David Thiselton

PUNTERS were thrown a curve ball on Saturday when it appeared the going down the straight at the Summer Cup meeting appeared to be the opposite to what it normally is so it is tough to predict what will happen in the straight course races in tomorrow’s Standside meeting.

The high draws are usually favourable down the straight, especially when there has been rain, but on Saturday those drawn high appeared to be battling to go through with their efforts and low drawn horses if anything were at an advantage instead of their normal disadvantage.

Where the going will be today is of importance considering the last leg of the Pick 6 is over 1000m.

This is a Classified Stakes race so it is based on nett merit rated bands and females also receive a 1,5kg allowance. 

May Queen’s 74 merit rating is in the top band from 72 to 75 who are allotted 62kg, but the allowance means she carries 60.5kg. She won her maiden over this trip and followed up by winning over this course and distance by 0,20 lengths off a 70 merit rating. She is now four points higher but in that last win she beat Mind Reader by 0,80 lengths when receiving 2kg and the latter then came out and beat Touch Of Fate by 0,25 lengths when giving the latter 2.5kg. As May Queen only has to give Touch Of Fate half-a-kilogram tomorrow she should beat him on paper. She looks to be a solid progressive filly who possesses plenty of natural speed although the best scenario for her s a strong pace as she is usually not quickly away and she likes to take a sit while striding out. She should enjoy this course and distance then as it is a fast track so the leaders usually go at a strong clip.

Touch Of Fate is the second selection based on his suitability to the minimum trip and he is a progressive sprinter. In his penultimate start nothing went his way from the widest draw of all over 1000m at Turffontein Inside and the rider eventually did not persevere. The 5,50 length eighth did not tell the full story so he was allowed to go off at 12/1 odds last week over 1000m at the Vaal and he was just touched off by 0,25 lengths by Mind Reader. He has been given a two point raise for that run but as he finished second and the weights were already out he will run off his old mark so is effectively 1kg well in. The question is whether his low draw of two will be favourable as it was on Saturday, or will it revert to being unfavourable. The other negative is that the in-form Muzi Yeni, who rode him in his last start, will not be aboard but instead rides Winter’s Power. The latter finished a four length seventh in his first start out of the maidens in a 1000m handicap when well drawn on Turffontein Inside and he runs off the same mark again here. He does not have as good a chance as Touch Of Fate.

Three-year-old Gang Leader got a bad start over this course and distance last time, losing two lengths, and still finished just a length back. With Kennedy now aboard he has a shout as an improving sort whose nett merit rating of 71 falls at top of one of the bands. His connections will be going with the high draws which are favourable as he in barrier eleven out of the 15 runners. Track And Ball make him second favourite at 13-2.

Kwite A Trip, whose 75 nett merit rating puts him at the top of the topweight band, is a long-striding sort who has plenty of scope for improvement and he possesses plenty of speed so he is a worthy favourite. He finished just 1,55 lengths behind the decent Thumbs Up last time over 1100m when receiving 2.5kg plus a further 2.5kg claim and considering he made a breathing noise the drop down to 1000m should suit.

Afriel is the third favourite at 7/1 and is a most interesting runner considering he lost three lengths last time but was beaten only half-a-length. He was half-a-length ahead of Gang Leader and faces him on 1kg worse terms this time if the apprentice claims from last time are ignored, although that weight swing merely represents the weight for age difference between November and December, Afriel being a four-year-old and Gang Leader a three-year-old. 

Bridge Of Spies was also in the mix in that race and faces Afriel on the same terms, if apprentice claims are ignored, having been beaten by the slow starting latter by 0,20 lengths.

Florence will have a chance if producing her best as she is 1,5kg better off with May Queen for a neck beating over this trip, although if apprentice Syster’s claim, which has changed from 2.5kg to 1.5kg, is taken into account she is only half-a-kilogram better off. She is not the most consistent though.

Big City Girl is an interesting runner as she ran on well to score in her maiden over this trip, but this does look stronger. 

Soul Connection was disappointing last time when beaten 2,25 lengths by Gang Leader and 2,75 lengths by Afriel but he is capable and could bounce back. Ramsay won his maiden in his 8th start on the Hollywoodbets Greyville poly so doesn’t make much appeal. 

Alex The Great beat Touch Of F three runs ago but was well beaten by him last time and if apprentice claims are ignored is now only 1.5kg better off for a 4,50 length beating, although he is always capable of popping up. 

Karin B is another who won her maiden on the Hollywoodbets Greyville poly and it was in her 18th start, although officially she is the best weighted runner. 

Duet’s four lengths fourth to Written In Stone last time in his first stat on the Highveld under similar conditions was a fine effort although and he could earn with a repeat despite officially being 3kg under sufferance with Karin B if apprentice claims are ignored. 

Roksolana is raced wide last time so could do better and is another who can’t be ignored for a place as she finished only 1,50 lengths behind May Queen three runs ago over this trip.  

CAPE RACING has been in discussions with the NHRA regarding the possible temporary suspension of the movement of horses, locally and nationally.

