Geoff Woodruff can make history at Turffontein tomorrow by winning the Sansui Summer Cup for the fifth time in succession.

His six-year-old gelding Master Switch can make it a third successive Summer Cup and a fourth overall for the late great sire Jet Master.

Master Switch finished third last year from draw 17 under Piere Strydom and this year jumps from draw 16 with Strydom up again. He is off the same merit rating of 101 and carries a nice galloping weight. Master Switch’s Durban form can be ignored as Greyville does not suit him. His penultimate run in Johannesburg was below par and he returned a bit sore. However, he really caught the eye last time out when staying on strongly for third in the Victory Moon Stakes over 1800m.

His stablemate Pagoda is well weighted on his Grade 1 SA Derby runner up form and ran on eye-catchingly well from last in a 1950m event last time out.

Master Switch has good gate speed which will help them overcome his draw. Pagoda needed a good draw and landed a fair one.

Triple Crown hero Abashiri looks to be coming back to his best after a deserved holiday. He is well weighted on his best form and his excellent turn of foot will afford the jockey the option of dropping him out from a wide draw.

Liege looked to have turned the corner when running an eye-catching preparation over 1600m in his second run after gelding. However, he then ran a flat race in the Victory Moon. The champion yard has been a bit flat lately, but if Liege is at his best he will be a big runner. He finished fourth last year and is off a three point lower merit rating and now has a plum draw too.

SA Oaks winner Wind Chill will be improving in the typical fashion of a Silvano filly and she impressed in her preparation event over 2000m. She is drawn in pole.

Champion stayer Hermoso Mundo would prefer further, but this galloping track suits him.

Crowd Pleaser has developed into a fine front runner and can’t be ignored.

Orchid Island stayed on well for fourth in the Victory Moon and this Grade 1 SA Fillies Classic winner represents the flying Mike de Kock yard.

Brazuca and French Navy are both course and distance suited and well weighted on their best form.

Social Order is quite unexposed and should be staying on. He is the dark horse.

Master Sabina goes for his third Summer Cup in a row but has not run since  the Vodacom Durban July.

Big Bear will be a tough nut to crack in the Grade 2 Investec Dingaans. This bull of a horse has a deceptive turn of foot. He will appreciate the step up to 1600m and relaxes well in the running, which will help him overcome a wide draw. Pietro Mascagni impressed on debut when getting up over 1160m and the form has been franked. This classy sort will relish the step up in trip and is well drawn. Alwahsh, unbeaten in two sprints, hasn’t run for 88 days. He won easing up last time and although his sire Sepoy was a sprinter there is stamina in the female line. Alshibaa is unbeaten in two and showed a fine turn of foot over this trip last time. He has plenty of scope. Like A Panther would prefer further, but is classy and will be running on resolutely. The improving Vacquero is the dark horse as he will love this galloping 1600m.

The Grade 2 Ipi Tombe Stakes looks to be at the mercy of Nother Russia at first sight. However, Bella Sonata was unusually headstrong last time and if bouncing back will be a threat. Guns And Roses will love the track and trip and she and the SA Fillies Classic runner up Bi Pot bring the Woodruff factor. Secret Star has a good turn of foot and is interesting stepped up to this trip. Sylvan On Fire is still on the up.

In the Grade 2 Merchants, The Thinker and Rivarine caught the eye last time and are the exacta selection, despite The Thinker officially being under sufferance.

The Grade 3 Fillies MiIe sees the ultra-impressive debut winner San Fermin clashing with the classy Folk Dance. However, Witch Of The West is progressive and could also have a say.

By David Thiselton

When they met 15 days ago Nauticus ran on much the better in the closing stages but he had had three races under his belt whereas Washington Square was making his debut. He has only a length and a quarter to make up and Andre Nel, having studied the video, somewhat understandably believes he will do it.

However it’s worth noting that the form took a knock when second-placed Pata Pata was beaten at 5-10 here on Wednesday. If victory is to go elsewhere then Inertia looks the one most likely to succeed. Richard Fourie’s mount suffered interference when favourite at Durbanville last time but his previous debut run was full of promise.

Washington Square opened at 33-10 with World Sports Betting yesterday when Nauticus was favourite at 22-10 and Inertia on 9-2.

