Warren Lenferna chats to James Rich about Duncan Howells runners [Nov 25 to Nov 27]

 

 

 

Gavin Lerena and the Geoff Woodruff-trained Master Sabina will attempt to retain the Gr 1 Sansui Summer Cup together at Turffontein on Saturday and the high-flying jockey believed the seven-year-old gelding was going in with a better preparation than he had last year.

Lerena has a number of other good rides at the meeting and it is no coincidence that the majority of them are for two trainers who were mentored by Woodruff, Johan Janse van Vuuren and Candice Dawson. Lerena said about the latter, “They are both very good trainers, they have done amazingly well, they learnt a lot from Geoff.”

Master Sabina is highly regarded by Lerena. The son of Jet Master was a touch disappointing in both the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and J&B Met subsequent to his Summer Cup win last year, but he ran a cracker in the Vodacom Durban July. Lerena said after the July, “I was forced to take him back early, so was considerably further back than I had wanted to be, but he ran on really well in the straight.” He finished a 3,35 length ninth.

He followed up by running a decent fifth in the Gold Cup over 3200m with topweight. That was the fifth consecutive time he had not made the frame, but on the positive side this allowed the handicapper to drop him three points back to 105, the same merit rating he ran off in last year’s Summer Cup.

He made his seasonal reappearance in a MR 104 Handicap over 1800m at the Vaal on October 25 and made eyecatching progress in the straight to finish a 0,8 length second to his stablemate Master Switch. He was raised one point for the run, but still faces the latter on 1kg better terms.

He carries 56kg in Saturday’s 2000m handicap event off a 106 merit rating, as opposed to 56,5kg off 105 last year, and he jumps from draw six as opposed to draw seven last year.

Lerena said, “He has a fair draw and his prep has gone very well. He had a nice prep run and took the run well. He has been putting up nice work and I am happy with the progress he has made. I think he is in a better place than he was last year. I can’t say I am confident, because it’s a horse race, but he is definitely in with a chance with luck in running.

“I think his stable companion Deo Juvente and also Saratoga Dancer are big runners and we will also have to be careful of the lightweights, there are some strong lightweight gallopers.”

Lerena rides the exciting Janse Van Vuuren-trained Captain Al colt Doosra from a tricky draw of nine in the Gr 2 Investec Dingaans over 1600m and said, “I certainly think he will get the trip. I have been very happy with his work at home, he keeps on improving nicely. Obviously we don’t have the number one draw we had last time, so will need a little bit of luck.”

He rides the equally exciting Australian-bred High Chapparral filly Being Fabulous for the Janse van Vuuren yard in the Gr 3 Fillies Mile. Like Doosra, she possesses a magnificently long stride, but she also has to overcome draw nine. Lerena said, “I would have been more confident with a couple of weeks and another run under the belt, but having said that she a very nice filly and is doing very nicely at home.”

In the Gr 2 Gauteng Tourism Ipi Tombe Challenge over 1600m Lerena rides the Alec Laird-trained Polyphonic, who was well regarded last year as a three-year-old and now looks to be coming into her own. Lerena said, “She is now having her third run after a rest and her last run was brilliant, carrying that big weight it was full of merit (she finished a 2,5 length second in the Gr 3 Yellowwood Handicap over 1800m under Lerena carrying 60kg and giving the winner Girl On The Run 8kg). She has the number one draw too, but it’s competitive, it’s quite open.”

Lerena rides the Paul Peter-trained African Ruler in the Gr 2 Citizen Merchants over 1160m and this consistent four-year-old Trippi gelding’s form speaks for itself, as he has only once failed to finish in the first three in 15 career starts, six of which he has won. His runs include a runner up finish to Equus Champion Sprinter Talktothestars in the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint over 1200m at Scottsville, but he faces the latter on 0,5kg worse terms here despite being defeated 2,25 lengths in the latter race. It is a very strong field and it remains to be seen whether his low draw of three is disadvantageous, which it can be in rain affected going. There is some more rain expected this week, so it might be on the soft side.

Lerena doesn’t know much about the Woodruff first-timer by Captain Al he rides in the first, Whosethebossnow.

In the second over 1160m, he rides the Candice Dawson-trained Ideal World filly Royal Utopia, who appeared to be going backwards on debut, but then suddenly stayed on well. He said, “She is doing ok, she is still quite green, but it’s not a bad formline and she could be in the places.”

He rides the Dawson-trained Prince Of Orange in the last, a MR 95 Handicap over 1600m. This five-year-old Indigo Magic gelding’s victory under Lerena in the Grand Heritage consolation race over 1475m was full of merit as he jumped from a seemingly impossible low draw of three.

