Geoff Woodruff continued his stranglehold on the Gr1 Gauteng Sansui Summer Cup as Master Sabina recorded back-to-back wins at Turffontein yesterday. It was also Woodruff’s fourth consecutive win and sixth overall threatening Mike de Kock’s record of seven.

It took 26 years for back-to-back winners after the filly Roland’s Song but it was not all plain sailing as Gavin Lerena punched his mount through a narrow gap to deny The Conglomerate a rare Vodacom Durban July and Sansui Summer Cup double. Master Switch, who delayed the start when bursting through his gate, finished a close-yup third with Liege some way back in fourth.

The start had been a problem all afternoon with gates opening prematurely and horses bursting through and the Cup start proved no different. Master Switch came through his gate and had to be re-loaded but when the start was effected there were a number who blew their chances before that race had hardly begun.

Anthony Delpech was not one caught napping and was quickly away from his outside gate to race Master Switch up into third as the Sean Tarry pair of Stonehenge and Liege set the gallop. Master Sabina was another who did not get the best of breaks. “Things did not work out for me early,” said Lerena. “But he is all heart and determination,” he said of his mount.

Once clear of traffic in the straight Lerena found himself confronted with the battle between Master Switch and The Conglomerate and quickly running out of track. So he took the direct route. With the gap between the two closing and still plenty of horse still under him, Lerena barrelled his way through to the line.

Woodruff was almost matter-of-fact. “This is a handicap and in a handicap, you need luck. He nearly got cleaned up by my other horse.”

There was little place for the small stables at Turffontein yesterday as Sean Tarry, Woodruff and Johan Janse van Vuuren held sway. Tarry won five of the first eight races with Woodruff a double including the Gr2 Investec Dingaans and the very smart Green Pepper winning the Gr3 Magnolia Handicap for Van Vuuren.

Chase Maujean is one of the unsung heroes of the weighing room but makes the most of what comes his way and grabbed his opportunity with both hands. He rode a cracking race on Woodruff’s colt Singapore Sling in the Dingaans, a race that surely needs to be up-graded to Gr1 status as it draws a top class field year after year.

Woodruff was lavish in his praise of Maujean. “That was one of the very best rides that I have ever seen recently from any jockey,” he complimented.  Quickly over from a wide gate, Maujean stalked the opposition like a hunting lion and pounced with a perfectly timed run. Graham Beck winner Doosra hit the front two furlongs out seemingly with plenty in hand but once off the bit he came up empty as Graham Beck runner-up Heavenly Blue took over. However, once Maujean let his lion loose it was a case of race over and the drinks were on owners Dave and Tiaan Shaw.

Trip To Heaven, denied in the boardroom in the Gr1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge last season, has really turned the corner for Tarry as a sprinter and produce possibly the performance of the day in the G2 The Citizen Merchants. Slowly away as is his want, S’Manga Khumalo had him at the back of the field in company with Talktothestars. Hot favourite Kangaroo Jack threatened briefly at the 400 m mark but Trip To Heaven was in full cry and reeled in the opposition with a sustained run. Bull Valley tried hard in second while Talktothestars also rallied from off the pace for third.

Andrew Harrison

 

 

 

Geoff Woodruff sends out four runners in search of his fourth successive Gr 1 Gauteng Sansui Summer Cup over 2000m at Turffontein tomorrow with last year’s first two past the post, Master Sabina and Deo Juvente, topping the betting boards and grabbing most of the attention. But the lightly-raced Master Switch has just as much going for him and could present decent value (around 16-1) in a fiercely competitive renewal of ‘The People’s Race’.

Master Switch was rated around the 86 mark this time last year but has progressed to a 101 since and was again impressive on his season return when boxing on to fend off Master Sabina in a top division handicap over 1800m at the Vaal. That was just the fifteenth start for the Jet Master-gelding who looks open to further improvement this term and has a profile that suits the handicap conditions of the Summer Cup.

The big drawback is a wide draw of 18 but the booking of the accomplished Anthony Delpech for the ride is enough to ease these concerns. Delpech has overcome far worse in steering home dozens of Grade 1 winners during his career and Master Switch has the necessary gate speed to assist in the task of finding a good early position. With just 53,5kg on his back, Master Switch looks a big runner tomorrow and is a must inclusion in all bets.

Woodruff, looking for his sixth Summer Cup overall, felt earlier this week that Master Sabina’s preparation had gone much better than last year when they were unsure of whether they had him fit enough. Speaking to TabNews he said: “I leant towards Deo Juvente (last year), who was flying, but Master Sabina beat him a short head.”

But this year: “He’s pleased me in his work, looks very well in his coat and is much closer to his fighting weight. Master Sabina is what I call a Gary Player seven-year-old. He might be a year older, but Gavin [Lerena] gets on incredibly well with him and he can still be competitive,” said Woodruff.

