The R1 million Supreme Cup sponsored by SAP, formerly known as the Emerald Cup and to be run this Saturday, has become associated with speed, an asset which invariably appears to be an essential ingredient of a winner.

However, the speed ingredient is sometime beaten by pure power, which applies to those who can maintain a strong gallop throughout on the testing surface, and latterly low draws appear to have been a big factor too, considering the last four winners have not been drawn higher than barrier three.

The country’s most prestigious sand event was originally run over 1400m until being switched to 1450m in 2008.

The winner of the inaugural 2005 running, Hilti, started his career with a debut win over 1600m and followed up by winning over 1900m, so he was then not surprisingly kept over middle distance to staying events for much of his career. However, in the last nine runs of his career this powerful galloper by Fort Wood won five times between 1400-1600m, indicating that might have in fact been his optimum distance range.

National Spirit, who won the second renewal of the race in 2006 having been runner up in the inaugural running, was essentially a miler who was known for his early speed and his ability to kick from the front.

The following year’s winner Narc had a stamina question mark hanging over his head but managed to just hang on after using his early speed to build a lead.

The fairytale winner of the 2008 running, Alimony, who was a battling turf horse before becoming a revelation on sand, was capable of a devastating finish from off the pace and was a 1400-1600m specialist

Phunyuka, who won the 2009 running, was a sprint-miler who never won beyond 1450m.

The 2010 winner Iron Curtain had only ever won over 1800m before being switched to sand and he won over 1450m on his debut on this surface. Later in his Emerald Cup win, this Fort Wood gelding was able to use his power to overcome a high draw and from a handy position he maintained a good gallop throughout, enabling him to emerge from the pack and hold on from a flying Alimony.

The 2011, 2012 and 2013 winners, The Mouseketeer, Meadow Magic and In A Rush, were all from the sprint-miler mould and were able to be right up with the pace from pole position draw, barrier two and pole position draw respectively.

Last year the sprinting type Tommy Gun used his early speed to take the lead before sitting in behind Anger, who came around him. The pace shown by the front two left many of the opposition way out of their ground. Tommy Gun was able to find another gear late, having gone for home quite early, and he ran out a comfortable three length winner.

A horse that immediately stands out this year, if looking at past winners as a guide, is the pole position drawn Precursor, who is a 105 merit-rated horse with tremendous early speed and he has four sprint wins from 1000-1200m to his name. Tommy Gun had actually won over the Supreme Cup distance before his win last year, so it is a concern that Precursor has not. However, trainer Dominic Zaki has no doubt he will stay the trip and evidence of this is that he entered him in the Gr 2 Betting World Gauteng Guineas last season, although he admittedly didn’t fare well.

Roman Carnival, who stands to win a R100,000 bonus, showed his speed when thrashing them in the Gr 2 August Stakes over 1200m and before that he won over 1600m, so he also looks an ideal type, but on the downside he has drawn wide in 16 (which will come into 13 if the reserve runners come out).

Willow Magic is also a classy sprint-miler and on pedigree he should love the sand, being from a Mr Prospector line sire, but he does have a tricky draw of nine and has to carry second top weight.

Isphan has a lot of speed and has won over this trip but is another with a very wide draw (15) to overcome.

Toro Rosso is in the same category, having been a facile winner on the sand over both 1200m and 1400m. However, he is another with a terrible draw (17), although he could use his fine gate speed and early pace to overcome it. His Mike de Kock-trained stablemate Mootahadee appears to take a while to come to hand, but when he is fit he is useful and was a facile winner over course and distance last time after being handy from the off. So he is clearly fit at present and has a fair draw of six.

Jade Vine is a sprinter to 1450m horse and is well drawn in five. It is his second run after a five month layoff, but the national champion trainer Sean Tarry is unlikely to be perturbed by that theory.

Solar Triptych looks to be a 1400m specialist and is not badly drawn in seven. He has a bit to do on paper but is relatively lightly raced, so could still improve. Uncle Tommy is a sprint-miler who is drawn well in three but looks too high in the weights at present.

