Andrew Harrison

IF one gets through to the last leg of the Pick 6 unscathed, it can be a little nerve wracking if one has to rely on a last leg banker.

That may be the case at Hollywoodbets Greyville tomorrow where punters face a tricky build-up to the last leg and many will be relying on the Alyson Wright-trained Predator to oblige for them to collect.

Predator looks to be the most obvious exotic bet banker after being narrowly beaten at his last two and a repeat should see him hard to beat in this line-up.

Glacier Rush, Whateverittakes and Rock With Me, three that strike as the principal dangers, have all been soundly beaten by Predator in the past. Tilmeeth has been a touch disappointing but has shown some recent improvement and was not far back over course and distance last time out and could be a threat.

One to keep an eye on is Arminius who has improved with each outing for his new stable and any market support will warrant serious consideration.

Racey Stacey could oblige in the opening leg of the Pick 6. Little was expected of her at just her second start where she was easy to back, but she made good improvement over the extra ground and looks progressive.

A pair that could spoil expectations are Flymefree and Maxine Du Monde.

Flymefree steps up to a more suitable trip and although she has a wide draw to contend with, she looks set to improve especially as Robbie Hill has booked Anton Marcus for the ride. The Mark Dixon yard has made a welcome return to form and Maxine Du Monde was much improved last run when switching to the poly. You could write your own ticket about her chances that day but she will be at much shorter odds this time around.

The first leg of the jackpot is something of a minefield with all eight runners in with a winning chance should they produce their best. Dancing Feather is always threatening and it is a little surprising that she has only won twice to date. That can change tomorrow as she showed up well in a recent sprint and should be more effective over this trip. Purple Persuasion had Dancing Feather behind her when last they met and although she was a narrow winner last start that form has since been franked with second-placed Marsanne winning her next start. Purple Persuasion is not well in at these weights but this is her third run after a break and there could be more to come. Of the balance, Electric Surge goes well on the poly and is re-united with Marcus while Rille has been consistent of late and goes well over course and distance. Mary O has been disappointing since her second in the WSB Fillies Guineas but she has been rested and is obviously capable on her day.

In the fifth, Dennis Drier’s charge Caliente is something of a poly specialist, his last two wins coming on this surface. He only got a one-point rise for his last win and can go in again. Williams Land is drawn widest but it is a small field and judged on jockey allocations he looks the pick of the Kannemeyer trio. He was finishing off nicely over 1400m last run and the extra furlong should suit. African Sunrise hardly raised a gallop when tried in blinkers with Marcus giving up on the gelding a long way out. Wendy Whitehead’s runner is way better than that effort and may be worth one more chance with the blinkers removed. Born To Perform was another that hardly raised a gallop last outing but he gets first time blinkers which could see him find his best.

The sixth is a five-furlong dash and again there are a host of possibilities. Valiente has not been the easiest to follow but has a lot in his favour here. Although up in class he has the best of the draw and only 49.5kg on his back so he should make a bold showing. Coldhardcash is back over his favourite course and distance and his last run on the turf from a wide draw is best ignored. Hopskipandjump, stable companion to Valiente, is still going up the ratings. He is way better than his last effort and his regular pilot is back on board. Veteran Di Mazzio is always game and is also back over his best course and distance and Louis Goosen has booked Marcus for the ride. Ziva La Winter is the only three-year-old in the race and was a recent easy maiden winner. However, he looks useful and although jumping in class he can finish in the money.

The seventh is another open handicap. Velvet Season is battling for his second win and he could start at generous odds. He is never far back and goes very well over course and distance. Track Attack is also course and distance suited and has been consistent. He has a handy weight and should be right there. Of the balance, Arrow’s Mark has been in good form and his last win was over course and distance while Gentleman’s Wager has put in three smart recent efforts on the poly and was a close-up second last start. He must also rate a strong chance.

THE National Horseracing Authority confirms that the Inquiry which was scheduled to take place on Friday, 20 November 2020 in Durban, has been postponed.

The subject matter of the Inquiry is alleged racist comments made on social media by Trainer Mr Frank Robinson.

Mr Robinson has requested to be legally represented at the Inquiry, which the Inquiry Board has agreed to.

The rescheduled date and time for the Inquiry is Thursday, 26 November 2020 at 10h00.

The interim suspension imposed on Mr Robinson in terms of Rule 91.2 remains in place.

This interim suspension prevents Mr Robinson from entering or declaring horses under his licence until such time as the Inquiry is finalised.

In the interests of horse welfare, Mr Robinson will be permitted access to horses in his care during the period of interim suspension.

David Thiselton

THE WSB Summer Cup final field was announced yesterday and the spate of scratchings beforehand meant only one horse had to be eliminated.  

The final field panellists elected current form as the chief determining factor and made the brave decision to eliminate the former Summer Cup winner Tilbury Fort, who has not made the frame in any of his last dozen runs.

The weights were all dragged up as the topweight at the beginning of the week, Queen Supreme, has been redirected to the Grade 2 lpi Tombe Challenge. 

