Turffontein trainer Paul Peter said a decision would be made at the end of the week on Summer Pudding’s participation in the Grade 1 Woolavington 2000 but he added she would definitely not be running in the Vodacom Durban July.

The Silvano filly has now won six out of six and doubling that number will earn her a new South African record unbeaten streak.

The mark of eleven wins unbeaten was set by Home Guard in the late 1960s.

If the Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara heroine does travel down for the Woolavington she will travel shortly before the race and will then “winter” at Summerveld for the rest of the season. 

Peter watched her bid to become the third horse to win the Triple Tiara on one of the only two working TV’s at a deserted Turffontein, near the jockey’s room, and said although normally quiet during races he could not on this occasion contain his emotions.

He did have one moment of real concern, explaining, “She hit a flat spot at the top of the straight.”

Some fans feared the worst when Gavin Lerena’s attempt to slot her in was thwarted by Diego De Gouveia’s determined race riding on the eventual third-placed Ballet Shoes.

Lerena was thus forced to stay out wide down the entire back straight. However, this did not concern Peter, who said, 

“She was comfortable and if you are on the best horse it is ok to be a little wide, you are going to then be sure of getting a run.”

Lerena did find cover around the final turn but had to become urgent 500m out to extract her from her flat spot.

She found her gears at the 400m mark.

She then ranged alongside her chief market rival Marygold and then in resolute style her big stride carried her clear.

She was bred by Mauritzfontein and Wilgerbosdrift Stud and is owned by the former. 

Mauritzfontein stud owners Stephen and Jessica Jell were soon conveying how proud they were of the unbeaten filly on a social media video.

Peter said the Jells and Mary Slack of Wilgerbosdrift Stud were “really nice” people to train for and elaborated, “They really love their horses and are ecstatic when they win and happy if they just return home safe.”

The win was richly deserved as the Jells and Slack had recently kindly stepped in as financiers of a Phumelela business Rescue plan. Accolades duly poured in for the much respected family.

Meanwhile, Ormond Ferraris, who never misses a day at the tracks as a valued advisor to Peter, had an extra spring in his step this morning (Monday). 

The Peter yard had three other impressive winners on the day. 

In the first, a workriders maiden over 1600m, the two-year-old Marchfield filly Cloth Of Ice galloped clear to win by 2,25 lengths under Tshepiso Matsoele. She has plenty of scope for improvement and Peter is eyeing the Grade 1 Thekwini Stakes over 1600m at Greyville on Gold Cup day, August 29.

Later, four-year-old Ideal World filly Vistula bounced  back to her best in a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1600m, winning by 2,50 lengths under Lerena.

She will now go for the Grade 1 HSH Princess Charlene Stakes over the same course and distance on Champions day June 27. After that she might take her place in the Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes over 1600m on July day, where she ran fifth last year.

Jet Start then displayed her finishing speed when winning the last, a Pinnacle Stakes event over 2000m, in comfortable style under Calvin Habib, and she will likely also be seen in a forthcoming feature.

By David Thiselton 

The Vaal Monday meeting features a Pinnacle Stakes race over 1000m sponsored by Betting World which has attracted many top sprinters, most of whom will be preparing for the Grade 1 Computaform Sprint to be run on Champions Day, March 27.

The three-year-old filly True To Life has exceptional natural speed and could upset the two best males in the race, Mr Flood and Chimichuri Run. However, she does have a low draw, which is sometime disadvantageous on the Vaal straight course. Calvin Habib was aboard her last time when she won easily at Hollywoodbets Greyville over 1400m and retains the ride.

Mr Flood has looked to be a star in the making from day one and since returning from a layoff of more than a year has won three and placed second once in four starts. It was likely only the low draw which beat him last time too in the Grade 2 Senor Santa Stakes. His strength is his ability to find extra when challenged.

Chimichuri Run is the reigning Grade 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint winner and carries topweight. He is better at 1200m but is fitted with blinkers whenever he runs over 1000m and finished third in the Computaform Sprint last year.

The filly Mighty High is also a Grade 1 winner and beat Mr Flood narrowly when last meeting in the Senor Santa.

Two others to consider are Winter Storm and Singforafa.

