margins.

Greg Cheyne (Liesl King)

However, the list of horses who have failed to stay further despite effortless, running on wins over shorter is a long one. A top class sprinter’s natural speed would allow them to be in cruise in lower grade sprints and Quick Brown Fox has to date only run in a Maiden and a MR 76 Handicap for fillies and mares, where she ran off a merit rating of 82.

However, in her favour is she can be switched off easily, and this has been confirmed by jockey Greg Cheyne. Hopefully, this will mean she will not over race on Saturday. She also has the pole position draw, which should allow her to find a position for free.

The purists will be watching on with more than passing interest and so will punters as she has been backed in from 8/1 to 6/1 already with the sponsors World Sports Betting.

Another strong contender from the Cape is the Joey Ramsden-trained Just Sensual, who will be ridden by Anton Marcus. She is well bred being by Dynasty out of the Equus Champion two-year-old filly Consensual. She relaxed beautifully in her last start when cruising to a 3,5 length victory in a MR 72 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1400m carrying 60kg off an 84 merit rating. On pedigree and racing style she will easily get the trip, so looks the best value in the sponsors betting at 14/1. Her draw of 12 is tough, but being such a relaxed type it should not present an insurmountable problem.

Querari Falcon won the Gr 1 Thekwini over this trip as a two-year-old and did it in impressive style, having had to switch out wide on the turn and again in the straight. She has not disappointed in two outing this season and is duly the favourite at 33/10.

Sail, who was a 1,15 length third in the Thekwini, is a robust filly who always looked likely to come into her own as a three-year-old. She is not the easiest horse to deal with, so it was noticeable how well she relaxed in the running last time over 1400m when taken to the front. From a wide draw here she might have to try the same tactic and connections will be hoping for a slow early pace.

Maleficent (Nkosi Hlophe)

However, Red Light Girl, by Captain Al out of Thekwini winner Roxanne, might ensure a decent pace. She was unlucky from the front in the Gr 2 Choice Carriers over 1400m when jumping a shadow close to home. However, she was being reeled in by eventual winner Ektifaa and it will be even tougher leading from pillar to post on Saturday.

Safe Harbour franked the Thekwini form, where she finished a 2,15 length fourth, by winning the R2,5 million Lanzerac Ready To Run Stakes over 1400m two weeks ago from pole position. She looks likely to relish the 1600m trip as it took her a while to reach top gear in the latter race and she has an impressive stride. She has another plum draw of two.

She’s A Giver comes off an impressive annihilation of the Gr 3 Starling Stakes field over 1400m at Turffontein. She has a wide draw to overcome and travelled quite strongly in the Starling Stakes after showing good gatespeed, but on pedigree she should stay the trip. She is by Philanthropist and her half-sister by Captain Al, the 90 merit-rated Val Et Al, has won over 1700m.

The classy Maleficent, should have come on from her Starling Stakes run, where she finished a pleasing running on second.

The long-striding Final Judgement can’t be ignored as she did not have much luck in her seasonal reappearance in the Choice Carriers over 1400m but still managed a close up third and she now has Strydom aboard.

Thekwini runner up Dawn Calling ran a flat race over 1200m on the Greyville poly but now has her third run of the season over her preferred trip.

Final Judgement (Nkosi Hlophe)

Lady Of The House has a similar profile to the one Elusive Gold had when winning the Cape Guineas for Brett Crawford three years ago, so can’t be ignored as she is a likely improver.

Smokey Affair also looks to be a progressive sort.

Whose That Girl didn’t have much cover in the Choice Carriers, so could improve, but has another tricky draw.

Captain Gambler went close in a MR 84 Handicap for fillies and mares over this trip off a 90 merit rating in a crawl sprint affair and this long strider looks to have plenty of scope so can’t be ignored.

Visuality’s disappointing effort in the Ready To Run Stakes has put a dampener on her chances here.

This looks like a quality renewal of the prestigious race and is not to be missed.

By David Thiselton

Record-equalling trainer Geoff Woodruff remembered a Tuesday morning before the 2014 Gr 1 Sansui Summer Cup when it was discovered today’s stable hero Master Sabina had pulled a tendon. The big bay’s career hung in the balance.

“Time has healed the wound for all of us,” he reflected. “It healed his injury and it healed our mental wounds, it was devastating for all of us.”

Two years later, last Saturday, the courageous son of Jet Master became the first horse for 25 years to win consecutive renewals of the Summer Cup.