The new joint topweights are the Sean Tarry-trained 120 merit rated pair Zilzaal and Tierra Del Fuego.

Summer Pudding has to carry 59kg. The highest weight carried to victory by a female in the Summer Cup is 58kg by Empress Club in 1992 and Dancewiththedevil in 2011.

Summer Pudding also has to jump from draw 18 and faces males for the first time, so despite being unbeaten in eight starts her 18/10 odds do not look to be good value. She will attempt to give both Paul Peter and Warren Kennedy their first Summer Cup wins.

Pack Leader has a plum draw of four and carries 54,5kg. He appears to have blossomed in the yard of Alec Laird, who won the Summer Cup with Malteme in 2006. Even if he hasn’t improved his Sun Met seventh place is good enough form to win this race. He will be ridden by 2012 winning rider S’Manga Khumalo.  

Charles will attempt to give Mike de Kock a tenth Summer Cup victory, although this year is also the tenth anniversary of the great trainer’s last victory in this race with Flirtation in 2010. Charles’ two best runs to date have been a neck second in the Grade 1 Cape Derby last year and a 0,75 length second in the Grade 2 Peermont Emperor’s Palace Charity Mile in his second start on the Highveld last time out. Last year’s Cape Derby field has been called sub-standard, even by De Kock who won it with Atyaab, but interestingly the Vodacom Durban July winner Belgarion as well as the Charity Mile winner Hudoo Magic and the Grade 2 Drill Hall Stakes winner Bunker Hunt all came out of that race. Charles will be ridden by Callan Murray from draw eleven.

Cornish Pomodoro at 16/1 is the shortest priced of the quintet of runners from the yard of Sean Tarry, who is going for a fourth Summer Cup victory in succession. This horse looks to have come into his own since gelding so is a contender from draw 12 under the 2018 winning jockey Lyle Hewitson.

Zillzaal ran a cracking 1,95 length fifth in the Charity Mie, considering it was his first start since winning last year’s Summer Cup. He jumps from barrier position 15, the exact same draw as last year. A jockey is yet to be declared although a conspicuous absentee from the declared riders is Anton Marcus.    

Tierra Del Fuego is drawn 14 and will be ridden by three-times Summer Cup-winning jockey Gavin Lerena. His Grade 1 Champions Challenge 5,30 length third to Hawwaam gives him a shout.

The improving Tarry-trained Tree Tumbo, who finished fourth in the Charity Mile, is drawn seven and Calvin Habib rides.

Tarry’s filly Victoria Paige was dropped three points after failing to win the Victory Moon when well weighted but she sneaks into the handicap with the minimum 52kg off her 105 merit rating. However, Serino Moodley will have to overcome draw 20.

Tony Rivalland’s Tristful should be cherry ripe and is drawn in pole carrying 56kg so has a shout under in form Diego De Gouveia over a trip he has proven he gets.

Crown Towers has a nice draw of nine and carries 57.5kg. He will also enjoy the course and distance and Richard Fourie rides.

Astrix still has a better draw than he had in both last year’s SA Classic and the recent Victory Moon, so with better cover than he had in those races he might stay the trip and will be a contender if he does.

Victory Moon winner Christopher Robin has a plum draw of two and this tough progressive sort, who carries 54kg, will be ridden by last year’s winning rider Dennis Schwarz.

The Charity Mile third-placed Youcanthurrylove is the dark horse considering he gave Got The Greenlight a fright when a 0,85 length third in the SA Classic and now carries 55,5kg from a good draw of five.

Seven Patriots is by speed influence Soft Falling Rain but he, like his dam, has won over 1800m so he might stay the trip although he looks held by Christopher Robin on Victory Moon Stakes form. 

Divine Odyssey is an old warrior who only finished 12th carrying 52,5kg last year and now has to carry 58.5kg.

Running Brave can never be discounted over this trip and will likely attempt to get to the front from draw ten carrying 57kg.

Dance Class is the worst weighted runner, being 3,5kg under sufferance and she has to overcome draw 13.

Last year’s SA Derby winner Hero’s Honour is drawn 16 and carries 55kg.

Last year’s Cape Derby winner Atyaab, now trained by the irrepressible Port Elizabeth-based Zietsman Oosthuizen, is drawn 17 and carries 57.5kg.

Riverstown is another dark horse  as he is untried over the distance and has some class, although he does have to overcome a draw of 19. He is by Byword, who won over this trip, out of a Fastnet Rock mare whose third dam is an own sprinter to European champion sprinter Last Tycoon. However, there is also some stamina in the female line including an Irish Oaks runner up.  

Final field for WSB Gauteng Summer Cup

EQUUS Horse Of The Year Summer Pudding has stood her ground and despite a wide draw, will be take her place in the R1-million World Sports Betting Gauteng Summer Cup over 2000m on the Turffontein Standside track on Saturday 28 November.

Paul Peter’s charge, unbeaten in eight races, has drawn No 18 for the Grade 1 race and will be ridden once again by champion jockey Warren Kennedy. She will carry 59kg.