PA (R216)
Leg 1: 10,2
Leg 2: 1,3,4
Leg 3: 3,2
Leg 4: 6
Leg 5: 4,5,2
Leg 6: 5,2
Leg 7: 3,6,10

Pick 6 (R3600)
Leg 1: 1,3,4,2,10
Leg 2: 3,2
Leg 3: 6,3
Leg 4: 4,5,2,1,3,14,11,8,12
Leg 5: 5,2,1,10
Leg 6: 3,6,10,8,1

JACKPOT (270)
Leg 2: 3,2,1
Leg 3: 6,3
Leg 4: 4,5,2,1,3,14,11,8,12
Leg 5: 5,2,1,10,9

BEST BET Race 6: No. 6 OUR MAN IN HAVANA

VALUE BET Race 5: No. 3 BELLAGIO KING

By David Thiselton

Bunker Hunt gave early notice that he will be a force to be reckoned with in the next three months of South Africa’s Champion Season with a stunning display in the Grade 2 Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes at Hollywoodbets Greyville today.

L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate winner Vardy was a short-priced favourite and looked to have most in his favour, but Bunker Hunt put the race to bed in a matter of strides as Keagan de Melo let him loose at the top of the straight.

Vardy challenged pacemaker Kasimir all the way up the straight but was just not able to get to terms, but the pair were no match for Bunker Hunt who swept past up their inside to win as he liked.

Given his previous form, this was a distance that looked short of his best but he showed plenty of class in victory. Much was expected of Bunker Hunt last winter but he met with many hiccups and this could be his year.

His name is sure to be among the first nominations for the Vodacom Durban July that are due tomorrow.

Trained by Justin Snaith, Bunker Hunt races in the familiar silks of Sabine Plattner and was bred at Varsfontein Stud.

There’s not much of her but what she lacks in stature she makes up for in courage. The diminutive but feisty Mississippi Burning scored back-to-back Fillies Guineas victories with a last gasp triumph in the Grade 2 World Sports Betting Fillies Guineas, the favourite edging home ahead of rank outsider Mary O with Labyrinth some way back in third.

The race was hardly run to suit as Lady Legend set a modest pace but Craig Zackey had his mount in the box seat, one off the fence as the pace quickened up approaching the final turn.

Hunting daylight, Zackey angled his mount up the inside fence and gradually wore down Mary O who was game in defeat.

Trained by Adam Marcus, Mississippi Burning races in the familiar silks of Mario Ferreira and was bred at Mike and Tanya McHardy’s Rathmor Stud.

Star filly Beach Beauty was nigh unbeatable at Hollywoodbets Greyville and her aptly named son, Wild Coast, scored a narrow, upset victory in the Grade 2 World Sports Betting Guineas at the same venue. In a nail-biting finish, Donovan Dillon got the colt home in the shadow of the post, edging out pacemaker Padre Pio with Cape Derby winner Golden Ducat putting a storming late effort for third, a showing that augurs well for the Grade1 Dily News 2000.

Wild Coast was the outsider of Justin Snaith’s pair with Sachdev starting favourite but Wild Coast will not be denied his place in the sun. Captain Demonami was an early casualty as he refused to jump and it was Craig Zackey, hunting back-to-back Guineas triumphs, who set the pace on Padre Pio. As in the filly’s equivalent, the field was barely out of an early canter and Frosted Gold the next casualty. He was forced to check and switch off the heels of the pack, losing valuable ground.

Dillon had Wild Coast settled midfield and once in the straight set out after Padre Pio who had pinched a lead and was showing no signs of stopping. Sachdev loomed dangerous for a few strides but didn’t go on with his effort as Wild Coast gradually ate into Padre Pio’s lead and nailed him on the line.

Trained by Justin Snaith, Wild Coast is owned by Anyaasec (Pty) Ltd and Miss Caroline Rupert and was bred at the Rupert’s Drakenstein Stud.

By Andrew Harrison

Featured Image: Bunker Hunt (Candiese Lenferna)

Vardy, stunning winner of the Gr1 Queen’s Plate, starts his Champions Season campaign in the Gr2 Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes at Hollywoodbets Greyville tomorrow. Adam Marcus has the Vodacom Durban July in his plans and the gelding he looks difficult to oppose in this season opener.

Vardy took on the best ‘milers’ in the country in the Queen’s Plate and gave them a galloping lesson, coming from off the pace and breezing past the opposition in seemingly effortless fashion.

On that performance the Gr1 Sun Met looked well within his compass but there is never a racing certainty in this sport as favourite Hawwaam, ran into the back of him, fatally compromising both horse’s chances.

Hawwaam starts his season in the Gr1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes at Turffontein today, and if their stars align the pair could meet again come Saturday, July 25.

Given the weight conditions of the Drill Hall, Vardy need only be at half-throttle to win and this should be the ideal blow-out for his next VDJ stepping stone, the Rising Sun Gold Challenge.