Lerena said, “He is not drawn well again (10 in a field of 10), but is feeling fit and will be running on again.”

By David Thiselton

Summerveld trainers have a few chances of success at the Gr 1 Sansui Summer Cup meeting at Turffontein on Saturday.

Gareth van Zyl said a line could be drawn through Summer Cup contender No Worries last run in the Gr 2 Peermont Emperor’s Palace Charity Mile, as not much had gone right for him in the running. The seven-year-old Kahal gedling has been doing well since then at the Van Zyl Turffontein-based satellite yard under the care of Gareth’s brother Chesney.

Gareth felt he had a shout at the weights, running off a merit rating of 105 with 55,5kg on his back. History backs him up as he ran a 5,25 length sixth two years ago carrying topweight of 60kg off a 111 merit rating. He is drawn ten with regular pilot Warren Kennedy aboard.

Dennis Drier spoke earlier this week of the “magnificent” condition Summer Cup contender Punta Arenas is in, so he will have his supporters from a good draw of five under Keagan de Melo.

Mark Dixon runs the four-year-old Muhtafal filly Isingamoya in the Gr 3 Magnolia Handicap over 1160m and hopes the forecast rain does not mean her number one draw will be unfavourable. He said about the 94 merit rated horse, “She is exceptionally well going into the race and has had a good prep. I wouldn’t be going if I didn’t think she had a good chance. We are up against a very good three-year-old (Green Pepper), but she will give her a run for her money.”

Kumaran Naidoo runs the four-year-old Rebel King filly Deep Down Rebel in the same race. She is 3,5kg under sufferance off her 79 merit rating and is also 4,5kg worse off with Isingamoya despite being beaten 0,5 lengths by the latter over 1200m last time out.

Naidoo said, “She has a stiff task, but is very, very well. She has been to Turffontein once before and travelled well on that occasion.” Naidoo has kept apprentice Tristan Godden aboard, despite not being able to claim his normal 1,5kg, as he knows the horse well.

Alistair Gordon runs the long-striding Captain Al gelding My Pal Al in the Gr 2 Investec Dingaans over 1600m and his assistant trainer Nicolette Roscoe said, ”He is doing fine and we have been happy with his work. We didn’t think he would get in off his 80 merit rating, but he did so we are going to take our chances as we think highly of him and didn’t want to give up that pole position draw. He might be green first time at the track, but he should enjoy its galloping nature and the long straight as he takes time to get going.” Marco van Rensburg rides him for the second time in succession.

Gavin van Zyl runs two horses, Odd Rob and Estimation, in the Gr 3 Racing Association Handicap over 3200m and said, “Odd Rob is a nice, big strong horse, he has ability and if he reproduces his last run, he must have a chance.” The five-year-old Mambo In Seattle gelding received 1,5kg from The Elmo Effect last time over 2450m and lost by 0,25 lengths. He is now 0,5kg better off and is drawn well in six again with Muzi Yeni remaining aboard.

Distorted Humor four-year-old filly Estimation was 3,6 length behind Odd Rob last time, but is now 1kg better off and Van Zyl also expected the fitting of blinkers to make a difference. “She looks to be competitive,” he said. Stable jockey Warren Kennedy remains aboard. The form of the last race the Van Zyl pair took part in has worked out well as 1,05 length fourth-placed Smart Mart came out and won in Cape Town.

Mike Miller runs the four-year-old Warm White Night gelding Executive Power in the Gr 2 The Citizen Merchants over 1160m, where he is 1kg under sufferance off his 97 merit rating. He has won two of his last three starts over this trip, including one in slightly soft going. He should acquit himself well under Alec Forbes from draw five of eleven 11, but he does face a top class field.

By David Thiselton

Craven stormed into the Cape Guineas picture with a most convincing return to form in the Place Your Bets Handicap at Kenilworth yesterday despite drifting right in the closing stages.

Richard Fourie rode the 18-10 shot differently this time, saving him for a strong run in the straight to hit the front a furlong out and beat Dancer by two and a half lengths.

Fourie, although noncommittal about riding the colt in the Guineas, said: “He is still a bit green – that’s why he went right with me after we passed horses – but he is really starting to mature. He would love to go further and the Derby trip would be right up his alley.”

Brett Crawford, watching from Randjiesfontein, added: ”That was a good run and I just hope he has done enough to get into the Guineas – I think he will now go up to a 91 – because I don’t really want to run him again before then.”

Horizon, surprisingly preferred in the market, covered himself in future promise by running on to take third in a manner that shouted out that he needs more ground and could be really in his element over the Derby trip.

