“A bad draw is a bad draw, what else can I say,” was Joey Ramsden’s forlorn comment after The Conglomerate was left out at 18 for last season’s Gr1 Vodacom Durban July.

However, all the cards fell his way in the race and under a superb ride from Piere Strydom that earned him ride of Champions Season, The Conglomerate finally broke prolific owners Markus and Ingrid’s Jooste’s duck in the race.

The Conglomerate (Nkosi Hlophe)

It was a case of more of the same for The Conglomerate for the Gr1 Sansui Summer Cup when the draw was done in Johannesburg yesterday.

Not quite out with the washing at 15 and with a much longer straight to negotiate, it was not all bad news for The Conglomerate who lines up with 20 other rivals in the R2 million race to be run over 2000m at Turffontein on Saturday week, November 26.

The Conglomerate missed the season-ending Gr1 Champions Cup with a mind to the Summer Cup and he has improved each time in his two Highveld build-up runs. He should be spot-on come Saturday week.

Mac de Lago, third behind The Conglomerate in the July, meets his rival on the same terms and although Weiho Marwing is unhappy with his current merit rating, he will have been more than happy with gate three.

Geoff Woodruff has an outstanding record in this race, having won it for the past two years and last year’s winner Master Sabina drew well at 6 with the much-fancied Deo Juvente in at 8 with Anton Marcus aboard. However, Marcus’s choice of rides was restricted as it was obvious that Strydom would have first call on The Conglomerate while he will have had to amputate a leg and possibly more to make the weight on Master ‘N Commander and St Tropez.

Sean Tarry-trained Liege, second in last Saturday’s Gr2 Victory Moon stakes behind Bezanova, has drawn a touch wide at 12 although he is likely to have come on nicely from his warm-up run and champion trainer Tarry has his horses in mustard form.

Liege (Nkosi Hlophe)

KZN raiders are also in evidence with Duncan Howells saddling Saratoga Dancer, runner-up in the Gr2 Charity Mile, and Ten Gun Salute while Gareth van Zyl sends out his first Gr1 runner under his own name in No Worries.

Saratoga Dancer fared best of the Howells runners in the Charity Mile, runner-up to New Predator, but although he finished fifth, beaten a length in the 2200m July, the tough Turffontein 2000m remains a concern from a 12 gate.

Ten Gun Salute did not get the best of passages in the Charity Mile, but having shed his maiden over 2400m, next Saturday’s trip should hold no fears. He has a plum draw and it’s just a matter of whether he is good enough to match this field that is possibly the biggest question mark over his chances.

Veteran No Worries has done the Van Zyl yard and owner Brian Burnard proud. The chestnut never runs a bad race and he has prepped nicely for this event. He also has a handy galloping weight courtesy of Mac de Lago and there will be many a sentimental bet struck.

Turffontein  2,000,000  2000m  17:10   Gr1 SANSUI SUMMER CUP
Sc# Horse                                            Mass MR Draw   BAT       Jockey                         Trainer
1  MAC DE LAGO                              60.0  114   3           AT         W Marwing         Weiho Marwing
2  PUNTA ARENAS                          58.0  110   5            A          K de Melo           Dennis Drier
3  DEO JUVENTE                               56.0  106   8            A          A Marcus             Geoff Woodruff
4  MASTER SABINA                         56.0  106   6            AT        G Lerena              Geoff Woodruff
5  THE CONGLOMERATE               56.0  106  15           AT        P Strydom           Joey Ramsden
6  JUDICIAL                                        55.5  105   2            A          K Zechner            Tyrone Zackey
7  NO WORRIES                                55.5  105  10        BAT        W Kennedy        Gareth van Zyl
8  SARATOGA DANCER                  55.0  104  13           A          C Zackey              Duncan Howells
9  JUXTAPOSE                                   54.0  103   7            A          C Maujean          Stanley Ferreira
10  LIEGE                                              53.5  102 12            AT        S Khumalo           Sean Tarry
11  ROMANY PRINCE                      53.5  102  14           A          *L Hewitson       Ormond Ferraris
12  TEN GUN SALUTE                      53.5  102    9          AT         G van Niekerk   Duncan Howells
13  MASTER SWITCH                      53.5  101  18          AT         A Delpech           Geoff Woodruff
14  SAMURAI BLADE                      52.5  100   4           AT         M Yeni                  Sean Tarry
15  STONEHENGE                             52.5   99  16           AT         J P v’d Merwe    Sean Tarry
16  MOGOK MASTER                      52.0   99  11         BAT        M V’Rensburg   Joe Soma
17  MASTER ‘N COMMANDER     52.0   97  17           A           A Forbes              Geoff Woodruff
18  ST TROPEZ                                    52.0   97   1            AT         *C Murray           Joey Ramsden
19  IRISH PRIDE                                  52.0   95  20           A           R Simons              Johan Janse van Vuuren
20  BANKABLE TEDDY                      52.0   91  19          BA          R Danielson        Brian Wiid