There will be a lot to play for in next year’s Summer Cup. It is believed Woodruff will be attempting to become the first trainer in history to achieve five  successive wins of one of South Africa’s big three, the Durban July, the Met and the Summer Cup, while Master Sabina will be bidding to join the greats Java and Elevation in winning the Summer Cup three years in succession.

Master Sabina (JC Photographics)

Master Sabina will be eight-years-old next year, but Woodruff is optimistic the athletic gelding will still be racing. He said, “He is such a young horse at heart, he was not even tired yesterday (Sunday). He will tell us if he wants to race next year, but at the moment he is sound and well, he loves racing and is very competitive. We will not abuse him and will race him sparingly and pick his goals carefully.”

One destination which will never be on his program again is Cape Town.

Woodruff said, “He hates it there, the slow pace doesn’t suit him and he doesn’t like a left hand turn. He’s good at right-handed Turffontein and Greyville. His worst form is at Kenilworth.” His chief target this season is likely the Premier’s Champions Challenge, to be run on 29 April next year. Woodruff said, “It is for R5 million over his favourite track and trip.”

There was a nerve jangling moment on Saturday when a gap began closing on the resolute Master Sabina due to July winner The Conglomerate hanging inward towards Master Switch. Woodruff said, “You do worry at moments like that, but I could see his little white blaze progressing all the way. He then put his body in the gap, shouldered The Conglomerate and straightened him.” The handsome horse surged through to win by a cosy 1,3 lengths under another brilliant ride by Gavin Lerena. It was Woodruff’s sixth Summer Cup and Lerena’s third.

Woodruff was also pleased with five-year-old Jet Master gelding Master Switch’s 1,6 length third. “He ran up to our hopes, he is a progressive horse with good form, he is a really nice handicapper and we will aim him at the July.” Master Switch had the disadvantage of a wide draw and also broke through the gates at the start.

Woodruff said, “He had to wait for a while and The Conglomerate then threw a tantrum which got him going. They never win after bursting through, the adrenalin gets going to early and it wastes energy. So from that draw it was a helluva good run. He is typical of the tall and leggy Jet Masters. Like Yorker, he is a late four-year-old and five-year-old. In fact he is lighter than Yorker, so has taken even longer.”

Singapore Sling (JC Photographics)

The yard could find nothing amiss with Deo Juvente after his disappointing run. Woodruff did not use the officially “very soft” ground as an explanation. He said, “It was warm and by race seven it had dried substantially. I would say the ground for the race was on the good side of yielding. Soft ground would not have suited Master Sabina.”

The yard will stick to shorter trips for their other runner, Master ‘N Commander.

Woodruff had been much confident before this year’s race than last, because the latter was only Master Sabina’s second run after the tendon injury.

He had finished second in the 2013 Summer Cup to stablemate Yorker and they had fancied him strongly two years ago in a race which was eventually won by his Triple Crown-winning stablemate Louis The King.

Horses coming back from tendon injuries often only last two or three runs before the injury reoccurs. The infliction is probably a trainer’s most dreaded nightmare.

It was thus fortunate the yard discovered the injury within an hour of it happening. They iced it and took other precautions before the veterinarian arrived. Consequently there is no core lesion and the tendon is no longer at the forefront of concerns.

The yard had earlier battled with a pectoral muscle injury to Master Sabina.

However, his 27 runs in a four year span speaks of one who has always been given sufficient time to recover from his races and hence his happiness and longevity.

Meanwhile, Woodruff has another powerful string to his bow in Saturday’s Investec Dingaans winner Singapore Sling.

He said, “He pleasantly surprised us. I was happy with his run in the Graham Beck, but he was still very green. When I saw him hitting the front on Saturday and not stopping I knew we had a top quality horse. He had been playing the fool with us. He had always felt top quality, but we had never seen it.”

The bare form shows the Philanthropist gelding improving from seventh in a MR 68 Handicap in his second career start, to winning a Gr 2 against some of best three-year-olds in the country two runs later. However, Woodruff pointed out he had been absolutely T-boned at the start of that second run and then impeded at the 300m mark.

“Gavin Lerena (who rode fourth placed Doosra) said this morning the Dingaans was a very strong field,” he revealed.

Singapore Sling, being a gelding, does not need to chase black type success. Stakes accumulation will be his aim.

Woodruff thus intends running him in the R1 million Cape Guineas on December 17 partly to see whether he will be suited to the course and distance ahead of his chief target, the $US500,000 CTS 1600 on Sun Met day.

