David Thiselton
EQUUS HORSE OF THE YEAR Summer Pudding makes her comeback at Turffontein Standside tomorrow and having previously proven she runs well after a layoff she should win the Grade 2 Colorado King Stakes over 2000m.
Trainer Paul Peter said the four-year-old Silvano filly had enjoyed her break in Cape Town after running below par in the Grade 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes and was currently “exceptionally well.”
She has the whole field held on previous form with the exception of Portico whom she has never faced before but the latter is 8.5kg out at the weights with her so is unlikely to trouble her.
Zillzaal is a former Summer Cup winner over this course and distance and went way to fast in this year’s renewal when beaten 37 lengths by Summer Pudding. He signaled a returned to his best last time when running on strongly to win over the too sharp 1400m in a Progress Plate. He is usually in front or up with the pace and in this small field he will be dangerous as he might be able to dictate. However, under the conditions he has to give 2,5kg to Summer Pudding which makes him officially 8kg under sufferance with her.
Youcanthurrylove is distance suited and in good form and he could make up the trifecta.
Earlier the Grade 3 Protea Stakes over 1100m for two-year-olds should be an intriguing contest.
It is quite easy to predict how the race will pan out for the chief protagonists Under Your Spell and Heavens Girl who are drawn ten and eleven respectively in the eleven horse field.
Heavens Girl led last time and was mowed down late by Under Your Spell over 1000m so she should be in the lead on the Standside rail with Under Your Spell sitting in her slipstream.
Heavens Girl has proven she stays 1200m before and is now 2kg better off with Under Your Spell for a 1,25 length beating.
However, Under Your Spell should appreciate this step up in trip and is likely to mow her down late again.
They look to be the exacta pair.
Under Your Spell’s stable companion Social Image bumped a good one in Sheela last time over 1000m but before that she was a commanding winner over 1000m and should stay the extra 100m. Formlines also point to her as the most likely of the rest to chase the leading pair home.
The best of the day could be the up and coming sprinter Mind Reader who gets better and better as she strengthens. She runs in the fifth race, a MR91 Handicap over 1000m for fillies and mares. She started the season rated 69 and after four wins two seconds and two thirds is now rated 90. However, her transformation in the looks department suggests she is still ahead of the handicapper as she has become a powerhouse of a filly she has a big heart to match. All Of Me and Muleta look to be the chief dangers.
In the last race over 2000m Senescence makes appeal. Lyle Hewitson rode her last time and came into the straight over this trip on the tight Inside track with a double handful but could not find an immediate way through and after diving for the inside two others had stolen a march. Senescence was unable to catch them but it should be a different story on this galloping course with its long straight and she can make amends.
Last Song should also be hard to beat in the first race. She pulled a lot on debut over 1450m yet still stayed on well and only just got touched off. She looks to have a big engine and speed to burn so the 1160m trip should suit at this stage.