As soon as the six visiting riders taking part in the Air Mauritius International Jockeys’ Challenge touched down at OR Tambo International Airport on Thursday, one of their first tasks was to locate a newspaper and scour the racecard.

The reading material would no doubt have come in handy for the short flight to Port Elizabeth where the first of two legs kicks off on Friday with Fairview prepared to host what promises to be a thrilling first day of a crack team of international riders against a strong South African team.

The second leg takes place at Turffontein Racecourse on Sunday.

The visitors will be captained by Frankie Dettori, who makes a return for the first time since 2009 and features the likes of Hayley Turner, Pat Cosgrave, Rab Havlin, Fergus Sweeney and Aurelien Lemaitre.

“Good to be back. I’ve tried to bring a winning team with me and try to win this year because your boys are hard to beat in your own backyard,” Dettori told Racing. It’s A Rush shortly after arriving in South Africa.

The South African team will be led by S’manga Khumalo with Muzi Yeni, Anthony Delpech, Aldo Domeyer, Grant van Niekerk and the in-form Gavin Lerena filling the remaining slots.

The South African team has a proud history in this competition having won six of the eight renewals.

One thing that most racegoers are hoping to see at either venue is Dettori’s trademark flying dismount and he’s promised to deliver should he manage to get into the winner’s box.

“If I win a race, of course you will. Hopefully we’ll get that straightened out,” Dettori said in reference to the fact that he’s still to get off the mark in two appearances in this competition. He featured in the inaugural event in 2008 and returned the following year.

“I heard I’ve got one favourite on Friday, not sure about Sunday but there’s time to get organised, get as much information as we can and get ready for the weekend.”

This weekend is also a chance for Turner to return to race-riding and the English jockey admitted that the lure of competing in this event was enough to draw her back.

“This is my third time now. I loved it last year, it was brilliant. That was my last ride before I retired and they asked me to come back this year and I couldn’t say no,” Turner said.

“I haven’t been on a winning team either. We are determined to win it this year. Apparently I’ve got some good rides. We’ve got a bit of time to do our homework and fingers crossed,” Turner, recently awarded an OBE by the Queen said before touching on the team format and the difference it makes as opposed to the usual status quo where it’s everyone for themselves.

“You’re a lot happier when you pull up if you don’t finish anywhere but one of your team members win. We all want to win but finishing second isn’t too bad if it’s one of your team members getting up ahead of you.”

Racing.It’s A Rush!

Sail gave her Cape Fillies Guineas chances a huge boost by leading throughout the Itsarush.co.za Progress Plate at Kenilworth yesterday to beat The Secret Is Out by two most convincing lengths. But there was a devastating shock for the connections of the runner-up who ran a tremendous race considering she was giving the winner 3kg.

Sail (Nkosi Hlophe)

Vaughan Marshall reported: “It was a fantastic run but she bled and so she is now off on a two-month holiday.”

Sail was backed from 2-1 to evens and, although she had never led before, her rider was under orders not to be afraid to make it. Once into the straight Gaynor Rupert’s homebred never looking in danger. Veale glanced back as he reached the rails advertising and then leant down to pat the Philanthropist filly low on the neck.

He said: “I knew it would take a good one to beat her and she simply blew them away. The more she runs the better she will get.”