By David Thiselton

The Vaal Inside track stages a low key eight race meeting tomorrow, following the heady excitement at Turffontein on Saturday, and low draws will be favourable by trends.

The highest rated race on the card is an intriguing MR 89 Handicap over 1400m.

Danza is a talented sort, but tends to over race in trips beyond 1200m. Last time he appreciated a fast pace over this trip and went close to upsetting the classy Brazuca. He was well drawn that day, but from a tough draw in this race his best chance, under Gavin Lerena, would appear to be to go to the front.

The progressive three-year-old Refuge ran on from last in his last start over course and distance and got up under Piere Strydom. He is only three points higher now and has a nice galloping weight of 53kg with high-flying S’Manga Khumalo up. He has a high draw, but there looks to be a lot of pace in the race, so he should have an opportunity to find cover.

Alec Laird

Trading Profit beat the like of Judicial and French Navy once in a Pinnacle Stakes race over 1800m. He prefers further but ran 6,1 lengths behind Kangaroo Jack over 1450m in the Jo’burg Spring Challenge this season when receiving just 1kg and a repeat of that run off a merit rating now down to 85 will see him finishing thereabouts.

Life Is Good is a robust son of Var, who impressed when winning his maiden over 1200m at Scottsville in August. The form of that race has worked out well and with trainer Neil Bruss now overseas he has joined the Mike Azzie yard. However, he has the highest draw in the eight horse field.

Another former Bruss inmate Go Direct makes his seasonal reappearance for the Geoff Woodruff yard. On the Gold Cup day he only just failed to win the Listed Darley Arabian from start to finish over 1600m on the Greyville poly. He would prefer further, but running fresh could be a threat here from the pole position draw and he might make life tough for Danza by attempting to set the pace.

Imperial Gold has a plum low draw and should be able to sit in behind the pacemakers if the race pans out as predicted. However, this horse has not lived up to expectations, one reason being he just doesn’t seem to go through with his efforts. Off his current 79 merit rating he is battling to get his nose in front, although a 1,5kg up should help.

The second is an intriguing maiden over 1700m. Just Cruised In stayed on over 1600m last time from a tricky draw and now has pole position. Piere Strydom remains aboard and he likely recommended the blinkers which are now on. If they bring any improvement the Just As Well gelding could be the one to beat.

Pilou is a colt by Western Winter, whose stamina range is quite difficult to predict because he is a full-brother to both Bichette and Viva Maria, the first a sprint-miler and the second the 4,5 length start to finish winner of the Gr 1 Woolavington 2000. On debut Pilou ran on strongly over 1200m, but in his second start moved up well over 1450 before staying on only at one pace. However, the latter was understandable as he came from a high draw and he now has a good draw. The prediction is he will stay and overall his form looks just about the strongest here, so he should go close.

Military Award caught the eye in his penultimate start over 1400m when staying on strongly, but then over raced when beaten by Pilou among others over 1450m last time. He is by the miler Brave Tin Soldier out of a Jet Master mare who won twice over a mile, so should stay the trip. He now has a better draw, so if he settles will be a big runner.

Inn A Million stayed on quite well from a wide draw on debut in the R250,000 maiden on Charity Mile day over 1600m and with expected improvement could also be right there from a fair draw. Speed Monitor is quite a talented sort, but tends to over race. A wide draw therefore does not augur well, but he can’t be ignored because he settled well under Raymond Danielson last time out and the latter remains aboard.

The Pick 6 is tough, but a banker must be found somewhere. Captain Chips races in the sixth for trainer Alec Laird, a MR 71 Handicap over 1400m, where he has a manageable draw of seven. He has found little extra when thereabouts over 1600m in his last two, so he should appreciate the step down to a trip where he has hard knocking handicap form and a win in the maidens. Furthermore, he has come down two points in the merit ratings for the two 1600m runs.

Penstock in the last is another possibility for a banker as he has been lowered to a competitive merit rating and is dropped back to a probable more suitable trip of 2000m. He has a plum draw too. Malinga and Skynight also make some appeal in that event.

Punters could get off to a good start with Devadip in the first over 2000m, as he was only beaten last time over 1800m by a horse who was thought good enough to be in Saturday’s Dingaans. He will likely relish the step up in trip too, being by Captain Al and a half-brother to the middle distance-to-staying type Estimation.

By David Thiselton

Geoff Woodruff’s fourth consecutive victory in the Gr 1 Sansui Summer Cup on Saturday might have pundits pouring through the record books, because at first sight he looks likely to have become one of an elite trio.

