Paul Peter has been unable to work his string ahead of the rescheduled Gauteng Guineas meeting at Turffontein Standside on Wednesday as the tracks are waterlogged but he doesn’t believe they could have lost much fitness.

He said, “They are looking bright, eating well and we have been taking them for long works.”

Summer Pudding is the favourite in the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas and he is bullish about her chances.

Although she is unbeaten in three starts some have questioned the strength of her formlines.

However, he said, “She is a very smart filly and is improving all the time. Her mission is the Triple Tiara and the further she goes the better she will be. So this race is going to be her most difficult leg as it is over a mile, but I’m sure her class will pull her through.”

Summer Pudding is by Silvano out of the Strike Smartly mare Cherry On The Cake, who is a half-sister to Triple Tiara heroine Cherry On The Top, so it is not surprising she is progressive.

Peter runs three in the Grade 2 Gauteng Guineas and said both Riverstown and Astrix should definitely be included in the Pick 6 and Arapaho should be included in quartets etc. 

Peter’s admiration for Riverstown is well documented but he pointed out, “There is not much between Riverstown and Astrix at home. Astrix is much better than his last run (in the Dingaans) as he was caught wide and needed gelding at the time. Arapaho has had a wind op and has improved so can also be thrown into the exotics.”

He concluded, “All three runners are well in themselves.”

He runs the talented What A Winter filly Fly Away as well as Chief Of State in the Grade 3 Tommy Hotspur Handicap over 1000m and said, “Fly Away is a very fast filly. My only concern with her is that she would prefer the going to be on top. She has a perfect action so doesn’t enjoy soft ground. Hopefully it will have dried out a bit by the time of the race. If it has she is a massive runner. Chief Of State has improved with blinkers and has been working exceptionally well.”

Fly Away hasn’t run since October 31 due to a persistent mouth abscess but the lack of a recent run doesn’t worry Peter.

He said, “She is hard on herself at home so doesn’t need much racing.” 

Peter’s meeting starts with Fromheretoeternity in the first over 1160m and he said, “She is drawn on the wrong side but she could still place.”

In the second he has South East and said, “”He is drawn on the right side. He needed his first start and I will be disappointed if he does not finish in the first three.” 

He continued, “My best runner on the day is Diamond Dancer (fourth race 2000m). We have been trying him over further but those distances stretched him. He is now ideally distance suited. He is very well, fit and sound and has been working so well. He doesn’t have to go to the front, he can sit second or third.”

In the fifth over 1600m he runs Shukamisa and said, “I am quietly confident with him. He likes the wet and it’s his third run after a rest and is the best I have had him since acquiring him. He doesn’t take much work so the interruption to the preparation in the last few days shouldn’t affect him.”

In the last race over 1160m he runs Var filly Carioca and said, “It’s her third run after a rest and she has been doing exceptionally well at home. If she had been drawn on the outside I would have made her a massive runner but she unfortunately has draw 2. But she should still run into the quartets.”

By David Thiselton