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

Craven can earn his Cape Guineas ticket by bouncing back to form in the Place Your Bets Handicap at Kenilworth today.

This colt, bought to race in Hong Kong, has a huge reputation and has started favourite in all three starts but it all went pear-shaped in his first handicap run here four weeks ago. He was odds-on but managed only an expensive and disappointing fifth.

Admittedly he was twice brushed by the winner, Mega Secret. “I think it was more that the race was a bit hard on him,” says Brett Crawford, referring to it being his third run in six weeks. “He is very well and he has been working well.”

Crawford still believes that Richard Fourie’s mount is good enough to take his chance in next month’s classic but obviously he has to win this and he probably has most to fear from Horizon.

This R5.2 million record-breaker has also had his ups and downs. Most disappointing when heavily backed first time, he redeemed himself in convincing fashion over this trip next time even though the form was hardly boosted by runner-up Crompton Court managing only seventh last Saturday.

“Horizon is doing well and working well,” reports Candice Bass-Robinson. “I suppose we have Craven to beat but this will tell us where we are with Horizon.”

Dancer won a mile novice 35 minutes before Horizon scored over the same trip but his time was about half a second slower. However he has some fair form and could win if neither of the big two produce the expected step up in form.

Silver Chalice scored twice over 1 800m before disappointing in a sprint. Eric Sands believes that he will need another run, saying: “We are restricted as to gallops.”

Craven opened 12-10 favourite with World Sports Betting which put Horizon in at 18-10 and Dancer on 28-10. Silver Chalice is a 10-1 chance and Aviemore on 14-1 while the Bass-Robinson second string Rocket Master is the rank outsider of the party at 20-1.

Strictly on the book Crawford should also win the All To Come Graduation Plate with 2-1 shot Orion Quest who has 2kg in hand over Attenborough on adjusted ratings and finished a neck in front of him on these terms when they were second and third behind Always In Charge over a furlong further at the beginning of the month.

However this is Orion Quest’s second run after an injury-induced rest (he had knee surgery) so the alarm bells are ringing. “I’m basically using this as a stepping stone as he is going for the Cape Merchants on Saturday week,” says Brett Crawford.

Attenborough, second to Lanzerac Ready To Run runner-up Sergeant Hardy on his previous start, has a fair bit of speed and is taken to reverse the placings. Significantly he is already favourite at around 15-10.

La Favourari (3-1) also comes into the reckoning after starting favourite and going close against Pillar Of Hercules ( 7-2) over the trip here four weeks ago. The Andre Nel runner is 3kg better.

But don’t overlook 14-1 outsider Horse Guards. Dennis Drier’s colt has no chance on his running in that Always In Charge race but he is a lot better than that and it was his first run for nearly five months.

By Michael Clower

Kenilworth (Old Course) Wed Nov 23 Race previews by Warren Lenferna

Race 1
Preview: SEATTLE OAK caught the eye on debut and can improve to go close to winning. SECOND NATURE showed good improvement in her second start and can get even closer today – big runner. STOPTHINKINGOFME has a quartet chance – her stable companion is preferred. (Warren Lenferna 13-3-14)

Race 2
Preview: ORION QUEST has solid and good form. His last run to Always In Charge should be way too powerful for this field and he is the one they all have to beat. ATTENBOROUGH is consistent and was not far behind Orion Quest when they last met. LA FAVOURARI has a strong place chance. (Warren Lenferna 1-3-2)

Race 3
Preview: MINI LOUSHE is coming to hand quickly and looks ready to win his maiden. CHOIR OF ANGELS should improve many lengths over the 1400m trip and is one that has to be taken seriously – bad draw to deal with as does Mini Loushe. GSTAAD did well on debut but disappointed last time – must be given another chance. (Warren Lenferna 1-9-11)

Race 4
Preview: CRAVEN has a big reputation and showed his ability when winning his maiden in a common canter. He then battled to quicken in his post maiden run and disappointed many of his followers. I believe that a horse can have an off day and it is best to draw a line right through that run – he is better than that and is selected to bounce right back to best here. DANCER and SILVER CHALICE look set to fight out the minor money. (Warren Lenferna 3-2-1)

Race 5
Preview: NAVASHA has consistent form and comes into this race with strong each way claims. TENDER TRIP was slow out last time and finished just off the action. This is her peak run and she is more than capable of winning a race like this but the weight she has to shoulder is a small concern. MAKE THE MAGNET has been selected as the value bet on today’s card. (Warren Lenferna 2-1-9)

Race 6
Preview: CAPTAIN’S VERSION had to check last time at a crucial stage but still managed to run well – his chances look bright here. MR JAY might be able to get away from them at the top of the straight with a valuable 4kg’s off his back. CORTADA impressed when backed on debut and has to be better than his last run shows. If CAPTAIN COURTEOUS were to win again, it would be no shock at all! (Warren Lenferna 5-4-7)

Race 7
Preview: MIRANDA FROST caught the eye when having her comeback run 22 days ago. She won her first two starts in the manner of a good horse – I believe she is a good horse and should be very hard to beat and has been selected as the best bet on today’s card. SOMMERLIED returns from a rest and is making her local debut – she thumped the opposition on debut in KZN on the grass and clearly has ability or else would not have been travelled to the Cape for the season – exacta choice. HANABI has a place chance. (Warren Lenferna 4-7-5)

Race 8
Preview: STRIKEITLIKEAMATCH ran second last time and can go one better. SPRING GOLD is coming to hand and is worth considering for the shortlist. EDGE OF GLORY can improve a ton on his debut effort. (Warren Lenferna 5-9-12)

KZN trainer Duncan Howells said his two Sansui Summer Cup hopefuls, Saratoga Dancer and Ten Gun Salute, had put in pleasing gallops over 1800m at Turffontein last Thursday and they were both “fit, sound and very well in themselves”.