All The Bids and Deputy Jud look to be up against it as horses who would prefer further, although Deputy Jud could indeed be termed a “powerful galloper” and is well drawn. Ultimate Dollar won exceptionally well over 2200m last time in a Gr 3 and he is also effective 1400m. He is drawn well in two but a concern is that Jet Masters generally don’t appear to enjoy the Vaal sand and he has only ever run on turf to date. He will certainly love the long straight, as one who takes time to wind up into his big stride, but although he won from the front over 2200m last time, there is a question whether he will have the early pace to be within striking distance over this trip.

Taptap Makhatini likes to run handy or from the front and is effective from 1450m to 1800m. He runs well fresh, but his wide draw of 14 makes it tough.

Lavender Landscape is effective from the front and could possibly get there from draw eight, but he would likely prefer 1600m and the handicapper coupled with the merit rated band conditions of the race haven’t made it easy for him either.
– David Thiselton

*Saturday’s Supreme Cup racemeeting at the Vaal sand track features a carryover-boosted Pick 6 pool estimated to top R4,8MILLION

The Vaal has another sand meeting today in which punters will be put to the test over eight races.

The first is a workrider’ maiden plate over 1200m and Emerald Mackay will be hard to beat from pole position over the distance of his best run because on pedigree he should take well to the sand. Pera Hur ran well over course and distance last time and is well drawn this time so could be a threat. Buddy’s Falcon should be running on from behind late.

In the second over 1000m Rain In Africa has finished second in two sprints on turf, and being by Trippi should love the surface, although she has made a respiratory noise in both of her starts to date which is a concern. Windinmyhair ran on strongly in her only start on sand over 1000m, so has a chance from a fair draw with the astute Raymond Danielson aboard. The Berry Lady has pace and is interesting with first time blinkers and Gavin Lerena aboard.

In the third over 1000m Musical Romance will love the sand being by Trippi and the form of her good last run over course and distance has worked out well so she looks hard to beat in this uninspiring field. Relampago will love this course and distance on pedigree and is improving so could pose a threat. Tripadvisor might enjoy the drop back to this trip considering her breathing issues and could also be a threat with Piere Strydom up.

In the fourth over 1600m Il Duce is drawn well with Gavin Lerena up and has run well from 1200-1800m on the Vaal sand and turf behind some promising sorts so looks the one to beat, especially considering he still has scope for improvement in just his fifth career start. Windigo has run some fair races on the turf from 1200-2000m and being by Windrush should love this surface, although he does have a wide draw. Gaggle was green on the bend over course and distance on debut when running a fair race, so with natural improvement he will go close. Bank Manager faded on debut over 1400m after being handy and should be fitter and also improve for the experience. Bridegroom Bertie had a mouth injury last time but on his previous two turf runs has a chance here. Notorious can’t be ignored either.

In the fifth over 1600m Olympic Bolt found the 1450m too sharp last time and has a shout here over his optimum course and distance. Brad’s Surge was given the maximum eight point raise after his easy win over 1450m last time and is a big runner provided he settles as that cost him the last time he went the course and distance. Nero enjoys this course and distance and should be running on into the money off a lowered merit rating.

In the sixth over 1600m King And Empire ran on well for a good third over course and distance on sand debut despite stumbling at the start and has a big shout from a good draw with Fortune remaining aboard. Tora Tora has dropped to a competitive sand merit rating and with Strydom up over a suitable course and distance should be thereabouts. Kidmambo has run well in both sand starts to date so could earn again although he has a wide draw to overcome.

In the seventh over 1600m Embrasiatic finished with a mouth injury last time and is now 2,5kg better off for a three length defeat by Polar Secret over course and distance so she looks the one to beat. Escudo has stayed on well behind two useful sorts in her last two starts and is drawn well over a suitable trip. Polar Secret is eight points higher in the merit ratings since her last win but she did it comfortably and is unbeaten in two starts over course and distance so should go close again.

In the eighth over 1000m Just Africa is well regarded and this speedy sort did well last time against a horse who came out and won impressively again in a turf sprint, so he could get it right here. La Tasca is 1,5kg better off with him for a 1,9 length beating so will be a big threat. Proud As Punch looks likely to enjoy the step down in trip and should be running on strongly with Strydom up.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Piere Strydom

The brilliant veteran jockey Andrew Fortune made his intentions of winning the National Jockeys Championship for a second time in his career clear yesterday when riding a five-timer at Flamingo Park.

