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.

Michael Clower

WOMEN jockeys are increasingly making an impact around the world and, if sheer determination is anything to go by, Erin-Lee Watkinson may one day make her mark in what is still largely a male dominated profession.

The Andre Nel-trained Magnetic Dime opened one of the favourites for the Work Riders’ Maiden but punters, most of whom had never heard of her, allowed her mount to drift out to 107-20.

They won’t make that mistake again. This may have been only Miss Watkinson’s third ride but she sent her mount to the front 400m from home and coolly kept her going to score by three-parts of a length. Not bad for a qualified engineer!

The 24-year-old explained: “I made a deal with my parents – I wanted to become a jockey but they said ‘You must get a qualification first.’ 

“I have already spent a year at the Jockey Academy but then they changed the rules. However Andre is now applying for me to be apprenticed to him. If that doesn’t work out then I will go to New Zealand because the academy there has already offered me a place.”

Vardy, winner of last season’s L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and expected to be one of the favourites for South Africa’s premier mile race in January, will be out of action for several months after suffering an injury to his near-fore suspensory.

Trainer Adam Marcus, speaking at Kenilworth on Saturday, said: “It’s not career-ending but he has a small lesion in the suspensory branch on his near-fore. I’ve dealt with injuries like this before and they take a lot of TLC but I am hoping that we can get him back on the course.

“The lesion is something that can heal with time and we picked it up immediately. We will give him the time he deserves. He is a gelding, and lightly raced – and we still hope that we can bring him back to his best.

“But for the moment one step at a time. We will rescan in two months and then we will be able to see the speed at which the injury is healing.”

Marcus disclosed that this is not the first time the five-year-old has suffered a serious setback, saying: “He is prone to issues. As a young horse he had surgery to remove chips from his near-fore knee and his off-fore fetlock. He is a big horse and this time he may have simply put his foot wrong during training.”

Justin Snaith, out of luck at Turffontein, won three of the other seven races but he disclosed that he has been going through a fair bit of soul-searching about the races in which he should risk his three-year-olds. Like most trainers, he has to consider what the handicappers would do to the horses’ ratings – and future chances – should they run well.

He said: “The handicappers are being instructed to make the ratings high in order to keep Grade 1 status for out top races but I feel we should instead focus on our own racing.” – info@caperacing.co.za

Andrew Harrison

IT’S been two months since Hollywoodbets Scottsville saw a racehorse with the track undergoing its annual spring treatment and with ample spring rains to help, tomorrow’s runners should be racing on a ‘billiard table’.

Many trainers have taken the opportunity to race on fresh turf and punters are faced with well-filled fields that should make for top racing.

The card opener is a work riders’ race where you pays your money and takes your chances.

Yessiricanboogie is a quick filly but ran way below form last run and probably needed it although she did find some market support. Gareth van Zyl’s filly has been up against much stronger of late and Aaron Xabendlini has a top strike rate in these races. Michael Roberts has been a good to Rachel Venniker, always giving her a ‘live’ runner and she partners Sir Pom. He is the highest rated horse in the field and may just have needed his last outing.

Tristan Mustard is headed to the UK on Monday to take up a position with top jumps trainer Nicky Henderson and delayed his departure to ride Father’s Frost for Kom Naidoo. Father’s Frost took on much stronger last run. He has improved with a tongue-tie and goes well this course. Callan Dixon rides Light The Loose who may just need it. But he has been contesting features since his maiden win and has a touch of class.

Should Dixon pull this off, it could be a family double with father Mark sending out favourite Prince Tyrion in the second. Prince Tyrion came in for heavy market support last run and with a strong tailwind helping the runners home Ashton Arries took off like a dirty shirt, trying to lead all the way. He beat all but Palace Wind who finished like ‘the wind’. He will probably be better this shorter trip.

After a frustrating spell in the doldrums, Duncan Howells’s string is finding form and he will be looking to Irish Belle to build on her current good form. Narrowly beaten into second at her last three, she is due a change of fortune.

Her two biggest dangers are also Ashburton-based. The Kom Naidoo filly Badrah made a smart debut for her new stable when drawn widest at Greyville and must have a big chance on a repeat showing while Jarett Rugg is still looking for his first win in KZN and Cherry Tomatoes has made good improvement in blinkers and looked a winner last start.

Best bet on the card comes in the first leg of the Pick 6 with Banzai Pipeline, named after the infamous and dangerous Hawaiian surfing spot.