Woodruff was also encouraged by Deo Juvente’s recent performance in the Charity Mile: “[That] was a nice comeback over a trip that’s short of his best. We have Anton Marcus in the saddle and for me he is one of the greatest riders this country has produced.”

Woodruff’s fourth runner is Master ‘N Commander who has yet to prove himself over this trip. But the trio of Deo Juvente, Master Sabina and Master Switch could provide the yard with another Summer Cup exacta and are worth chancing in smaller exotic perms.

If you’re going wider, the Duncan Howells pair of Saratoga Dancer and Ten Gun Salute are definite inclusions. Saratoga Dancer confirmed that his close-up finishes in the Vodacom Durban July (5^th to The Conglomerate) and Champions Cup (4^th to Marinaresco) were no flukes when giving New Predator a big scare in the Charity Mile (2^nd). Nothing went right for Ten Gun Salute in the same race but he remains “pretty well handicapped” according to his trainer and suited by this trip. Ten Gun Salute is not the easiest of rides but this is the perfect race for him to begin fulfilling his potential.

Of the rest, Mac De Lago and Liege appeal on form alone with the recently gelded Samurai Blade respected at the weights and on potential.

Kangaroo Jack is likely to prove a popular favourite in the fourth, Gr 2 Merchants, but Trip To Heaven has improved since being gelded and must go into all bets – especially if the going is on the soft side.

Mike de Kock holds a strong hand in the Investec Dingaans with a talented trio of runners headed by Heavenly Blue who is fancied to continue on a steep upward curve.

By Brendan Pather

The Gr 1 Gauteng Sansui Summer Cup has not been won twice in succession since the Jean Heming-trained Roland’s Song completed the feat 25 years ago, but the Geoff Woodruff-trained Master Sabina could achieve it again this year.

The seven-year-old Jet Master gelding impressed in his preparation run and goes into tomorrow’s big race off only a one point higher merit rating than he had last year. Compared to last year he is effectively 1,5kg better off with his stablemate Deo Juvente, whom he beat by 0,2 lengths. He had better luck in running than Deo Juvente last year but is drawn well again in 6. Lastly, he has enjoyed a better preparation than he had last year and on top of his one build up race has had four grass gallops.

Deo Juvente has also had a good preparation and although facing a tougher task at the weights is drawn in 8 this year compared to 18 last year. He could repeat his runner up spot.

Mac De Lago is full of class and coming from the Weiho Marwing yard his one preparation run will be enough to have him spot on. He is capable of carrying topweight so from a plum draw of three will be a big runner.

The Conglomerate overcame a wide draw to win the Vodacom Durban July and will have to do so here too, so Piere Strydom will have to work his magic again. The Conglomerate was 2,5kg under sufferance in the July and was only raised five points so effectively runs off the same rating, which gives him a good chance. He has enjoyed a good preparation.

Saratoga Dancer showed his liking for Turffontein Standside in the Charity Mile and the only draw back he has here is his wide draw.

Samurai Blade looks to be off a lenient merit rating, considering he has a Gr 1 second and third to his name, so he should be involved in the finish from a good draw.

The aforementioned are fancied to finish in the top six in the order mentioned. However, none of the twenty runners can be ignored.

Punta Arenas loves to gallop so is interesting in his first visit to Turffontein Standside from a good draw.

Liege should be improving being by Dynasty, but as a handy type has it tough from a draw of 12.

Juxtapose is big and strong and full of class, so won’t be bumped around by the boys, and it would be no surprise to see her go close off an attractive merit rating.

Master Switch looks to have come into his own and has the Woodruff factor on his side.

Master ‘N Commander is better than his last run when trapped wide, but will have to be ridden cold over a trip which will stretch his stamina capacity.

Mogok Master didn’t have it pan out well for him last time and now has blinkers on, so with luck n running could be one of the dark horses.

No Worries is six points lower in the merit ratings than he was two years ago when finishing sixth.

Judicial has a fine record in this race and was “bursting out of his skin” before unfortunately casting himself in his box earlier this week. He will only line up if the swelling on his leg has gone down.

Stonehenge could be dangerous from the front with a lightweight, but the downside is his wide draw.

Ten Gun Salute is a dark horse from a fair draw over an ideal trip as he has plenty of ability, although he does need things to go his way.

Irish Pride is 2kg under sufferance and has a stamina doubt, but was finishing strongly in the Charity Mile and for a very much in form yard is another dark horse.

St. Tropez should love the course and distance and is drawn in pole. He is 0,5kg under sufferance, but has always struck as one who could go places. However, both his July and his Charity Mile runs were disappointing.

Romany Prince has a tough draw and has to bounce back from an ordinary run in the Charity Mile, which was his only preparation outing.

