David Thiselton

SUMMER PUDDING galloped in to the hearts of the nation yesterday with an emphatic victory in the Grade 1 WSB Summer Cup over 2000m at Turffontein Standside to give Paul Peter and Warren Kennedy their first win in Johannesburg’s biggest race.

The four-year-old daughter of Silvano had to break a Summer Cup weight carrying record for a female to do it and also had to overcome a wide draw but she made it look easy.

Her nine wins from nine starts is now just two short of the South African record unbeaten run of eleven set by Homeguard in the late 1960s.

The race had similarities to the Vodacom Durban July in that a pacemaker who was a stablemate of the eventual winner was sent out to set fast fractions.

Riverstown’s race record suggested he was best at 1400m to a mile so some wondered whether he was put in the Summer Cup as a hare and so it proved. He stayed out wide from his wide draw until he was in front. He then set fractions that were fast enough to draw the other front-running to handy types into going too quickly, thus nullifying their threat to Summer Pudding.

Kennedy had meanwhile expertly placed Summer Pudding midway through the field where she relaxed nicely.

The plan worked superbly especially considering one of the horses in the vanguard was the dangerous front-runner Running Brave.

This gallant mare cruised up to Crown Towers who had assumed the lead at the top of the straight after Riverstown had fallen away.

Last year’s winner Zillzaal was unable to go with the front two and neither could Tristful and Seven Patriots or Divine Odyssey who looked to have been ridden too handy for a closer.

Paul Peter had said one of the most pleasing aspects of Summer Pudding’s recent comeback run was the lack of the flat spot she had usually hit at the top of the straight.

This was again evident yesterday as she quickly shot into third place in the straight and opened a gap to the rest of the field.

Kennedy had actually had to wake her up at about the 1000m mark after which she came on to the bit superbly and perhaps that is how the champion jockey now gets rid of that flat spot.

Nevertheless, she now had Running Brave in her sights and it was clear from a long way out that despite carrying 59kg and conceding the five-year-old mare 2kg she was traveling better.

It was also clear that nothing from behind was going to catch her so solid and powerful was her stride.

She moved into the lead at the 200m mark at which point Muzi Yeni accepted second place and just kept Running Brave concentrating.

Tree Tumbo ran on well from the back half to give Silvano a first and third and the worst weighted horse, according to official merit ratings, Dance Class, came from a mile back to snatch fourth from the joint topweight Tierra Del Fuego.

The latter ran a fine race considering he had to rush around Summer Pudding on the turn to find cover.

Atyaab finished sixth ahead of Victoria Paige and Crown Towers.

Pack Leader was backed into favourite but could only manage eleventh. He probably prefers faster ground, although the penetrometer reading of 23 suggested good ground.

It was a dream come true for Peter who  grew up in Turffontein and used to sneak on to the course as a youngster.

He dedicated the win to his recently late head groom John Tshabalala, who had been with him from the beginning and who he said had taught him so much.

He also reserved special praise for Summer Pudding’s owners Stephen and Jessica Jell of Mauritzfontein Stud, who bred her together with Jessica’s mother Mary Slack of Wilgerbosdrift Stud.

But Peter spared the final word for Summer Pudding.

Kennedy said he had been concerned about the weight and draw and was full of accolades for a filly he called a true champion.

Many felt Summer Pudding had been a weak award for Equus Horse Of The Year last season as she had only competed against her own gender and age group barring her second start when taking on older females in a handicap.

So yesterday was an acid test and she came through it with flying colours.

Her next hurdle will be to take on the best in the Cape and if emerging on top she will take a step up from public darling to great.

Michael Clower

WOMEN jockeys are increasingly making an impact around the world and, if sheer determination is anything to go by, Erin-Lee Watkinson may one day make her mark in what is still largely a male dominated profession.

The Andre Nel-trained Magnetic Dime opened one of the favourites for the Work Riders’ Maiden but punters, most of whom had never heard of her, allowed her mount to drift out to 107-20.

They won’t make that mistake again. This may have been only Miss Watkinson’s third ride but she sent her mount to the front 400m from home and coolly kept her going to score by three-parts of a length. Not bad for a qualified engineer!