Five-times SA champion trainer Woodruff, the former SA champion jockey Gavin Lerena, owner and breeder Michael de Broglio, and the seven-year-old gelding Master Sabina, combined on Saturday to win Johannesburg’s most prestigious race for the second year in succession.

Two reigning champions, Sean Tarry and S’Manga Khumalo, both had days to remember too, with five and four winners respectively, while the late great seven-times SA champion sire Jet Master had another couple of accolades added to his CV.

Geoff Woodruff (Nkosi Hlophe)

The Summer Cup is considered one of South African racing’s big three along with the Vodacom Durban July and the Sun Met. Woodruff looks to have joined only two other trainers in achieving four successive wins of any one of these races, unless a search through the archives reveals something other.

Trainer Fred Murray won the July four times in succession between 1910 and 1913, while the recently retired trainer Mike Bass won the Met four-times in succession between 2007 and 2010. Murray did it with four different horses, Bass did it with two horses and Woodruff three. Both Bass and Woodruff owe a lot to Jet Master for the achievement.

The Bass-trained Jet Master gelding Pocket Power won three successive Mets. The following year his full-sister and stablemate River Jetez upset him when he was going for a fourth successive win.

Remarkably two of the Woodruff horses involved in his four-in-a-row Summer Cup streak are also by Jet Master.

Jet Master gelding Yorker got the Woodruff roll going by winning it in 2013. Black Minnaloushe colt Louis The King won it for him in 2014.

Then on Saturday, Jet Master gelding Master Sabina became the first horse to win consecutive Summer Cups since the Jean Heming-trained filly Roland’s Song achieved the feat 25 years ago.

It remains to seen whether Master Sabina will attempt to emulate the greats Java and Elevation, who both won the big race three years in succession.

What makes Woodruff’s Summer Cup dominance even more remarkable is that in 2013 he filled the trifecta, plus fifth place, and he filled the exacta positions in both 2014 and 2015.

Master Sabina finished second to Yorker in 2013 to give Jet Master the exacta. Jet Master nearly achieved the feat again this year as his son Master Switch, also trained by Woodruff, finished third.

The Joey Ramsden-trained The Conglomerate finished second on Saturday and was thus denied becoming the first horse to win the July and the Summer Cup in the same year since the Woodruff-trained El Picha achieved the feat in 1999.

Woodruff has now won the Summer Cup six times and Lerena three times.

Earlier, Woodruff’s Drakenstein Stud-bred Philanthropist gelding, Singapore Sling, threw the three-year-old division wide open by beating a quality field in the Gr 2 Investec Dingaans, which included a powerful trio of Mike de Kock-trained horses. Of the latter Heavenly Blue in second place caught the eye as one who will make a massive impact in the classics.

By David Thiselton

Winners proved difficult to find at Greyville yesterday with upset results the order of the day, but the first race back on the turf track after a three-month spring break saw the progressive Miss Minver take her tally of victories to four from six starts in the Beekman Management Services KZN 3YO Series Fillies.

Miss Minver (Nkosi Hlophe)

Dean Kannemeyer’s Dynasty filly boasts a smart pedigree that suggest further than a mile is well within her compass and although she met yesterday’s field on favourable weight terms there was very little in it and she could well prove a candidate for the filly’s classics come Champions Season.

Karatage, who easily landed a gamble on debut, was sent out a luke-warm 5-2 favourite but found the step up in class too much to handle and it was left to Onesie to chase home for second.

Kannemeyer and Anthony Delpech were quickly back in the winner’s enclosure as Pure Logic, making her local debut on the back of some good Cape Town form, finished too strongly for the year-older Calabash.

The trainer and jockey combination got their day off to a fine start with Prince Myshkin building on his two smart poly efforts to shed his maiden in the second of the day.

Trainers are quick to latch onto any apprentice that shows a modicum of talent to take advantage of their claim and both Denis Schwarz and Calvin Habib fall into that category. Both recorded doubles yesterday although punters would not have been well pleased as all four were on outsiders. Schwarz was first off the mark on the Belinda Impey-trained She Done Good (27-1) and following up with an excellent ride on Caprivi (18-1) for Des Egdes as he got his mount to quicken smartly over the final 100m to win going away.

Habib scored a quick double on two long-shots, Joshua’s Answer (22-1) for Lizaane Forbes from a wide gate and following up on the Frank Robinson-trained veteran Sounds Positive (22-1) in a particularly courageous ride as he barged through a closing gap.

Less than one percent of the Pick 6 was won resulting in a large carry over.