Garth Puller’s runner ran a cracker from a wide draw last time out and has a plum draw this time around. He is by far the highest rated runner in the field and he should be hard to beat.

Pinnacle Plates over 2400m are as scarce as hen’s teeth. It is something of a catch 22 situation for the operator as these races are often under subscribed and either abandoned due to a lack of numbers or only attracting a few runners that does not make for optimum betting turnover.

But top horses in this category get limited opportunities and a Pinnacle Stakes event gives them an opportunity without having to carry the grandstand in lower handicaps.

Marchingontogether disappointed in a slow-run Gold Cup and his run since was too short. His last success was over course and distance and he should put in a big effort. American Indian made a promising debut for his new stable and steps up to what may prove to be his optimum trip. The mare Flichity By Farr has been rested since the Gold Cup where she ran a cracker with first time blinkers. She stays well and will be a factor.

David Thiselton

THE WSB Summer Cup to be run over 2000m on Turffontein Standside on Saturday is one of the country’s big three races and is always a particularly exciting betting heat as the handicap weight structure gives most of the twenty runners a chance.

There will have been plenty of rain during the build up and the going is likely to be on the soft side.

SUMMER PUDDING is unbeaten in eight starts but will have to break a weight carrying record for a female in this race as the 59kg she has been set is 1kg more than Dancewiththedevil carried to victory in 2011. She also has to overcome a wide draw of 18 and this is the first time she faces males, so it is not surprising she has drifted out to a more realistic 7/2 with the sponsors. There are plenty of plus sides to her chances though. Wide draws in soft going are sometimes not much of a disadvanatage at Turffontein Standside because in such conditions the riders have been known to head for the standside in the straight . Summer Pudding always does just enough to win and having come back from her holiday looking full of substance and well being her big stride could well and truly carry her into the hearts of the nation.

CHARLES will attempt to give Mike de Kock a tenth Summer Cup victory and has been backed into joint 7/2 favourite. He is by Trippi out of the Ipi Tombe Challenge winner Demanding Lady, a Dynasty mare whose five wins were from 1200m to 2200m. He has finished second over 2400m before and has enjoyed a good preparation. He has the rounded action suited to soft going and has won in such conditions before. He runs off a competitive merit rating of 110. 

PACK LEADER, al;so backed in to 7/2, has blossomed since joining Alec Laird’s yard on the Highveld and is attractively weighted considering he finished seventh in the Sun Met on weight for age terms against most of the best in the country. He now carries just 54.5kg off a 109 merit rating. He is suited to the galloping nature of Turffontein Standside with its long straight. He has a good draw of five and his jockey S’Manga Khumalo, who has won this race before, needs no introduction. One possible concern is soft going, as he has a daisy-cutting action, which is usually best suited to fast going. 

CHRISTOPHER ROBIN’S two stakes wins have both been in rain affected ground and he impressed when winning the Grade 3 Victory Moon Stakes over 1800m on the Standside track under S’Manga Khumalo. He was given an eleven point merit rating raise so it will be tougher this time but he carries a nice galloping weight of 54kg. He will relish the step up to 2000m and is drawn well in two. Dennis Schwarz is an able replacement for Khumalo and will be out to make it two Summer Cup victories in succession.

ASTRIX should finish together with Christopher Robin on form. Concerns have been raised about him seeing out the trip based on his pedigree and his Grade 1 SA Classic run. His sire Vercingetorix is imparting more speed and less stamina than does his father Silvano. Furthermore, his dam is a half-sister to Thunder Dance who did win the Paddock Stakes but was essentially a miler. However, his damsire Victory Moon gives him a shout of staying and it should also be borne in mind that in the SA Classic he was caught wide throughout. Last time in the Victory Moon over 1800m he had to do some early work to overcome another wide draw yet stayed on well for second. He is now well drawn so should get cover and pace master Piere Strydom is in the irons.

TIERRA DEL FUEGO’S five length third at weight for age terms in the Champions Challenge reads well here. He has three wins, a second and a third in five outings on rain affected ground and his rider Gavin Lerena has won this race three times. However, he does have a tough draw of 14 to overcome and has to carry joint-topweight over a distance which stretches him.

TRISTFUL has been staying at Stuart Pettigrew’s yard and will have come on from his Charity Mile run. That run came about three weeks after he had arrived on the Highveld, which is usually around the time horses traveling up to the altitude hit a flat spot. On the form of his Grade 1 Champions Cup fifth place finish he has a definite chance. He will enjoy the course and distance as well as the conditions, having won on the soft before. The pace should be on so his pole position draw could well be an advantage.