Candice Bass-Robinson said: “As he goes further he will improve all the time and in the meantime we have just got to be a little patient.”

Orion Quest warmed up for Saturday week’s Cape Merchants in encouraging style. He lost ground at the start in the All To Come Graduation Plate but ran on well to take a length and a half-second to the useful Attenborough. He will be one of the bottom weights in the R400 000 handicap.

Attenborough, who has run so many good races in defeat but often appeared to run out of steam close home, showed the benefit of waiting tactics with Donovan Dillon keeping him covered up until well inside the 400m mark and not hitting the front till 100m out.

Dillon said: “He is a classy animal and I rate him very highly. The aim was to give him cover – last time we found it but unfortunately it opened up quite early.”

Joey Ramsden confirmed that the colt will stick to sprinting, saying: “He is best ridden patiently.”

The Milnerton trainer added that Table Bay “is absolutely fine” after his Selangor third and said he is still convinced that the reason for the horse’s rather disappointing performance was because many in the field, him included, went too fast.

Sihle Cele, who won the first for Crawford on Stopthinkingofme, has been suspended for a week for causing interference to 15-10 favourite Always In Charge in last Saturday’s Lanzerac Ready To Run. The NHA Inquiry Board ruled that he was not sufficiently clear when shifting inwards on Purple Tractor after a furlong.

Justin Snaith has booked Piere Strydom for Canon Guineas winner Black Arthur in the Green Point Stakes at Kenilworth on Saturday week. Snaith won the race with Legislate two years ago.

By Michael Clower

Geoff Woodruff has experienced enough Summer Cup success to know his twin spearhead from four stable runners – Master Sabina and Deo Juvente – can between them provide an unprecedented fourth consecutive triumph for the personable Englishman in the Sansui Summer Cup at Turffontein on Saturday.

The pair fought out a memorable finish to the R2-million race twelve months ago, when Master Sabina won by a long nose. And it is entirely feasible that history could repeat itself at 5.10pm on Saturday, as both are going into battle off what their trainer believes are ideal preparations.

That was not the case last year when Master Sabina went to post a gallop short, but still managed to fend off his younger stablemate under a classic Gavin Lerena ride.

Now the Jet Master gelding is, at seven, the joint second-oldest contender in the 20-runner field.

Woodruff, who landed two Summer Cups out of his original base at the Vaal and is looking for a sixth victory overall in the Grade 1 race, says: “Master Sabina’s preparation has gone much better than last year when we were very unsure of whether we had him fit enough.

“I leant towards Deo Juvente, who was flying, but Master Sabina beat him a short head.”

There has been no repeat of those hiccups this year. “Master Sabina has had four grass gallops and a race at the Vaal, in which he finished second to Master Switch. He’s pleased me in his work, looks very well in his coat and is much closer to his fighting weight.

“He’s what I call a Gary Player seven-year-old. He might be a year older, but Gavin gets on incredibly well with him and he can still be competitive,” said the trainer.

Woodruff has brought Deo Juvente off the injury list and is encouraged by his third placing in the Charity Mile at the beginning of the month.

Of the Trippi gelding he comments: “He sustained a nasty cut to a stifle in Cape Town that was nine inches long. It was a huge setback right before the Met. It explains his poor runs here in the winter, but the Charity Mile 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.

“He said that when I ran Deo over 2000m we would see the best of him and that’s exactly what happened here a year ago.”

Yorker and Louis The King preceded Master Sabina as Cup winners for Woodruff, who confesses he loves to target his best horses at the race, more so than any of the other marquee contests on the South African calendar.

He continues: “I always try to get them into the Summer Cup. It’s such a great race day and everyone is up for it. It’s a bit like the Johannesburg Met.”

The Woodruff challenge is completed by Master Switch and Master ‘N Commander. “I’m pleased we have Delpech on Master Switch, who had to win at the Vaal to get into the Cup,” he says.

“He’s a roughie but I’m leaning towards him as the better of these two.

“He’s drawn No 18, which is the same gate as Deo had last year so it’s not impossible. Turffontein is such a fair track. There’s plenty of room and they tend to fan out.

“But when he beat Master Sabina in his prep he was much the more forward.”

Of Master ‘N Commander he observes: “2000m is the absolute ceiling for him and he has to be ridden as a non-stayer, stone cold.

“Last time over 1800m he was trapped three deep and raced much too handily. But, like the other three, he’s thrown a perfect blood count and that’s particularly important at this time of year when viruses lurk and can be contracted no matter what precautions you take.”

Courtesy of TABnews