Drier added: “I ran her here because I didn’t want to be caught with my pants down having given her just one run out of the Durban season. She is basically a bit hot but in a race she is a relaxed filly and I think eventually she will go 1 800m.”

Stable companion Premier Dance finished a highly respectable fourth but Drier virtually ruled out the World Sports Betting-sponsored classic on December 3.

He said: “I will speak to (owner-breeder) Mike Rattray as I would like to go slowly with her in the Cape season and prepare her for when we have bigger fish to fry in Durban.”

By Michael Clower

Geoff Woodruff landed plum draws for his two chief contenders in the Gr 1 Sansui Summer Cup, Master Sabina and Deo Juvente, although it was the opposite for his other pair, Master Switch and Master ‘N Commander.

Master Sabina and Deo Juvente finished one-two in the big race last year. In 2014 Woodruff also saddled the first two past the post and in 2013 he saddled the first three and the fifth-placed horse.

Master Sabina (JC Photos)

Master Sabina will jump from barrier six in this year’s big race on November 26, while Deo Juvente jumps from draw 8. Last year they jumped from draws 7 and 18 respectively and were sent off at odds of 13/2 and 15/1 and off merit ratings of 105 and 102. This year they both have merit ratings of 106 and are priced up at 8/1 and 9/1 respectively with Betting World.

Master Switch and Master ‘N Commander drew 18 and 17 respectively and are both priced up at 25/1.

Master Sabina has the same jockey aboard as last year, Gavin Lerena, while Deo Juvente will be ridden by Anton Marcus. Master Switch has Anthony Delpech up and Master ‘N Commander is yet to have a jockey declared.

The 11/2 ruling favourite from the Sean Tarry yard, Samurai Blade, drew a favourable barrier position of four, while his 6/1 shot stablemate, Liege, drew 12.

Out of province trainers, Duncan Howells, Gavin van Zyl and Joey Ramsden have four runners between them. Howells’ fancied 9/1 chance Saratoga Dancer drew a tough 13, while 16/1 shot stablemate Ten Gun Salute drew nine. Van Zyl’s No Worries drew 10 and Ramsden’s St. Tropez drew pole position.

By David Thiselton

Sc# Horse                                  Mass   MR     Draw   Jockey                Trainer
1  MAC DE LAGO                      60.0   114      3         W Marwing     W Marwing
2  PUNTA ARENAS                  58.0   110       5         K de Melo         D Drier
3  DEO JUVENTE                     56.0   106       8         A Marcus           G Woodruff
4  MASTER SABINA                 56.0   106      6         G Lerena           G Woodruff
5  THE CONGLOMERATE      56.0   106       15       P Strydom          J Ramsden
6  JUDICIAL                               55.5   105       2         K Zechner          T Zackey
7  NO WORRIES                        55.5   105       10       W Kennedy        G van Zyl
8  SARATOGA DANCER         55.0   104       13       C Zackey           D Howells
9  JUXTAPOSE                          54.0   103      7         C Maujean       S Ferreira
10 LIEGE                                      53.5   102       12       S Khumalo        S Tarry
11 ROMANY PRINCE                 53.5   102       14       *L Hewitson      O Ferraris
12 TEN GUN SALUTE                53.5   102      9         G V’Niekerk       D Howells
13 MASTER SWITCH                 53.5   101       18       A Delpech          G Woodruff
14 SAMURAI BLADE                  52.5   100       4         M Yeni               S Tarry
15 STONEHENGE                        52.5   99         16       J P v’d Merwe   S Tarry
16 MOGOK MASTER                   52.0   99         11       M V’Rensburg   J Soma
17 MASTER ‘N COMMANDER   52.0   97         17       A Forbes            G Woodruff
18 ST TROPEZ                               52.0    97        1         *C Murray         J Ramsden
19 IRISH PRIDE                           52.0    95        20       R Simons           J Janse van Vuuren
20 BANKABLE TEDDY               52.0   91         19       R Danielson       B Wiid
Couplings: (3,4,13,17) (5,18) (8,12) (10,14,15)
No. of Trainers: 13