He is also pleased with his Investec Dingaans pair Secret Captain and Roy’s Magic, although his one concern was whether the latter would stay the 1600m trip.

Saratoga Dancer put up an eyecatching preparation for the Summer Cup when staying on from a handy position to finish a 0,6 length second in the Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile. The long striding five-year-old gelding by Mambo In Seattle proved he would like the galloping Turffontein Standside course and that, as expected, he would come into his own with age. Saratoga Dancer ran a superb fifth in the Vodacom Durban July, so the tough 2000m of Turffontein Standside should be ideal.

On the downside he was drawn well in three in the Charity Mile, but now has a tricky draw of 13 in Saturday’s 20 horse field. Howells said how the draw was managed would all depend on the pace. A fast paced race would play into Saratoga Dancer’s hands, whereas a slow pace would make it tough. He added Craig Zackey knew the horse well and he would leave the ride to him.

Saratoga Dancer was raised one point for his Charity Mile second to 104 and will carry 55kg in the Summer Cup.

Ten Gun Salute, an Australian-bred four-year-old colt by Henrythenavigator, was described by Howells as one with a lot of ability but “things have to go right for him.”

In the Charity Mile he become upset when having to have  a shoe refitted at the start.

Howells revealed jockey Grant van Niekerk had not actually been happy about participating when trotting up after the reshodding. However, the course veterinarian had passed the horse.

Howells reckoned this chain of events, together with a slowing up of the pace, had explained the horse’s antics around the turn that day. Van Niekerk had dropped him out and moved on to the rail from a wide draw. However, around the turn Ten Gun Salute’s head was up in the air and twisted sideways. Howells added that even without those contributing factors Ten Gun Salute “is not the easiest ride in town,” on the best of days. Ten Gun Salute did well under the circumstances to stay on for a 6,2 length sixth in the Charity Mile.

Howells concluded, “He is distance suited and pretty well handicapped. The draw (nine) is just about right for him.”

He will carry 53,5kg off his 102 merit rating and Van Niekerk remains aboard.

Saratoga Dancer is currently a 10/1 shot with Betting World and Ten Gun Salute is at 15/1.

In the Investec Dingaans over 1600m Randall Simons has kept the ride aboard the well-bred colt Secret Captain, who is by Captain Al out of the amazing matriarch Mystic Spring, whose best progeny include last year’s Equus Champion three-year-old filly Bela-Bela as well as the like of Gr 1-winner Rabiya.

Howells took Secret Captain up to Johannesburg as he felt at this stage of his career the run in at Greyville was too short for him.

He elaborated, “He becomes unbalanced and needs to strengthen within his big framework before he can cope with a tight track like that. I can’t fault what he has done to date and he has plenty of scope for improvement.”

In his first start at Turffontein he flew up to run a head second to the decent sprinter Buckland in a 1200m Progress Plate. Then in the Gr 3 Graham Beck Stakes over 1400m he came from the back of a ten horse field to run a decent two length fourth to the highly touted pair Doosra and Heavenly Blue, with Singapore Sling in between. There was 3,75 lengths back to the rest of the field, so it was a fine effort.

Howells said the long-striding grey had “come on from the run.” He added he had initially been a bit disappointed as he had appeared to get to the leaders and then tire. However, in retrospect he had changed his view and said, “He has had to make up ground to decent horses from a wide draw, while the others were up there for free. It was also a bit of a false run race as the leader sped well clear and the second horse eased it up a bit. Secret Captain travelled very well on the turn. He over raced a bit, and that is not like him, he usually switches off. Now he has a good draw (six in a 16 horse field) which will help big time, he won’t have to sit back.”

Secret Captain looks likely on pedigree and running style to enjoy the step up in trip to 1600m.

Howells said about the Australian-bred Foxwedge colt Roy’s Magic, whose two wins in four career starts have been over 1200m and 1400m respectively at Scottsville, “He is well above average and was disappointing in the Graham Beck (11,75 length 7^th). He was probably too handy and battled to quicken. Now he faces a real test from a wide draw (16) and my one concern is the distance. He is laid back and has given the impression he will stay the mile. But he is by a sprinting stallion and I wonder whether this is a touch too far.”

Warren Kennedy has ridden him in all of his starts to date and remains aboard.

The Howells yard are due some luck on the Highveld. Having gone to the extent of setting up a satellite yard there for the current campaign this might be the meeting where it changes in their favour.

By David Thiselton