DIVINE ODYSSEY is a long-striding sort who is capable of a strong finish but takes a while to find topgear and thus enjoys the long straight of the Turffontein Standside course. He has won twice in soft going and usually peaks for big races, so could be a threat.

ZILLZAAL strode out well in the Charity Mile and was entitled to tire late in his first run for eleven months. Sean Tarry said he had come out of that race well, so he is sure to make a bold bid to defend his crown.

CROWN TOWERS is proven in soft going. Wet weather is also known to make it easier for horses to handle the effects of high altitude. He is by Epsom Derby winner Camelot, so will enjoy this tough 2000m course and distance.

TREE TUMBO has always been rated by Tarry and is improving in the typical style of a Silvano four-year-old, so from a good draw is a dark horse. He is out of a sprint-miler by Oasis Dream and still has to prove he stays this trip. However, he was the fastest finisher in the Charity Mile and in his only attempt at this trip, when unplaced in the Daily New 2000, he pulled up with an abscess. 

CORNISH POMODORO is 1.5kg under sufferance but has improved with gelding. He was doing his best work late in his comeback over 1600m, so should relish this trip, and he had excuses for his below par run in the Charity Mile.

YOUCANTHURRYLOVE finished a close third in both the Grade 1 SA Classic and Charity Mile and is well drawn. He is by Gimmethegreenlight out of a Jallad mare who won up to 1800m and he is a half-brother to a horse who won over the Summer Cup trip. Chase Maujean would have learnt something from his Charity Mile run so he has a shout.

HERO’S HONOUR has dropped to a competitive mark for a former SA Derby winner but does have a tough draw.

RUNNING BRAVE is usually ignored in the betting but proof of her class is that she comes out on top in her one on one clash with the champion Celtic Sea and she stays this trip. Her best performances have been against females but she will be dangerous if getting to the front from draw ten.

RIVERSTOWN could play an important role if he is used as pacemaker for Summer Pudding. He could otherwise be a threat for although he has given the impression he would prefer shorter he should easily stay this trip on pedigree. His sire Byword won a Group 1 over a mile and two furlongs at Royal Ascot and his dam won over a mile and four furlongs in yielding going in Ireland.

VICTORIA PAIGE sneaks into the handicap with the minimum weight. She is capable of plugging on resolutely but has the widest draw of all to overcome.

ATYAAB is a former Cape Derby winner and finished fifth last year. He has not run for 301 days but did put up a good recent grass gallop.

DANCE CLASS is 3.5kg under sufferance but stayed on well in the Victory Moon over 1800m. She will relish the step up in trip as well as the possible testing conditions just as her close relative Dancewiththedevil did when winning this race in 2011.

SEVEN PATRIOTS has his toughest task to date here and is half-a-kilogram under sufferance. He is yet to try the distance but although being by Soft Falling, who was a miler, his Australian-bred dam finished a narrow second in the Grade 2 Gold Bracelet over this trip. He could be a threat if allowed an easy lead from a good draw of six.

David Thiselton

JUSTIN SNAITH said the decision to run Crown Towers in the Grade 1 WSB Summer Cup was largely as a show of support for the like of MOD (Mary Oppenheimer and Daughters), Mike de Kock and the RA, who had done a lot to save Cape racing.

He said, “They have always supported our racing and Mike de Kock has often said I am too scared to come up to Johannesburg but Crown Towers and Keep The Lights On (who runs in the Grade 3 WSB Magnolia Handicap) are just the first two, we are going to raid regularly from now on.”

Crown Towers was brought back down to Summerveld after his unplaced run in the Charity Mile.

Snaith said, “That was a bit on the short side, he has always been more impressive over further.”

Snaith said it had not been easy to prepare him because of the amount of rain there had been at Summerveld, but he added this had just made it more challenging and it was not going to change his chances.

He said, “I am very happy with his preparation. Whether he is good enough to win it, time will tell.”

He is also happy with Keep The Lights On and gives her a shout.

Snaith could not use the usual method of traveling the horses overnight and arriving on the morning of the race because of recent incidents of unrest on the Highway at night.

The pair of horses thus arrived in Johannesburg today (Friday).

A point in their favour is the rain that is around. Wet weather is believed to make it easier for horses coming from the coast to handle the high altitude of the Highveld. It should also be born in mind that Summerveld is not at sea level but is in fact a third of the altitude of the Highveld and horses have traveled from there to win over long distances before.