The 24-year-old explained: “I made a deal with my parents – I wanted to become a jockey but they said ‘You must get a qualification first.’ 

“I have already spent a year at the Jockey Academy but then they changed the rules. However Andre is now applying for me to be apprenticed to him. If that doesn’t work out then I will go to New Zealand because the academy there has already offered me a place.”

Vardy, winner of last season’s L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and expected to be one of the favourites for South Africa’s premier mile race in January, will be out of action for several months after suffering an injury to his near-fore suspensory.

Trainer Adam Marcus, speaking at Kenilworth on Saturday, said: “It’s not career-ending but he has a small lesion in the suspensory branch on his near-fore. I’ve dealt with injuries like this before and they take a lot of TLC but I am hoping that we can get him back on the course.

“The lesion is something that can heal with time and we picked it up immediately. We will give him the time he deserves. He is a gelding, and lightly raced – and we still hope that we can bring him back to his best.

“But for the moment one step at a time. We will rescan in two months and then we will be able to see the speed at which the injury is healing.”

Marcus disclosed that this is not the first time the five-year-old has suffered a serious setback, saying: “He is prone to issues. As a young horse he had surgery to remove chips from his near-fore knee and his off-fore fetlock. He is a big horse and this time he may have simply put his foot wrong during training.”

Justin Snaith, out of luck at Turffontein, won three of the other seven races but he disclosed that he has been going through a fair bit of soul-searching about the races in which he should risk his three-year-olds. Like most trainers, he has to consider what the handicappers would do to the horses’ ratings – and future chances – should they run well.

He said: “The handicappers are being instructed to make the ratings high in order to keep Grade 1 status for out top races but I feel we should instead focus on our own racing.” – info@caperacing.co.za

Women jockeys are increasingly making an impact around the world and, if sheer determination is anything to go by, Erin-Lee Watkinson may one day make her mark in what is still largely a male dominated profession.

The Andre Nel-trained Magnetic Dime opened one of the favourites for the Work Riders’ Maiden but punters, most of whom had never heard of her, allowed her mount to drift out to 107-20.

They won’t make that mistake again. This may have been only Miss Watkinson’s third ride but she sent her mount to the front 400m from home and coolly kept her going to score by three-parts of a length. Not bad for a qualified engineer!

The 24-year-old explained: “I made a deal with my parents – I wanted to become a jockey but they said ‘You must get a qualification first.’ 

“I have already spent a year at the Jockey Academy but then they changed the rules. However Andre is now applying for me to be apprenticed to him. If that doesn’t work out then I will go to New Zealand because the academy there has already offered me a place.”

Vardy, winner of last season’s L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and expected to be one of the favourites for South Africa’s premier mile race in January, will be out of action for several months after suffering an injury to his near-fore suspensory.

Trainer Adam Marcus, speaking at Kenilworth on Saturday, said: “It’s not career-ending but he has a small lesion in the suspensory branch on his near-fore. I’ve dealt with injuries like this before and they take a lot of TLC but I am hoping that we can get him back on the course.

“The lesion is something that can heal with time and we picked it up immediately. We will give him the time he deserves. He is a gelding, and lightly raced – and we still hope that we can bring him back to his best.

“But for the moment one step at a time. We will rescan in two months and then we will be able to see the speed at which the injury is healing.”

Marcus disclosed that this is not the first time the five-year-old has suffered a serious setback, saying: “He is prone to issues. As a young horse he had surgery to remove chips from his near-fore knee and his off-fore fetlock. He is a big horse and this time he may have simply put his foot wrong during training.”

Justin Snaith, out of luck at Turffontein, won three of the other seven races but he disclosed that he has been going through a fair bit of soul-searching about the races in which he should risk his three-year-olds. Like most trainers, he has to consider what the handicappers would do to the horses’ ratings – and future chances – should they run well.

He said: “The handicappers are being instructed to make the ratings high in order to keep Grade 1 status for out top races but I feel we should instead focus on our own racing.”