By Andrew Harrison

Geoff Woodruff sends out four runners in search of his fourth successive Gr 1 Gauteng Sansui Summer Cup over 2000m at Turffontein tomorrow with last year’s first two past the post, Master Sabina and Deo Juvente, topping the betting boards and grabbing most of the attention. But the lightly-raced Master Switch has just as much going for him and could present decent value (around 16-1) in a fiercely competitive renewal of ‘The People’s Race’.

Anthony Delpech (Liesl King)

Master Switch was rated around the 86 mark this time last year but has progressed to a 101 since and was again impressive on his season return when boxing on to fend off Master Sabina in a top division handicap over 1800m at the Vaal. That was just the fifteenth start for the Jet Master-gelding who looks open to further improvement this term and has a profile that suits the handicap conditions of the Summer Cup.

The big drawback is a wide draw of 18 but the booking of the accomplished Anthony Delpech for the ride is enough to ease these concerns. Delpech has overcome far worse in steering home dozens of Grade 1 winners during his career and Master Switch has the necessary gate speed to assist in the task of finding a good early position. With just 53,5kg on his back, Master Switch looks a big runner tomorrow and is a must inclusion in all bets.

Woodruff, looking for his sixth Summer Cup overall, felt earlier this week that Master Sabina’s preparation had gone much better than last year when they were unsure of whether they had him fit enough. Speaking to TabNews he said: “I leant towards Deo Juvente (last year), who was flying, but Master Sabina beat him a short head.”

But this year: “He’s pleased me in his work, looks very well in his coat and is much closer to his fighting weight. Master Sabina is what I call a Gary Player seven-year-old. He might be a year older, but Gavin [Lerena] gets on incredibly well with him and he can still be competitive,” said Woodruff.

Woodruff was also encouraged by Deo Juvente’s recent performance in the Charity Mile: “[That] was a nice comeback over a trip that’s short of his best. We have Anton Marcus in the saddle and for me he is one of the greatest riders this country has produced.”

Woodruff’s fourth runner is Master ‘N Commander who has yet to prove himself over this trip. But the trio of Deo Juvente, Master Sabina and Master Switch could provide the yard with another Summer Cup exacta and are worth chancing in smaller exotic perms.

If you’re going wider, the Duncan Howells pair of Saratoga Dancer and Ten Gun Salute are definite inclusions. Saratoga Dancer confirmed that his close-up finishes in the Vodacom Durban July (5^th to The Conglomerate) and Champions Cup (4^th to Marinaresco) were no flukes when giving New Predator a big scare in the Charity Mile (2^nd). Nothing went right for Ten Gun Salute in the same race but he remains “pretty well handicapped” according to his trainer and suited by this trip. Ten Gun Salute is not the easiest of rides but this is the perfect race for him to begin fulfilling his potential.

Of the rest, Mac De Lago and Liege appeal on form alone with the recently gelded Samurai Blade respected at the weights and on potential.

Kangaroo Jack is likely to prove a popular favourite in the fourth, Gr 2 Merchants, but Trip To Heaven has improved since being gelded and must go into all bets – especially if the going is on the soft side.

Mike de Kock holds a strong hand in the Investec Dingaans with a talented trio of runners headed by Heavenly Blue who is fancied to continue on a steep upward curve.

By Brendan Pather

The Gr 1 Gauteng Sansui Summer Cup has not been won twice in succession since the Jean Heming-trained Roland’s Song completed the feat 25 years ago, but the Geoff Woodruff-trained Master Sabina could achieve it again this year.

Deo Juvente (Sporting Post)

The seven-year-old Jet Master gelding impressed in his preparation run and goes into tomorrow’s big race off only a one point higher merit rating than he had last year. Compared to last year he is effectively 1,5kg better off with his stablemate Deo Juvente, whom he beat by 0,2 lengths. He had better luck in running than Deo Juvente last year but is drawn well again in 6. Lastly, he has enjoyed a better preparation than he had last year and on top of his one build up race has had four grass gallops.

Deo Juvente has also had a good preparation and although facing a tougher task at the weights is drawn in 8 this year compared to 18 last year. He could repeat his runner up spot.

Mac De Lago is full of class and coming from the Weiho Marwing yard his one preparation run will be enough to have him spot on. He is capable of carrying topweight so from a plum draw of three will be a big runner.

The Conglomerate overcame a wide draw to win the Vodacom Durban July and will have to do so here too, so Piere Strydom will have to work his magic again. The Conglomerate was 2,5kg under sufferance in the July and was only raised five points so effectively runs off the same rating, which gives him a good chance. He has enjoyed a good preparation.

