The top yards appear to hold all the aces in Saturday’s R2 million Gr1 Sansui Summer Cup. Trainer Geoff Woodruff goes for his third successive victory in the Gauteng flagship feature, but he will have to thwart a serious challenge from some of his big name colleagues.
A capacity field of 20 will line up shortly after 4pm on Saturday for a handicap that is capable of throwing up a curved ball or two.
Deo Juvente wins the Victory Moon Stakes
But the man in power and the obvious guy to follow is Geoff Woodruff, who ran 1-2-3 in 2013 and then 1-2 in 2014. That is a cracking record from a man who knows what it takes to win this race.
He saddles a trio of runners on Saturday, headed by recent Victory Moon Stakes winner Deo Juvente.
The son of Trippi impressed with a runaway win there but has more to do – and an 18 draw to beat. The experienced Sean Cormack takes over the riding honours from Callan Murray, who rides the lightly weighted The Captain’s Tune.
The Captain’s Tune has drawn best of all and was staying on nicely when beaten 4 lengths in the Charity Mile.
Master Sabina – rested but quietly fancied by the yard
The third of the Woodruff trio is Master Sabina, who was beaten 4,40 lengths by St Tropez at his only start this year. He meets the Ramsden runner on a kilo better terms but may need another run or two to be competitive in this company.
The Dean Kannemeyer-trained Power King, winner of this year’s Vodacom Durban July, drew well at 5.
Power King – July winner has French Navy to beat
The five-year-old has only had one run this season, showing courage and versatility in a too-short 1200m sprint to finish a 1.50-length second to Flyfirstclass at Greyville.
He will travel up on Friday from Kannemeyer’s Summerveld satellite yard.
SA champion trainer Sean Tarry saddles two runners, headed by current race favourite French Navy.
Last season’s Equus Champion Three-Year-Old showed his class with wins in the SA Classic and Daily News 2000.
French Navy – carries weight but loves the track – and is all class
French Navy is back on his prime track and trip and will be ready for a major run.
He had his first start as a four-year-old in the Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile and was not disgraced in finishing sixth behind Bouclette Top.
That despite a stumble at the start and encountering traffic problems, before he ran on strongly late, making up about 7.50 lengths in the final 400m.
Stablemate Halve The Deficit has run to an MR of 111 and is no slouch.
The son of Right Approach pulled a midfield gate and should be close to peak fitness after 3 runs this season.
He has not exactly set the world alight, but was slow off when 4,50 lengths back in the Charity Mile.
Anton Marcus rides the handily weighted but poorly drawn St Tropez.
A recent gutsy Turffontein Pinnacle winner, Joey Ramsden’s runner has been based at Randjesfontein in Johannesburg for several weeks now and will be fully acclimatised to the rare Highveld air.
Disco Al – needs to overcome a recent setback
His stablemate Disco Al had a recent setback but is 2kgs better off with St Tropez on their prep outing.
Disco Al is a well travelled hard-knocker and gets the services of Andrew Fortune.
Justin Snaith’s Consolation July winner Ultimate Dollar has had two decent prep runs in the North.
He encountered traffic issues when 5,75 lengths back in the Charity Mile, but will be more at home over this journey. Piere Strydom won’t be thrilled with his 19 draw.
Dynamic can be a little in and out and failed to fire in the Charity Mile when 8,25 lengths back. On his third placed effort in the Consolation July, he well run his stablemate Ultimate Dollar over if things go his way.
Mike De Kock has three in the race
Mike De Kock’s trio includes two fillies – and it is worth noting that the master trainer ran 1-2 in the race with Flirtation and Mother Russia in 2011.
Flying The Flag began his career in Ireland, where he won races at Leopardstown and The Curragh.
In February this year, jockey Johnny Geroudis rode the horse to victory in a 2000m race at Meydan in Dubai.
Asked how he felt Flying The Flag might perform during his South African debut, Geroudis told Business Day: “The 1600m of the Charity Mile might be too short for him, but he’ll probably be coming at them at the finish.”
History shows that Flying The Flag made a respiratory noise when 6,10 lengths back in the Charity Mile.
He has drawn very wide here.
Ahlaam ran a fair fourth in the Carity Mile after jockey Muzi Yeni had been struck by a bird at the 1400m. The daughter of Asiatic Boy looks held by St Trope and may be a better bet if ridden with more restraint.
The Centenary is the third of the De Kock trio and the Gr3 Yellowwood Handicap winner is in peak form. With a galloping weight of 52kgs, she could surprise.
Tyrone Zackey trained Judicial ran third in this race last year, but his recent Victory Moon Stakes performance left a lot to be desired. The son of Miesque’s Approval ran stone last there and has plenty of improvement to find in three weeks. He has also drawn widest of all.
Yer-Maan has a weight pull
Yer-Maan has failed to recapture his excellent Zimbabwe form in his two runs since returning to SA.
He ran 6,90 lengths behind Deo Juvente in the Victory Moon, but enjoys a 4,5kg weight turnaround with the Woodruff runner which will go some way to getting him closer to the action.
Weiho Marwing’s 4yo colt Mac De Lago has pulled a terrible draw. The son of Encosta De Lago ran on nicely in the Gr2 Charity Mile when grabbing a fourth cheque just 2,85 lengths off Bouclette Top.
That was a great effort after a four month break from action, and he must improve – that is, if the second run after a rest hoodoo doesn’t impact.
Easy Lover – ran on well last time
Stuart Pettigrew’s new charge Easy Lover caught the eye with a storming late run in the Victory Moon Stakes.
The former KZN resident promised plenty early on and from a good draw and a 2,5kg swing with Deo Juvente, he must come into this with serious place prospects.
M L Jet appears to be relishing his new home at the Gavin Van Zyl yard and was prominent for a long way when beaten 2,25 lengths into second by Bouclette Top in the Charity Mile.
The son of Jet Master has drawn well at 2 but is yet to prove that he is effective at 2000m.
His stablemate Platinum Jet (also a Jet Master) is drawn right alongside him and also runs in the Michael Leaf silks.
The lightly raced 5yo has only had 8 runs to date and showed some nice credentials when staying on for third in the Victory Moon, where he came in as a reserve runner.
Karl Zechner – rides dark horse, Platinum Jet
He is 2,5kgs better off with Deo Juvente for a 3,30 lengths beating there and the recently married Karl Zechner rides him again.
Yet another Jet Master making his way up the ladder is the Errico Verdonese galloper, Diesel Jet, a winner of his last two starts.
The Wilgerbosdrift bred colt has yet to show that he is effective at 2000m but appears to be maturing into an above average sort. He lumbers a galloping weight from his 13 draw and on the evidence of his last good win in MR 94 Handicap company, he certainly looks to be going the right way.
MJ Byleveld rides him for the first time.
So we are facing a tough and wide open race as it always is.
Class is on the side of French Navy and Power King and we are siding with these two proven performers to contest the finish.
Deo Juvente, Ultimate Dollar, St Tropez and Mac De Lago look the quartet value.
