Captain Chaos, decisive winner of the Cape Nursery and third in the Lanzerac Ready To Run, is doubtful for the Grand Parade Cape Guineas.

Ronnie Sheehan said: “I wouldn’t say a definite no but at this stage I don’t think he will run. I felt the 1 400m of the Ready To Run proved to be a little bit too far for him.”

> Kenilworth is inviting racegoers to help themselves to free money at Saturday’s World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas meeting.

There will be a draw for losing Tote tickets and the winner will be allowed to put his or her hand into a money shower bubble and take as much as they can grab in 60 seconds.

Those lunching in the Somerset Room (R300 including champagne) will take part in a similar draw and the winner will also get 60 ultra-valuable seconds at the bubble.

By Michael Clower

Picture: Ronnie Sheehan (Hamish Niven Photography)

Geoff Woodruff, still reveling in his SANSUI Summer Cup one-two on Saturday with Master Sabina and Deo Juvente, became the first trainer to win one of South Africa’s big three races thrice in succession with different horses since his father-in-law Terrance Millard achieved the feat in the Vodacom Durban July between 1988-1990. His dominance of the Summer Cup over the last three years can also be compared to Millard’s dominance of the July in the late 1980s up to 1990. In 2013 Woodruff had a strong hand and the fourth favourite at odds of 8/1, Yorker, won the race followed by the 5/1 favourite Master Sabina, while the 12/1 shot Tellina completed the trifecta. In 2014 his popular triple crown winner Louis The King converted favouritism at odds of 18-10, just getting up in time to beat his 66/1 shot stablemate Killua Castle. On Saturday Master Sabina, despite having only his second run after a layoff of a year, was heavily backed into 13/2 joint second favourite and just pipped stablemate Deo Juvente, who drifted out to 15/1.

The Summer Cup Tote exacta on Saturday paid R158.40, last year it paid R158.30 and in 2013 it paid R72.10, which perhaps shows that punters are slow to learn. The trifecta in 2013 paid R1080.20. Woodruff also had the 5th horse home in 2013, so nearly clinched the quartet.

Millard had the July one-two-three in 1986 with Occult, Fool’s Holme and Enchanted Garden, and repeated the feat with Illustrador, Olympic Duel and Jungle Warrior in 1990, having won the race in 1988 with Royal Chalice and in 1990 with Right Prerogative.

Woodruff has won the July twice in succession before but with the same horse, El Picha, who became only the second horse in history to retain his July crown in 2000. However, those remain Woodruff’s only two wins of the country’s premier race.

Master Sabina’s win could well be one of Woodruff’s best training feats due to the long layoff he had to come off.

However, he had to survive an objection from Deo Juvente, who jumped from draw 18 compared to Master Sabina’s plum draw of five.

Woodruff has won five Summer Cups in all, while Millard won six Julys.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Geoff Woodruff

Top KZN jockey Sean Cormack only had one ride at Turffontein’s big meeting on Saturday and came oh so close to victory in the day’s headliner, the Gr 1 R2 million SANSUI Summer Cup over 2000m, when Deo Juvente was touched off by his Geoff Woodruff-trained stablemate Master Sabina.

Cormack then objected on the grounds of interference in the concluding stages.

He explained yesterday he had come from about a length-and-a-half back and felt he was starting to get the better of Master Sabina approaching the 200m when the latter “nudged” him and carried him out. He added that, whilst there was not a lot of movement on the TV replays, had the huge Deo Juvente been smaller he would probably have been “turned around”. However, the end result instead was that the incident in his opinion “unsettled” the horse and he consequently lost momentum. However, he was then still able to get back on terms. He said he had objected not simply because he had lost but because he had grounds for objections and apparently most of his weighing room colleagues agreed there were “huge” grounds. He also felt that considering it was a R2 million race the owner Markus Jooste and his racing manager Derek Brugman would likely have questioned a decision not to object.

Master Sabina (JC Photos)

Cormack knew it would be a 50/50 call. The stipendiaries did not deliberate for long before deciding Deo Juvente would not have beaten Master Sabina and overruled, although Cormack’s deposit was refunded.

Cormack said he had not been disappointed as his mount, a four-year-old Trippi gelding, had run “an absolute blinder”. Deo Juvente had jumped from a wide draw of 18 which saw him caught two wide throughout, but this had not bothered Cormack, who said, “Yes you would prefer to be one away from the rail, but he is big striding horse and was okay where he was. He was never cramped or uncomfortable and had a smooth passage throughout and then I got a nice run down the outside.

The outside did look to possibly be the marginally better going down the straight on the day.

Deo Juvente had certainly been one of the picks of the canter past and has a bright future as one who has come into his own. He had won the Gr 2 Victory Moon Stakes in his previous start to book his place in the Summer Cup.

Cormack also only had one ride on the day when he won the Gr 1 SA Classic on the Paul Lafferty-trained Lovestruck in 2013.

However, the waiting does not bother him and, as a jockey who so often brought home “the meeting banker” during his association with the great Beach Beauty, his days of being a bundle of nerves are long past.

Meanwhile, he said his guv’nor Dennis Drier’s string were doing exceptionally well down in Cape Town. He confirmed they had all needed their first runs.  They should have come on plenty for the runs and Drier is as always a yard to follow as the Cape Summer Of Champions Season enters December.

By David Thiselton

The Vaal inside track stages an eight race meeting today and it should be noted that by trends the low draws are favoured due to the inside strip of going tending to be superior.