Horses currently racing in the Western Cape have valid movement permits until 31 December 2020. Racing will continue as normal and discussions with SA Equine Health Protocols (SAEHP), Department of Agriculture (DALRRD) and the NHRA will be ongoing until a solution for the movement of horses is established.

Today’s meeting at Kenilworth will go ahead as planned.

Horses currently racing in the Western Cape have valid movement permits until 31 December 2020. Racing will continue as normal and discussions with SA Equine Health Protocols (SAEHP), Department of Agriculture (DALRRD) and the NHRA will be ongoing until a solution for the movement of horses is established.

Today’s meeting at Kenilworth will go ahead as planned.”

David Thiselton

WINTER SMOKE has been nominated for the Grade 2 Southern Cross Stakes to be run over 1000m at Kenilworth on December 12 after winning the Grade 3 WSB Magnolia Handicap over 1160m in fine style at Turffontein Standside on Saturday.

Trainer Ashley Fortune said the three-year-old What A Winter filly had taken the run well.

She will monitor how she has pulled up and see what the opposition looks like before deciding in consultation with the partners whether to travel.

If she does travel she will stay on in Cape Town to also take in the Grade 2 Cartier Sceptre Stakes over 1200m on the first day of the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate festival on January 8 next year.

However, her chief target for the season will be the Grade 1 City Of Pietermaritzburg Fillies Sprint over 1200m at Scottsville on June 5 next year.

“She deserves a Grade 1,” said Fortune.

She added there would be many options for her before that date and a distinct possibility would be a tilt at the Grade 1 Computaform Sprint over 1000m on May 1 next year.

Fortune believes 1200m is the pacey filly’s best trip but said she might be just as effective over 1000m. 

She said, “She fought the challengers off gamely on Saturday, but she has only ever been allowed to stride out freely over 1000m once (winning by 8,25 lengths on debut), so she could be just as good at that trip.”

On Saturday Winter Smoke was 0.5kg under sufferance carrying the minimum weight of 52kg and under Calvin Habib fended off four-year-old Gallic Princess, who carried 60.5kg, to win by 0,75 lengths. Double ‘O’ Eight finished a 1,25 length third carrying 53.5kg.

Winter Smoke was raised from 102 to 109 for the win and Gallic Princess was raised from 109 to 114.

Winter Smoke will thus have to show the normal weight for age improvement plus an additional 2.5kg to beat Gallic Princess in the SA Fillies Sprint if Saturday’s form is anything to go by. However, in her favour was that having led from the off she fought off Gallic Princess and was beginning to pull away at the line. 

The tough 1000m at Kenilworth should suit her and she should also enjoy the 1200m course at Scottsville. 

Both the Southern Cross and Sceptre are run under weight for age plus penalties conditions but the good news for her is that only Grade 1 and Grade 2 wins are penalised.   

David Thiselton

SUMMER PUDDING has “pulled up nicely” after her thrilling WSB Summer Cup victory and should soon be on her way to Cape Town.

Trainer Paul Peter said, “All things being equal she will go for the Paddock Stakes (on January 9). She might then go for the Sun Met, there is a long enough gap (three weeks), so we will monitor how she pulls up before deciding. But the Paddock is her main mission, it is every breeder’s dream to win the Paddock Stakes.”

If she wins the Paddock Stakes she will have made it ten wins from ten starts so her attempt at equalling the South African eleven race unbeaten record of Homeguard might happen in the Sun Met. 

Peter said it was unlikely his Grade 2 Dingaans winner Catch Twentytwo would be on the float to Cape Town and Dingaans runner up MK’s Pride will definitely not be.

He said, “I doubt Catch Twentytwo will go but we will keep our options open. The conditions on Saturday were testing.”

He reckoned the Elusive Fort gelding would not get much further than 1800m, although his style of running gave him a chance of getting that trip. He said, “His half-sister Fly Away holds the 1000m course record at The Vaal.”

MK’s Pride is going to be aimed at the Johannesburg season.

Peter celebrated Saturday’s momentous day with a supper with his family but was in bed early as he had to get up at 2 a.m. to transport Ideal Jet down to Hollywoodbets Scottsville.

“It was worth it because she won,” he said.

He said the feeling of winning the Summer Cup had been “mind boggling”.

He continued, “I finished second in this race once and even that was an unbelievable feeling. But growing up I could never have even dreamed I would one day win the Summer Cup let alone with such famous colours.” 

Peter had humble beginnings and grew up in a house ten minutes walk away from Turffontein racecourse.

He absolutely loved horses and would never miss a meeting even as an under age school kid.

He said, “Security eventually got tired of throwing me out but I had to keep a low profile on the course.”

His father loved the game too and he also used to go and see the horses at the stables with his Uncle.

Ormond Ferraris was always the trainer he followed most so it was ironic he inherited Summer Pudding from him upon his retirement and that the legendary trainer was to provide him with so much advice on conditioning her. Ferraris was not on course on Saturday but never misses a minute of the action on TV when Summer Pudding is competing.

Peter has taken the lead in the National Trainers Championship.

He concluded, “We want to keep it like that so will be trying to win the big ones.”   

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.