Cascapedia has shot to the top of the WSB Summer Cup betting boards after her impressive win in the Grade 2 Jo’burg Spring Fillies and Mares Challenge over 1450m at Turffontein Inside on Saturday. She is currently 5-1 with sponsors World Sports Betting. It’s My Turn is 6-1 second favourite in the ante-post market.

The Irish-bred daughter of High Chaparral is six months younger than her five-year-old contemporaries, being Northern Hemisphere-bred, so will be coming into her own now.

On Saturday she jumped to the right at the start and ended up near the back of the field as Wrecking Ball set a strong pace in front.

Cascada (Candiese Marnewick)

She had many lengths to make up in the straight but once in top gear her long stride ate up the ground and she got up to beat Al Danza by 0,3 lengths.

It was her first run since the L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate and she improved her career record to six wins from eight starts.

She will relish the step up to 2000m and the patience the yard have shown, which saw her missing a few engagements including the Vodacom Durban July, looks to have paid dividends.

Her stablemate Ghaala by Var was in third place in the running and stayed on to be beaten just 0,6 lengths into third but it remains to be seen whether she will see out a mile.

Sixth-placed Candice Dawson-trained Sylvan On Fire ran on in eyecatching style to beaten just 2,6 lengths. She has a lot still to do to get into the Summer Cup, as she is only merit rated 91, but being by Silvano she will improve further and will appreciate a step up in trip. She is as long as 66-1 for the Summer Cup.

The De Kock-trained Takingthepeace, winner of the Grade 2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas and the Grade 1 SA Fillies Classic, needed the run and was beaten 4,3 lengths. She is 16-1 fourth favourite for the Summer Cup with the sponsors.

Later, the De Kock-trained Noble Secret ran on well from last in the Grade 2 Joburg Spring Challenge over 1450m for a good fifth and this big, rangy type is the deserved third favourite for the Summer Cup on 7-1.

De Kock’s three-year-olds Alyaasaat and Soqrat were second and third respectively to St. John Gray’s 1400m specialist Captain Aldo in the Spring Challenge. They put up their hands for the Investec Dingaans over 1600m, which is to be run this year on November 24, a week earlier than the Summer Cup. Soqrat’s run was especially eyecatching as he was carrying a 2kg Grade 1 penalty and was doing his best work late.

By David Thiselton