-Michael Clower

Image: Wayne Marks

Andrew Harrison

IT’S been two months since Hollywoodbets Scottsville saw a racehorse with the track undergoing its annual spring treatment and with ample spring rains to help, tomorrow’s runners should be racing on a ‘billiard table’.

Many trainers have taken the opportunity to race on fresh turf and punters are faced with well-filled fields that should make for top racing.

The card opener is a work riders’ race where you pays your money and takes your chances.

Yessiricanboogie is a quick filly but ran way below form last run and probably needed it although she did find some market support. Gareth van Zyl’s filly has been up against much stronger of late and Aaron Xabendlini has a top strike rate in these races. Michael Roberts has been a good to Rachel Venniker, always giving her a ‘live’ runner and she partners Sir Pom. He is the highest rated horse in the field and may just have needed his last outing.

Tristan Mustard is headed to the UK on Monday to take up a position with top jumps trainer Nicky Henderson and delayed his departure to ride Father’s Frost for Kom Naidoo. Father’s Frost took on much stronger last run. He has improved with a tongue-tie and goes well this course. Callan Dixon rides Light The Loose who may just need it. But he has been contesting features since his maiden win and has a touch of class.

Should Dixon pull this off, it could be a family double with father Mark sending out favourite Prince Tyrion in the second. Prince Tyrion came in for heavy market support last run and with a strong tailwind helping the runners home Ashton Arries took off like a dirty shirt, trying to lead all the way. He beat all but Palace Wind who finished like ‘the wind’. He will probably be better this shorter trip.

After a frustrating spell in the doldrums, Duncan Howells’s string is finding form and he will be looking to Irish Belle to build on her current good form. Narrowly beaten into second at her last three, she is due a change of fortune.

Her two biggest dangers are also Ashburton-based. The Kom Naidoo filly Badrah made a smart debut for her new stable when drawn widest at Greyville and must have a big chance on a repeat showing while Jarett Rugg is still looking for his first win in KZN and Cherry Tomatoes has made good improvement in blinkers and looked a winner last start.

Best bet on the card comes in the first leg of the Pick 6 with Banzai Pipeline, named after the infamous and dangerous Hawaiian surfing spot.

Garth Puller’s runner ran a cracker from a wide draw last time out and has a plum draw this time around. He is by far the highest rated runner in the field and he should be hard to beat.

Pinnacle Plates over 2400m are as scarce as hen’s teeth. It is something of a catch 22 situation for the operator as these races are often under subscribed and either abandoned due to a lack of numbers or only attracting a few runners that does not make for optimum betting turnover.

But top horses in this category get limited opportunities and a Pinnacle Stakes event gives them an opportunity without having to carry the grandstand in lower handicaps.

Marchingontogether disappointed in a slow-run Gold Cup and his run since was too short. His last success was over course and distance and he should put in a big effort. American Indian made a promising debut for his new stable and steps up to what may prove to be his optimum trip. The mare Flichity By Farr has been rested since the Gold Cup where she ran a cracker with first time blinkers. She stays well and will be a factor.

THE National Horseracing Authority confirms that at an Inquiry held in Durban on 26 November 2020, Trainer L F Robinson was charged with a contravention of Rule 72.1.43.

The specifics of the charge being that on or about 14 November 2020, he posted a comment on a social media platform which could reasonably be construed to be racist to other persons in the racing industry.

Trainer Mr L F Robinson pleaded not guilty to the charge.  However, after considering the evidence, the Inquiry Board found Trainer Robinson guilty as charged.

The Inquiry Board imposed a penalty of a cancellation of his Trainer’s Licence, which is wholly suspended for a period of 2 years, on condition that he is not found guilty of a similar offence during this period.  In addition to this penalty, the Inquiry Board imposed a fine of R25 000.

Furthermore, Trainer L F Robinson’s interim suspension, that was imposed on him in terms of Rule 91.2, pending the finalisation of the Inquiry, is lifted with immediate effect.   As such, Mr Robinson may enter and declare horses to race in terms of his Licence as a Trainer.

Mr Robinson has the right of appeal against the finding and the penalty imposed.