Geoff Woodruff has the Sansui Summer Cup winner Master Sabina fit and well ahead of the Vodacom Durban July.
His big race jockey Gavin Lerena was happy with his final gallop at Randjesfontein yesterday (Wednesday). Lerena was released by the Hong Kong Jockey club about two weeks ago for compassionate leave after the passing of a relative of his, “Uncle George” Scott.
Master Sabina was due to travel down to Summerveld this morning and he will have a canter upon arrival.
Master Sabina (JC Photos)
Woodruff said his J&B Met run could be ignored. He said, “He was ridden back to front to try and overcome the draw and it didn’t work out.” He needed his last run, on May 21 at Turffontein Inside track, when 6,85 lengths back in a Pinnacle Stakes race over 1800m and it was “factored in as part of his preparation.”
That was his first run for four months. Interestingly, his Summer Cup win was his second run after a one year layoff and followed an unplaced run over the same Turffontein Inside track 1800m as his last run.
Summer Cup winners have a poor winning record in the July, but significantly the last horse to go on to achieve the double was the Woodruff-trained El Picha in the 1999/2000 season.
El Picha also became the second horse in history to defend his July crown.
Master Sabina has proved his liking for the July course and distance in the past as he was an impressive winner of the consolation race, the Gr 3 tabGold 2200, in 2014, although he did it off a 100 merit rating. He is now merit rated 108, meaning he is one of a mere five horses in the July who are not officially under sufferance.
He is drawn eight which should allow him to do it the way he likes it and that is to come from a midfield position.
Gavin Lerena won on him in the Summer Cup off a 105 merit rating from draw 7. He carries the identical weight on Saturday of 56,5kg and also face French Navy on the same terms despite having beaten him by 0,6 lengths.
On paper this relatively lightly raced six-year-old must have a big shout.
By David Thiselton
