The Gr 1 SANSUI Summer Cup is one of the country’s big three and will have off course punters glued to their armchairs this weekend.

French Navy carries topweight but is known to become electrified the moment he enters the straight and will likely build on his sixth place in the Gr 2 Peermont Emperor’s Charity Mile, in which he produced  a powerful finish from behind. He is a deserving favourite and jumps from a nice draw of eight.

His Sean Tarry-trained Stablemate Halve The Deficit also caught the eye in the Charity Mile when running on strongly from last and this evergreen seven-year-old Right Approach gelding, who deserves a change of luck, is not only down to an attractive merit rating but also has a fair draw of nine.

Dean Kannemeyer has Power King as well as he had him before his Vodacom Durban July victory. He only received three points for that win and has a shout in an overall weaker race from a plum draw of five.

The Irish import Flying The Flag is one of three runners attempting to give Mike de Kock his tenth Summer Cup, but didn’t inspire much confidence in the Charity Mile when staying on steadily. He should improve on the run and rain might help his cause.

Stablemates Ahlaam and The Centenary are the only two fillies in the race and are both 0,5kg under sufferance. Ahlaam is courageous but will find it tough as a front-runner, while The Centenary will relish the course and distance and her running on style makes her one of the race’s dark horses.

Judicial disappointed in his seasonal reappearance in the Gr 2 Victory Moon Stakes over 1800m, but trainer Tyrone Zackey is an expert in peaking his charges and this enigmatic sort showed his class when finishing third in the Summer Cup last year.

Trainer Geoff Woodruff’s expertise in peaking them is illustrated by his yard having the first three past the post two years ago and the first two last year. He doesn’t have as strong a hand this year. Master Sabina, runner up two years ago, will be having his second run after a layoff of a year. Deo Juvente is held in high regard and qualified by winning the Victory Moon in impressive style, but Anton Marcus has chosen to rather waste to make the weight of 53kg for St. Tropez. The Captain’s Tune plugged on from a handy position in the Charity Mile for seventh and is now drawn in pole, but has a slight stamina doubt on pedigree.

The St. John Gray-trained Yer-Maan won Zimbabwe’s biggest race, the Castle Tankard over this trip, and will be hoping for a strong pace, but looks a touch high in the weights.

Mac De Lago is capable of a strong finish and, being conditioned by the astute trainer Weiho Marwing, should be cherry ripe. Weichong Marwing will give him a chance of overcoming his tough draw.

The Stuart Pettigrew-trained Easy Lover was finishing strongly for second in the Victory Moon over 1800m, suggesting he will get this trip, and his style is suited to the Standside course.

MLJet has put his disappointing three-year-old season behind him and finished a fine second in the Charity Mile. His full-brother Augusta National has won over 1800m, so he can’t be discounted from draw two.

Ultimate Dollar, one of two runners for Justin Snaith,  will likely relish the course and distance as he takes a long time to wind up into his sizeable stride and he was another who caught the eye running on strongly in the Charity Mile. If anybody can nullify his 19 draw it is Piere Strydom.

Stablemate Dynamic is the forgotten horse of the race, as he was fancied for the July before failing to make the final field. He produced a strong finish when a close second in the Gr 1 Cape Derby as a three-year-old, so will appreciate the step up to this trip after staying on steadily in the Charity Mile.

Disco Al, one of two runners for Joey Ramsden, is an honest type who is coming off a good preparation over 1800m at Turffontein and on paper he has a fair chance at the weights. He finished last a year ago but has had a better preparation this time.

Stablemate St. Tropez has a big shout despite a wide draw as he looks capable of rising above his current merit rating and will relish the tough course and distance.

The Erico Verdonese Diesel Jet won in facile fashion from the front over 1800m last time out but will unlikely be given an easy lead here and is eight points higher in the merit ratings.

The Gavin van Zyl-trained Platinum Jet is 2,5kg under sufferance, but earned his place with a good third in the Victory Moon. He has only had eight starts for three wins, so is unexposed and could surprise.

St. Tropez is the selection to beat Ultimate Dollar, French Navy, Halve The Deficit, Dynamic and The Centenary.

By David Thiselton