In the first, a workrider’s maiden over 1200m, First Officer is drawn perfectly according to trends and is interesting dropped back to the trip of his excellent debut effort. The form of that race has worked out well and he has subsequently shown pace over 1400m. Criss Cross Man has finished strongly in both of his first two starts and might get into the race earlier now that he is learning what it is all about. He is also drawn on the right side. Mississippi Rising returns from a six month layoff but has shown ability and could earn here for an increasingly prominent yard.

African Ruler (Nkosi Hlophe)

There are many first-timers in race 2, a 1200m maiden for fillies and mares. Of those to have run Our Miracle ran a cracker on debut over 1000m when backed and should improve but the high draw might make it tough. Bally Swiss was also backed on debut and ran a good second but also has a tough draw, although she did show early pace which could help her overcome it. Modjaji ran her best race over course and distance and the pole position draw might help her cause. Russian Friend could be a contender in her third run after a layoff. Angie The Rebel has caught the eye on sand before and is better than her last run on turf when found to not be striding out. South Atlantic is by Horse Chestnut out of a Listed winning sprinter. Girl On The Run by Silvano is a half-sister to Sabadell and Gavin Lerena is up although she is drawn in the wrong side. Saddler’s Lass is by Fort Wood out of a three-time winner from 1160m to 1800m. Dynamite Lady is by Miesque’s Approval and is a half-sister to the fair sort Napoleon Dynamite. Tip Of The Glacier is by Western Winter and is a half-sister to Mystical Jet who won her first three starts.

In the third over 1700m Road To Indy only just failed over 1600m last time against a fair type and looks the one to be with despite a high draw. Captain Marooned represents a high flying stable and on pedigree should relish this trip after two fair runs in sprints. Champions Cup was too far out of his ground last time out over 1600m and could do better. Revelation flyjumped over 1400m last time and could have done better but is but is not sure to enjoy this step up in trip, although on the other hand he is drawn on the right side with Strydom up. Beaufort Tree will stay the trip easily, in fact it is probably too sharp, and he is drawn on the right side.

The fourth over 1700m looks a good opportunity for Estimation, who will love the trip and faces a weak field. Angel Of Mercy has a chance with Strydom up if bouncing back to her best. Peg O’ My Heart is better than her last start and could earn.

Max The Man (Nkosi Hlophe)

The fifth over 1200m could be won by Buckland who thrashed the promising New Predator in his penultimate start in a maiden and now drops back to that trip. Burg has dropped down to a competitive merit rating and is drawn on the right side over a suitable trip. Forest Fox is frustrating as he has tons of ability but doesn’t always put it in, so he is interesting with the blinkers back on.

In the sixth over 1000m Viking a Hero ran a cracker last time over 1160m and the form has been franked. Captured Wind could drop in behind them from a wide draw and make a bold bid considering he was given only two points for his good last win.  African Ruler will appreciate the step back to this trip. Wisnaam looks promising but hasn’t run since his win on debut in April when making a breathing noise. Cohiba is drawn on the right side and should be charging home late.

In the seventh over 1400m Celtic King has been knocking on the door and is drawn on the right side with Strydom now up. Rough Justice looks likely to enjoy the return to a straight course and is drawn on the right side over a trip he should enjoy. Wottahottie loves the course and distance and Gavin Lerena is up from a fair draw.

In the eighth over 1400m Nkomo has a better draw than last time and should be running on. Eliza Doolittle returns to the course and distance of her facile maiden win and has not only come down to an attractive merit rating but is drawn on the right side. Lemonade River flew up over course and distance last time and could do the same if dropped out from a high draw.

By David Thiselton

Draws will be made for all Cape Town non-features after acceptances – instead of at the entry stage as at present – with effect from the December 12 meeting.

This is part of a three-pronged strategy aimed at increasing the average field size from the present ten to 12, the minimum considered necessary to maximise betting returns.

However the later draw method, although favoured by at least one of the top trainers, proved unpopular with many when tried previously and led to increased non-runners from those drawn wide.

However the 12-day suspension for horses scratched will in future run from the date of the race, not the scratching.

Thirdly the runners per box clause will be more closely monitored to ensure trainers produce a minimum of 90% of target.

Brett Crawford, a member of the programmes committee as well as the Cape trainers’ committee, explained: “The criteria is six runs per season per box. You have to achieve 90% of this and they will look at this quarterly rather than annually in future. We don’t yet know what the penalty will be for not achieving it.”

Crawford added: “These changes are going to have to work but whether they will I don’t know. Everybody blamed Durbanville for small fields but many of them are small at Kenilworth too.”

Both Kenilworth Racing and Phumelela warned in September that fixtures will be reduced, and/or stakes dropped in races of less than eight runners, if the 12-runner average is not achieved.

However some Cape Town trainers are concerned that the proposals they made have not been accepted, in particular for more gallops to enable them to get horses ready. At the moment gallops at Kenilworth are only allowed for horses entered for Graded races and the weekly Durbanville gallops in practice alternate between horses trained at Milnerton and Phillipi.

Eric Sands, also a member of the programmes committee, said: “Small trainers are hardly ever in a position to gallop at Kenilworth. We suggested that they should be allocated a percentage.

“We also proposed that arrangements should be made allowing us all to gallop every week at Durbanville but this also fell on deaf ears.”

By Michael Clower