The only possible threat could come from top sprinter Kasimir. Justin Snaith’s charge is no stranger to the course having beaten the top filly Celtic Sea in the Gr1 Mercury Sprint last season. He comes into the race off a grinding victory in the Diadem Stakes at Kenilworth where he looked beaten a furlong out but kept fighting off all challengers. The majority of his form has been over 1200m but given his never-say-die attitude, Vardy’s rider, Craig Zackey, will need to be fully aware of what he is up against especially with master tactician Anton Marcus aboard.

Matador Man could battle in this line-up but loves this course while Sniper Shot tries blinkers for the first time. The balance should all prefer more ground.

Adam Marcus has had a stellar season to date, with two Gr1 wins to his credit. Vardy’s Queen’s Plate triumph was his second, Mississippi Burning his first in the Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas.

She is also in action in the World Sports Betting Fillies Guineas tomorrow where there are a few in opposition who will be looking to turn the tables.

Mississippi Burning is not the most striking physical specimen but she made her Cape rivals look pretty ordinary as she won the Guineas easing up with three lengths of daylight back to the runner-up Driving Miss Daisy, also in tomorrow’s line-up and one of the leading contenders. A repeat performance will see her hard to peg back.

Kelpie was no match in the Cape but has since run two smart races in open features and comes from a very much in form stable.

Labyrinth is unbeaten since Vaughan Marshall tried her in blinkers and looks a far better proposition than when beaten by Kelpie three runs back.

The Gr2 World Sports Betting Guineas is an intriguing contest where the Cape raiders are again likely to hold sway. Golden Ducat, a half-brother to the pair of top gallopers Rainbow Bridge and Hawwaam, was easy to back in the Cape Derby where he revelled in the ten-furlong contest beating the well fancied Sachdev. The pair meet again tomorrow, but the latter could be more at home over this shorter trip and able to turn the tables.

Golden Ducat is a giant of a horse and one would reasonably expect him to battle around the relatively tight Greyville circuit but the past has shown that big horses are not necessary at a disadvantage so it would be foolish to write off the Derby winner’s chances.

Count Jack comes off three straight wins, Sachdev his most recent victim, so must also come into the reckoning while local hopes could rest with Padre Pio and Guru’s Pride.

The lock-down initiated by the Covid-19 pandemic saw horse racing on hold for the past two months but was given the green light to resume last Monday, June 1. Under strict quarantine guidelines, only persons essential to the running of the race meeting are allowed on course but all races can be watched live on channel 239 on DStv. All TAB and bookmaker rooms are closed and betting can only be conducted on line.

By Andrew Harrison

Summer Pudding became only the third filly to win the Triple Tiara after powering home in the Gr1 SA Oaks at a deserted Turffontein today. Gavin Lerena rode a confident race on Paul Peter’s charge, racing three wide early but able to tuck in before the final turn.

Summer Pudding looked to be making heavy weather of it with 400m to run, but she kept finding to wear down Pomander and win rather comfortably in the end.

Owned by Jessica and Stephan Jell, Summer Pudding is out of the mare Cherry On The Cake, who is a half-sister to the dam of the 2013 Triple Tiara winner Cherry On The Top.

The latter was trained by the legendary Ormond Ferraris, who is now a valuable member of the Paul Peter team as an advisor and Peter was profuse in his praise for the veteran trainer.

Mike de Kock has had more than his fair share of tribulations with Hawwaam but it was back to business as usual in the Gr1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes. De Kock attributed a disappointing Cape Summer to all of his horses being ‘flat’, including Hawwaam and Queen Supreme, and both turned in their best today. Callan Murray drove Hawwaam to a comfortable victory while Queen Supreme came from last to snatch second ahead of an always game Cirillo.

De Kock and owner Sheik Hamdan are keen to see Hawwaam take on international opposition – “he is good enough” confirmed De Kock – but just when the colt travels is up to export protocols.

If via Mauritius, Hawwaam will be in quarantine before the Vodacom Durban July but if the European Union gives the green light for direct export, the July will still be an option.

The SA Derby saw a major upset as rank outside Out Of Your League gave Fabian Habib the first Gr1 winner of his short career. It was a win of sheer courage as Out Of Your League, made most of the running. Swamped by challengers with a furlong to go, he rallied gamely under Raymond Danielson to run them all out of it. The finish was not without drama as Out Of Your League and Shango came together over the final furlong. Gavin Lerena chose to up-grade a race review to a full-blown objection but it was a desperate gamble that was never going to succeed.

Got The Greenlight ran a terrific race in third, all over the winner before the final 100m tapped the last of his stamina.

By Andrew Harrison