Shadow Warrior, who won that race 15 days ago, has top weight in the Drakenstein Stud Handicap 35 minutes later and so the CTS race should provide a valuable pointer. However the one that catches the eye is 33-10 chance Henry Tudor who romped home nearly five lengths clear in a Fairview Maiden four weeks ago after four consecutive seconds at Kenilworth.

The gelding races off the same mark (77) and is ridden for the first time by the capable Louis Burke who has the considerable advantage of a 4kg claim. “That is going to help a lot and he won so well in PE that he should run a good race here,” says Justin Snaith who is leading the national log and on Wednesday became the first trainer this season to pass the 50-winner mark.

Also to be considered is the consistent Dayonaut (3-1) as well as bottom weight Aviemore (7-1) who is 2kg better with 9-2 chance Trojan Quest for a length and a half over a furlong less three weeks ago. Trojan Quest was reported to be hanging that day but Harold Crawford says: “He was just drifting towards another horse.”

With The Sun Also Rises drawn wide fellow 22-10 shot Captain Ram looks the one in race three, the mile Betting World Maiden. The Brett Crawford runner shifted sharply away from the whip inside the final furlong last time and had to be straightened. He still finished second.

I Travel Light, only beaten half a length when fourth in a blanket finish 15 days ago, races over a further 400m in the Snaith Racing Handicap and looks worth an interest. He is 9-2 joint favourite with stable companion Big Pleasure.

By Michael Clower

There is probably more scepticism rather than out-right condemnation of the recently introduce barrier trials in KZN and although one sardine doesn’t make a shoal, there will be a lot of interest in just how Sequel performs in the first at Greyville tonight.

Dean Kannemeyer seldom misses out when he sees an opportunity and Sequel was one of the first five runners in the initial trial. Ridden by apprentice Craig Bantam, Sequel showed good pace throughout the 1000m dash and was staying on strongly at the line.

Tonight’s race is over 1600m, but given Sequel’s pedigree and the manner in which he trialled this should be right up his alley. He also has the benefit of a good draw and Anthony Delpech.

In short, he may not win it, he may not even finish in the money but having watched the trial I do think he has shown enough to be competitive.

And he will be up against it with Biometric and Fly By Skye both more experienced and showing good form.

Duncan Howells and Anthony Delpech did not have a happy time of things last Sunday where the combination looked to hold a strong hand, but only came away with one on the board. They team up again in the sixth where Procal Harem takes on a useful field of older horses. However, he was a comfortable winner over course and distance last time out and was deemed good enough to take his chances in the top juvenile features where he was not far off the leading contingent.

This will be his second outing after gelding and one can expect some further improvement.

Paul Gadsby has always held Techno Captain in high regard but the gelding has a tendency to boil over which has gone a long way to hampering his career.

However, Gadsby appears to have been able to screw the lid on the gelding’s temperament and he looks the part in a competitive handicap, seventh race over 2000m.

He is now 4.5kg better off than when beaten less than a length by One Man Show and should be good enough to turn the tables on that form when they meet again tonight. Liquid Rainbow goes well on the poly and has improved in blinkers and he is 2kg better off with One Man Show. One Man Show has steadily climbed the ratings and goes for his fourth straight win but the 61kg on his back could prove his downfall although it would be unwise to write him off lightly.

By Andrew Harrison

The Pick 6 is expected to reach a pool of R5 million at the Sansui Summer Cup meeting on Saturday and looks gettable.

The first leg is the Grade 3 Fillies Miles. San Fermin showed an electric turn of foot from the back half of the field on debut over 1400m and won by seven lengths without raising a sweat. She looks top class and can afford to be dropped out from a tricky draw. Folk Dance went for home early last time over 1400m in her reappearance and made a bold bid to hang on. She has had enough time to recover from that hard race and Gavin Lerena can be in a handy position for free from a good draw and use her telling kick to good effect. Witch Of The West ran on well to finish 1,35 lengths behind Folk Dance last time. She is 2kg worse off, but is well drawn and should relish the step up in trip. Coming from the Lucky Houdalakis yard she will be improving all the time too. Cashel Palace is up with Folk Dance on paper and is progressive. However, a wide draw might warrant her being excluded. KZN raider Roy’s Riviera ran on well in the KZN Fillies Guineas Trial and the form has worked out well.

