Andrew Harrison
There were a number of grumpy supporters and punters after Gr1 Betway Summer Cup hopeful See It Again was scratched from his last intended start. None more so than trainer Michael Roberts who was of the opinion that his charge was not given a reasonable chance to load by the assistant starter.
Ruling after an official complaint was lodged by Roberts, the NHA dismissed his complaint and declared his deposit forfeit.
That said, a number of his local Cup rivals got a run under their girth and patrons face a fascinating Conditions Plate over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville tonight.
No doubt Roberts will have been instructed to pass See It Again through the barriers before lining up again and the gelding is classy enough to run a big race with stable rider Rachel Venniker there to coax him home.
There are a number of runners warming-up for the Summer Cup including Gareth van Zyl’s King Pelles. The gelding burst onto the scene with commanding victories in the staying races at the back end of Champions Season and he should be well suited to the stamina-sapping 2000m of the Turffontein Standside track. That said, he ran a cracker in a sprint behind Gr2 Post winner I Am Giant last time out and although he obviously prefers further he must have a decent chance on that showing. Nathan Kotzen with the help of ‘horse whisperer’ Glyn Redgrave appear to have cured former Cup winner Royal Victory of his quirky behavior and the gelding was running on late behind Madison Valley over 1400m last time out. His connections were well satisfied with that showing and should that outing will have brought him on although this is also well short of his best. Adam Azzie, who recently started up at Summerveld after parting ways with his Gauteng-based father Michael, saddles Claw who is not a Cup entry and over his preferred trip which will make him dangerous. On My Honour was the beaten favourite but not disgraced behind Madison Valley so is another to work into the equation.
One of the better bets on the Card could be Frank Robinson’s Cats Pajamas who steps out in another Condition Plate, this time over 1200m. He ran a cracker behind I Am Giant in his comeback run after a break and although he has drawn on the outside he is well in at the weights with a useful 4kg claimer aboard and he rates the horse to beat. He faces two class acts in former Equus Champion Dave The King and Gr1 Champions Cup winner Gladatorian. This pair would prefer further but their class can carry them through. Gladatorian should be the fitter of the two but this is sure to be keeping him ticking over before he heads to the Cape with Stuart Ferrie’s small string for a crack at the Gr1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate and the Gr1 World Sports Betting Cape Town Met.
Dave The King is a smart front-runner on his day but the distance of this race could find him out although he is fully capable racing fresh. Soho Star is course and distance suited and should put in a strong showing.
Ferrie saddles another of his Cape raiders in Cognac in the sixth. The son of Rafeef looks to be top class, winning both of his starts to date. But this is his first try at 1400m with top weight and the worst of the draw. Possibly just a warm-up before heading to the Cape and to give Ferrie as line on whether the Gr1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas is within his compass. He will face opposition in the form of Safe Travel who showed up well in his handicap debut behind what looks to be a more than useful winner in Kanal Skaater. He has a fair draw and should be a big threat. Duncan Howells sends out Rooster Bradshaw who was in need of his last run but not far back and should run another good race. Given the riding engagements, Dricus could be the best of Andre Nel’s trio as he started favourite in his local debut and should come on from that.
The PA opener is a tricky Maiden. Sugar Baby Love has only had two starts and was not far back last time out. With a 4kg claimer up she should be in the shake-up. Queen Of The Air has been a little disappointing and may prefer the poly but can feature in this line-up but Baltic Assayer can do some damage if allowed to get too far clear and get away from his field.
Fine Wine and Intro should be the pick of the first leg of the Pick 6. Fine Wine has been knocking at the door for some time now and will never get a better opportunity to shed maiden while Intro was a beaten favourite last run but did not go on with her effort. That was on the poly and the switch back to turf could suit.
The fifth is wide open but Harun Al Rashid is well thought of by his connections but obviously has some issues given that he is lightly raced. He is down four pounds in the ratings and is one to watch in the market. Querari’s Dream has the best of the draw and has been close up in his last two and gets a stronger rider aboard. There should be very little between Papa C and Riccardo, the former looking to be the better proposition given the he meets his rival at the same weights as when they met two runs back.
Dark Matter does not have the best of draws in the seventh but was close-up in a strong field last time out even though carrying a light weight. Down on class she should make a fist of it. Shipindani needed her last run at Durbanville and was not far back. Lightly raced she can go close here. Crafty Crofty was close-up in a useful field over course and distance last time out. She gets the benefit of a useful 4kg claimer and should run well.
The ninth is a difficult race to round off the Pick 6 but Phutulicious is showing signs of coming to hand again and has dropped to a more competitive rating while Rhythm was finishing well under a big weight last time out and appears to have come to hand again and could be the biggest threat.