He has ridden 35 winners this season so far at a strike rate of 18.52% and has opened a five winner lead over Anthony Delpech.

Four of Fortune’s winners yesterday were for trainer Tienie Prinsloo and one was for Cliffie Miller. They returned odds of 5/1, even money, 3/1, 2/1 and 9/10.

Muzi Yeni, who rode one winner yesterday, is seven off the pace on the national log in third place. Last year’s champion Gavin Lerena is now 21 off the pace as is Anton Marcus, while Piere Strydom, who has a suspension cloud hanging over his head, is 15 winners behind Fortune.

The 2013/2014 champion S’Manga Khumalo had one winner yesterday, but is 22 off the pace in the early running for the championships.

– David Thiselton

Trainer Garth Puller scored a 2000m handicap double at Greyville yesterday with the Overlord gelding Seeking The Dream, ridden by 4kg claimer Akshay Balloo, and the Tiger Dance gelding Worship Dancer, who was ridden by Athandiwe Mgudlwa. Later Puller clinched a meeting treble when the Mullins Bay filly Respect At Bay won the last over 1000m under 4kg claimer Eric Ngwane.

Drier and Cormack added another two winners yesterday. First the hard knocking Fort Wood gelding Lighting The Fire relished the step up in trip in the third, a maiden over 1600m, to win comfortably. Later the three-year-old Just As Well filly Well In Flight proved herself a useful type when easily winning a Novice Plate over 1400m for fillies and mares.

Wendy Whitehead completed a weekend double yesterday when the three-year-old Mogok filly Storm Kitten ran on strongly under Ian Sturgeon in a maiden for fillies and mares over 1200m having jumped from a wide draw. On Friday night Whitehead’s The Sheik gelding Texican relished the step up to 1400m in a maiden and ran on strongly to score under Sean Veale.

Paul Lafferty’s Lecture gelding Roy’s Strike Force ran on well to win the first yesterday, a maiden over 1200m, and along with Drier’s Lighting The Fire could win more races.p out of the maidens.

Brandon Lerena added another winner yesterday to score a weekend double. Delpech had a double on Friday night.
– David Thiselton

Cape Town’s trainers have been issued with an unpalatable ultimatum and they are united in their belief that they must produce more runners to avoid the axe falling. But they are far from agreed as to how this should be achieved.

They have been informed by Phumelela boss Rian du Plessis and Kenilworth Racing chairman Chris van Niekerk that fixtures will be reduced and/or stakes dropped in races with less than eight runners if they do not produce an average of at least 12 runners per race.

This average, considered essential for betting turnover, has fallen from 12 to ten in the last three seasons.

Brett Crawford, a member of both the Cape trainers’ committee and the programmes committee, said: “I think the trainers need to ask themselves what should be done because there are certainly enough horses in Cape Town to make up the numbers.

“The problem is basically at Durbanville as people are not prepared to run horses there from bad draws. I am not sure what we can do – maybe some sort of incentive – but we need to sit down and discuss it.”

One trainer who asked not to be named was adamant that the draw for stall positions should be made after declarations and not, as at present, when entries close – “This is the way they have it in every other racing jurisdiction. The authorities know it would solve the problem but they won’t do it.”

It was tried a few seasons ago but many trainers were against it, hence the change back to the original system. Also horses drawn wide had a tendency to suddenly go off their feed, start coughing or develop sore shins!

Justin Snaith has a different solution, saying: “There should be nominations for ten races and you then run the eight with the biggest fields. Problem solved.”

Another trainer maintained that the fault lies with the programmes which are not mapped out quite as often, or with as much local input, as they used to be. They are now done twice a year instead of every four months when they were “closely allied to the horse census and demographics – and depending on how well races filled – and the Cape Town handicapper was also involved.”

It might be possible to ease some of the Durbanville problem in races from 1 000m to 1 400m by siting the stalls 20-25m out from the rail instead of right up against it. This would reduce the advantage of those drawn low, particularly if the stalls were set at a slight angle so that all horses started the same distance from the beginning of the bend. The course is wide enough to do this.

Owners are adamant that trainers must come up with a solution. One said: “I pay R 10 000 a month plus vet’s fees and I would rather see my horse racing once during the month, even if only for a chance of finishing third or fourth, than staying in his stable.”

Michael Clower