In the Grade 2 Merchants over 1160m Bull Valley is worthy of topweight, Talktothestars will have to bounce back; Kangaroo Jack is brilliant on his day and could run well fresh; Rivarine should go close having run a cracker last time despite being forced to switch to the unfavourable inside going; Graduation Day has problems but has won six out of ten and his late rattle to win the Golden Loom was impressive; Naafer, who is officially 1kg under sufferance, is on the up, but his number one draw might, or might not, be a problem. The Thinker is under sufferance but is coming into his own.

In the Investec Dingaans Big Bear and Pietro Mascagni stand out. The only concern for the former is the current below par form of the yard, while the latter is having only his second career start. Alwahsh and Alshibaa can pick up the pieces. Others who warrant consideration are the progressive Vacquero and Like A Panther. The lattter would prefer further, but will be running on strongly.

In the Summer Cup Geoff Woodruff’s charges, Pagoda, Banner Hill and Master Switch, have all had good preparations. Woodruff had made this race his own, so those three might be enough. Abashiri ran an eye-catching preparation and Liege, Hermoso Mundo, Wind Chill and Orchid Island make most appeal of the rest.

In the Grade 2 Ipi Tombe Stakes over 1600m the brilliant Nother Russia will be the meeting banker for many. However, Bella Sonata was not herself last time and was headstrong. She could be a threat if back to herself, although she has a difficult draw. Bi Pot is suited to the standside track and she and her stablemate Guns And Roses have the Woodruff factor. Secret Star, who has a fine turn of foot, and Sylvan On Fire, who goes for five-in-a-row, are upset material.

The last leg is tough as it is over 3200m. Weiho Marwing has a fine record in staying races, so Cool Chardonnay has to be included. Gone Baby Gone should be cherry ripe. Run Rhino Run won an incredible race at Greyville over 3000m last time. Fortissima, last year’s winner, loves this trip but has a big weight. Royal Honour has had a good preparation. Lion’s Emblem, Ilitshe and Supertube will be fitter than their last starts and could bounce back.

By David Thiselton

Bernard Fayd’Herbe has decided to ride Winter Series winner African Night Sky in preference to Marinaresco in the big Cape Town races this season.

His decision comes as a surprise, not least because Marinaresco won the Vodacom Durban July carrying more weight than any horse has ever done when Fayd’Herbe scored a famous victory on the gelding.

But Fayd’Herbe explained yesterday that his choice is the result of his close ties to the Justin Snaith stable and added: “It was a hard decision – Marinaresco is the horse to beat in these races and I am good friends with his owners – but I can’t upset the relationship [with Snaith Racing] for one horse.”

Aldo Domeyer is to take over on the Candice Bass-Robinson stable star and he rode the horse in a 1 200m Kenilworth gallop with Our Mate Art (Belinda Haytread) yesterday.

Mrs Robinson, in blistering form with a four-timer, said: “Both horses worked well but Our Mate Art went particularly well. He runs in the WSB Green Point on Saturday week.”

Marinaresco is a 33-1 chance with the sponsors for his reappearance in Saturday week’s WSB Cape Merchants – the 1 200m is widely expected to be much too short for him – and the Mike de Kock pair Mujaafy and Naafer share 10-1 favouritism. WSB has temporarily stopped quoting prices on the Green Point.

Snaith Racing has given up the idea of running last Saturday’s Lanzerac Ready To Run winner Miss Katalin in the WSB Fillies Guineas. “The race comes too soon for her and we are now going to wait a bit,” said Justin.

The stable’s Snowdance (Fayd’Herbe) has hardened a fraction to 14-10 as has second favourite Magical Wonderland (11-2 to 5-1) but De Kock’s Silver Thursday has drifted from 10-1 to 14-1.

Seattle Gold earned a tilt at the Victress Stakes on 16 December after serving up a 36-1 all-the-way shock in the Interbet.co.za Conditions Plate with Greg Cheyne (“You can’t give away weight and start”) enterprisingly making the most of his mount’s light burden.

Brett Crawford, who had tipped off this column that the Ashley Parker homebred needed the run last time, said: “She had it all to do at the weights but she is a free-striding filly, the course is running fast and Greg knows her well.”

By Michael Clower