Geoff Woodruff, still reveling in his SANSUI Summer Cup one-two on Saturday with Master Sabina and Deo Juvente, became the first trainer to win one of South Africa’s big three races thrice in succession with different horses since his father-in-law Terrance Millard achieved the feat in the Vodacom Durban July between 1988-1990. His dominance of the Summer Cup over the last three years can also be compared to Millard’s dominance of the July in the late 1980s up to 1990. In 2013 Woodruff had a strong hand and the fourth favourite at odds of 8/1, Yorker, won the race followed by the 5/1 favourite Master Sabina, while the 12/1 shot Tellina completed the trifecta. In 2014 his popular triple crown winner Louis The King converted favouritism at odds of 18-10, just getting up in time to beat his 66/1 shot stablemate Killua Castle. On Saturday Master Sabina, despite having only his second run after a layoff of a year, was heavily backed into 13/2 joint second favourite and just pipped stablemate Deo Juvente, who drifted out to 15/1.

The Summer Cup Tote exacta on Saturday paid R158.40, last year it paid R158.30 and in 2013 it paid R72.10, which perhaps shows that punters are slow to learn. The trifecta in 2013 paid R1080.20. Woodruff also had the 5th horse home in 2013, so nearly clinched the quartet.

Millard had the July one-two-three in 1986 with Occult, Fool’s Holme and Enchanted Garden, and repeated the feat with Illustrador, Olympic Duel and Jungle Warrior in 1990, having won the race in 1988 with Royal Chalice and in 1990 with Right Prerogative.

Woodruff has won the July twice in succession before but with the same horse, El Picha, who became only the second horse in history to retain his July crown in 2000. However, those remain Woodruff’s only two wins of the country’s premier race.

Master Sabina’s win could well be one of Woodruff’s best training feats due to the long layoff he had to come off.

However, he had to survive an objection from Deo Juvente, who jumped from draw 18 compared to Master Sabina’s plum draw of five.

Woodruff has won five Summer Cups in all, while Millard won six Julys.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Geoff Woodruff