Bankable Teddy is better than his Victory Moon run when over racing behind a slow pace, but he has a tough task being 4kg under sufferance.

In the Gr 2 Investec Dingaans, Heavenly Blue has a wide draw, but should relish the step up in trip. He could give Mike de Kock his second successive win of the prestigious three-year-old level weights event, although it looks highly competitive.

The third race, the Gr 3 Daily Sun Magnolia Handicap over 1160m, features Green Pepper. She looks to be a top class sprinter in the making and runs off a capped merit rating, having obliterated older horses last time when under sufferance. She is the best bet on the card.

The Gr 3 Fillies Mile has the days value bet, Tambalang, who found plenty extra last time despite appearing to over race a touch. She has a wide draw but with luck in running could cause an upset.

The Gr 2 Gauteng Ipi Tombe Challenge could see Polyphonic fighting it out with Negroamara. Polyphonic appears to have come into her own and gets the nod.

By David Thiselton

The Tyrone Zackey-trained soldier Judicial’s Sansui Summer Cup participation hangs in the balance after he cast himself (rolled) in his box earlier in the week and banged one of his legs.

Zackey said on Wednesday it remained to be seen whether the swelling would come down in time for him to run, but added, “I will be the happiest man in the world if he is able to start, but won’t be cross if he doesn’t because he’s been so good to us. I worry about the horse and there are a lot of other races, we don’t want to hurt him.”

Zackey said the six-year-old gelding by Miesque’s Approval, who finished a three length third and a 1,1 length fourth in the last two running of the Summer Cup respectively, had been “bursting out of his skin”.

“He ran a good race in the Victory Moon with that weight and it was maybe because he was so well that he rolled in his box.”

Judicial has a plum draw of two, as opposed to his draws of 13 and 20 in the last two renewals of the big race. Karl Zechner, who rode him to third two years ago, knows him well and is aboard again.

Zackey’s only other runner on the day is Front Rank, who runs in the tenth race, a MR 95 Handicap over 1600m. Zackey said nothing could be found wrong with the consistent five-year-old Mogok gelding after his disappointing run two weeks ago over 1800m at Turffontein. That was in fact the first time he had been tried beyond a mile.

He has won over Saturday’s course and distance before and has a plum draw of three with Zechner up. Betting World have priced him up at 11/2 in the ten horse field. Zackey said, “He has been working very well and is a good each-way bet.”

By David Thiselton

Captain’s Flame attempts to make it four in a row in the McNaughtans Handicap at Kenilworth tomorrow as she continues her so far-relentless progress towards the Paddock Stakes.

“I am giving her two prep runs and this is the first of them,” says Andre Nel who has also earmarked the Jet Master on December 17 for his progressive four-year-old who faces a stiff task under top weight – even though the handicappers only raised her half a kilo for her Diana win.

She won that Durbanville Grade 3 with authority with Aldo Domeyer saluting the crowd as he began pulling her up approaching the line. She was certainly value for more than the official three-quarters of a length, particularly as it was her first race for four and a half months.

“She was pretty ready for that,” recalls her trainer who provides one of the biggest threats in Quine who is on a hat-trick. Can Captain’s Flame beat this one? “It will be tough but I think she can,” answers Nel who is targeting the Victress Stakes with Sihle Cele’s mount.

However Goodtime Gal, unlucky when second in the Diana and now 2kg better, could be a different proposition. “She was baulked early in the straight and she couldn’t get a clear run. I think it cost her the race,” recalls Mike Robinson’s wife Louella. The rerun confirms this view. It’s also worth pointing out that her rider couldn’t claim that day so she is effectively 4.5kg better with the top weight.

She has since chased home Sail and The Secret Is Out, and Richard Fourie (31 today) is in inspired form.

Miss Marker is, in theory at any rate, the best handicapped of all the Diana runners. She was fourth, only 1.3 lengths behind the winner, and is a huge 6g better. But she had the smoothest of passages that day and it was her third run of the season.

You can make some sort of a case for Jane S Piddy and Moonlight ‘N Roses  but it is Harlem Shake’s first outing for four months. Captain’s Flame keeps doing it, she is a class act and she gets the vote.

The sahorseracing computer says she will beat Goodtime Gal a head with Quine a neck away third and Jane S Piddy a well-beaten fourth.

The computer predicts a surprise in the Scout Paints Conditions Plate (race two) with victory going to Adorada who has little chance on adjusted ratings despite last time’s third to In Limine over this 1 800m.

There is precious little between Fear Not and Icy Fire on Final Fling running although that was in the soft. Icy Fire had much the better reappearance run and, with both Brett Crawford and Greg Cheyne doing so well, she gets the vote.

Loadshedder looks good in the first after two promising outings. “We think he is a miler but he is still pretty inexperienced so I am giving him one more run up the straight,” says Nel. “The form is standing up well.”

By Michael Clower