Peter also has Riverstown, with Donovan Dillon up, and Astrix, with Piere Strydom in the irons, in the 20-horse field.

Christopher Robin, winner of the Grade 3 Victory Moon Stakes over 1800m on Saturday, had his merit rating upped to 109 and will take his place in the final Summer Cup field. St John Gray’s charge is beautifully drawn at No 2 and will carry 54kg.

Gray also has Dance Class in the field but has yet to name his two jockeys.

Champion trainer Sean Tarry has five runners in the line-up, including defending champion Zillzaal. His others are Tierra Del Fuego, Tree Tumbo, Victoria Paige and Cornish Pomodoro.

Tarry has also yet to name his jockeys.

Mike de Kock pulled Queen Supreme out of the race and is likely to aim her at the Grade 2 Ipi Tombe Stakes over 1600m. He does, however, have Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile runner-up Charles in the line-up. Callan Murray rides and will jump from barrier No 11

David Thiselton

St. John Gray pulled off another fine breeding and training feat at Turffontein Standside on Saturday when Christopher Robin easily won the Grade 3 Victory Moon Stakes over 1800m.

The sponsors of the WSB Summer Cup reacted by shortening him into 25/1.

The four-year-old colt by Damage Is Done was the second worst treated at the weights on Saturday and off his 98 merit rating was 7,5kg under sufferance with the best treated horse Victoria Paige.

He beat the runner up Astrix, with whom he was 3kg under sufferance, by 2,50 lengths and beat third-placed Victoria Paige by 3,75 lengths.

The handicappers have thus, not surprisingly, raised him eleven points to 109.

A condition of the Summer Cup is that “weights may change up to the time of declarations”, so as things stand, and presuming the topweight Queen Supreme stands her ground, he will carry 53kg in the big race.  

Christopher Robin was coming in off a 4,25 length defeat to Seven Patriots over 1800m at the Vaal but Gray pointed out that the going had been fast that day and he had been interfered with on an unusually sharply constructed turn which had thrown the horses outward. Seven Patriots had got away from the field but Christopher Robin had made some late progress. 

Christopher Robin’s best previous win had been in the rain in the Derby Trial over the Turffontein Standside 2000m, so the conditions were in his favour on Saturday with plenty of rain having fallen during the week.

S’Manga Khumalo did his homework and knowing Orpheus, jumping from pole, was likely to go strongly from the off to get the lead he rushed his mount from the off and was able to slot in behind the former horse on the rail. Having found this good position he relaxed and allowed Seven Patriots to slot in ahead of him.

Christopher Robin turned for home third in line on the rail in joint fourth place with the favourite Astrix from whom he was receiving 3kg.

This pair went through the 300m together but from then onward Christopher Robin steadily drew away. Gray pointed out that had it been over 2000m he would likely have gone even further clear.

Astrix was caught wide on the turn for a short while, but not as badly as he had been in the Grade 1 SA Classic last season. With a potentially good draw in the Summer Cup (7 out of the 43 still standing) he could still prove capable of staying 2000m.

Victoria Paige stayed on steadily into third but was a touch one-paced. 

Astrix remains on a 110 merit rating, but Victoria Paige has been dropped three points to 105.

Victoria Paige was in 19th place on the final Summer Cup log a few days ago and Astrix, who was 20th, will leapfrog her and Christopher Robin, who didn’t feature on the log at all, will leapfrog both of them. 

Dance Class finished fourth, beaten 3,85 lengths, and has been raised from a 92 to a 98 but unlikely did enough to make it into the Summer Cup field.

Imperial Ruby, who was 18th on the final log, finished fifth. However, he was beaten only 0,20 lengths by Victoria Paige on 3kg worse terms than he would have faced her in a handicap, so he is unlikely to lose his position.

The next two finishers, Seven Patriots and Dark Moon Rising, unlikely did enough to impress the final field panellists. However, it should be remembered that two years ago the field cut up so dramatically at the declaration stage that there were only 19 in the final field, so there is still hope.

Christopher Robin provided the late Damage Is Done with his first stakes winner when winning the Listed Derby Trial last year and now provides him with his first Graded winner.

Gray’s Graystone Stud operation has regularly defied conventional wisdom in thoroughbred breeding as none of the stallions he has stood over the years were superstars on the racetrack.

He said about the Rakeen stallion Damage Is Done, who won four ordinary races on the Vaal sand, “He suited my mares on lines and crosses although he wasn’t very successful.”

He continued, “My favourite saying is ‘I told God my plans and he just smiled’. We think we can work it out and play God with our thoroughbred matings but how many times does it work? It is no super science.”  

However, Gray’s adherence to his philosophies has undoubtedly paid dividends and in this case Damage Is Done, despite his previous lack of success, was sent a black type mare in the Listed-winning Malhub sprinter Onehundredacrewood and Christopher Robin was the result.

Christopher Robin has a plum draw of four out of the 43 remaining entries in the Summer Cup and although his 25/1 odds reflect his chances one thing for certain is that he will be trying his heart out. Gray refers to this progressive horse as his “iron horse.”