Saratoga Dancer showed his liking for Turffontein Standside in the Charity Mile and the only draw back he has here is his wide draw.

Samurai Blade looks to be off a lenient merit rating, considering he has a Gr 1 second and third to his name, so he should be involved in the finish from a good draw.

The aforementioned are fancied to finish in the top six in the order mentioned. However, none of the twenty runners can be ignored.

Punta Arenas loves to gallop so is interesting in his first visit to Turffontein Standside from a good draw.

Liege should be improving being by Dynasty, but as a handy type has it tough from a draw of 12.

Juxtapose is big and strong and full of class, so won’t be bumped around by the boys, and it would be no surprise to see her go close off an attractive merit rating.

Master Switch looks to have come into his own and has the Woodruff factor on his side.

Master ‘N Commander is better than his last run when trapped wide, but will have to be ridden cold over a trip which will stretch his stamina capacity.

Mogok Master didn’t have it pan out well for him last time and now has blinkers on, so with luck n running could be one of the dark horses.

No Worries is six points lower in the merit ratings than he was two years ago when finishing sixth.

Judicial has a fine record in this race and was “bursting out of his skin” before unfortunately casting himself in his box earlier this week. He will only line up if the swelling on his leg has gone down.

Stonehenge could be dangerous from the front with a lightweight, but the downside is his wide draw.

Ten Gun Salute is a dark horse from a fair draw over an ideal trip as he has plenty of ability, although he does need things to go his way.

Irish Pride is 2kg under sufferance and has a stamina doubt, but was finishing strongly in the Charity Mile and for a very much in form yard is another dark horse.

St. Tropez should love the course and distance and is drawn in pole. He is 0,5kg under sufferance, but has always struck as one who could go places. However, both his July and his Charity Mile runs were disappointing.

Romany Prince has a tough draw and has to bounce back from an ordinary run in the Charity Mile, which was his only preparation outing.

Bankable Teddy is better than his Victory Moon run when over racing behind a slow pace, but he has a tough task being 4kg under sufferance.

In the Gr 2 Investec Dingaans, Heavenly Blue has a wide draw, but should relish the step up in trip. He could give Mike de Kock his second successive win of the prestigious three-year-old level weights event, although it looks highly competitive.

The third race, the Gr 3 Daily Sun Magnolia Handicap over 1160m, features Green Pepper. She looks to be a top class sprinter in the making and runs off a capped merit rating, having obliterated older horses last time when under sufferance. She is the best bet on the card.

The Gr 3 Fillies Mile has the days value bet, Tambalang, who found plenty extra last time despite appearing to over race a touch. She has a wide draw but with luck in running could cause an upset.

The Gr 2 Gauteng Ipi Tombe Challenge could see Polyphonic fighting it out with Negroamara. Polyphonic appears to have come into her own and gets the nod.

By David Thiselton

The Tyrone Zackey-trained soldier Judicial’s Sansui Summer Cup participation hangs in the balance after he cast himself (rolled) in his box earlier in the week and banged one of his legs.

Judicial (Nkosi Hlophe)

Zackey said on Wednesday it remained to be seen whether the swelling would come down in time for him to run, but added, “I will be the happiest man in the world if he is able to start, but won’t be cross if he doesn’t because he’s been so good to us. I worry about the horse and there are a lot of other races, we don’t want to hurt him.”

Zackey said the six-year-old gelding by Miesque’s Approval, who finished a three length third and a 1,1 length fourth in the last two running of the Summer Cup respectively, had been “bursting out of his skin”.

“He ran a good race in the Victory Moon with that weight and it was maybe because he was so well that he rolled in his box.”

Judicial has a plum draw of two, as opposed to his draws of 13 and 20 in the last two renewals of the big race. Karl Zechner, who rode him to third two years ago, knows him well and is aboard again.

Front Rank (Nkosi Hlophe)

Zackey’s only other runner on the day is Front Rank, who runs in the tenth race, a MR 95 Handicap over 1600m. Zackey said nothing could be found wrong with the consistent five-year-old Mogok gelding after his disappointing run two weeks ago over 1800m at Turffontein. That was in fact the first time he had been tried beyond a mile.

He has won over Saturday’s course and distance before and has a plum draw of three with Zechner up. Betting World have priced him up at 11/2 in the ten horse field. Zackey said, “He has been working very well and is a good each-way bet.”

By David Thiselton