The objection hooter threatened to ruin a dream R2 million Gr1 Sansui Summer Cup hat-trick for training wizard Geoff Woodruff, after Terrance Millard’s son-in-law had momentarily celebrated saddling the first two home in Saturday’s Highveld feature flagship at Turffontein.
Woodruff maintained a remarkable stranglehold on the premier Gauteng silverware, after saddling the first 3 home in 2013, and first and second in 2014, when Gavin Lerena got 2014 Consolation July winner Master Sabina home to hold off a gallant Deo Juvente in the dying strides.
But the glorious – and ‘surreal’ in his own words – celebration of watching his pair taking on and beating the top-class French Navy in the final 200m was soured by the pit-in-the-stomach dread of an objection, that many may have viewed as unsporting, given the champagne circumstances.
Sean Cormack – laid an objection
It was Victory Moon Stakes winner Deo Juvente’s jockey Sean Cormack who laid the objection against his winning stablemate Master Sabina, after interference in the latter stages.
Triumphant winning conditioner Geoff Woodruff told the Sporting Post that he had felt in ‘no-man’s land’ after the race.
“My loyalties naturally lie with my owners and it was Sean (Cormack’s) prerogative to object. I requested that I be allowed to have no part in the objection process, and I took the neutral route – which was only fair to both sets of owners – and myself,” he said.
The objection was the climax of a drama that had commenced at the 2000m marker with the pair going eye to eye and Sean Cormack having done extremely well to overcome a wide draw – as he stalked Gavin Lerena down his inside.
Geoff Woodruff – great record in this race
At the 400m marker Lerena set Master Sabina alight as he grabbed a few lengths on Deo Juvente who came under some fire from Ultimate Dollar, who appeared to take up his running.
The cool Cormack didn’t panic and gathered Deo Juvente who went to get Master Sabina.
At the 200m the two came together, with some bumping in evidence – but with both jockeys whips in the text book ‘wrong hands’ for the position they were in.
We feel the Stipes got this one right and a fair result stood – and we all know what happens when they don’t in a Gr1!
Master Sabina, who was only having his second run this year, went off at 13-2 and won by a head in a time of 122,55 secs.
A superb training feat by the Guv’nor!
Deo Juvente – great effort and looks to be improving
The Ingrid and Markus Jooste-owned Deo Juvente, who jumped from a wide draw and only got into this race through the backdoor of the Victory Moon Stakes, ran a courageous race in receipt of just 2kgs from his two year senior stablemate.
In an ironic twist, the third of Woodruff’s runners, The Captain’s Tune, failed to finish the race.
The 6-1 favourite French Navy ran his heart out down the inside to finish 0,60 lengths behind in third, while Sherman Brown piloted the 100-1 outsider Judicial into fourth to boost the quartet dividend.
Mac De Lago had looked dangerous late and banked a cool R50 000 for his fifth place.
July winner Power King cruised up at the 400m marker, but went a bit one-paced late to secure R25 000 for his sixth placed finish.
In a deal concluded prior to the race, the former Duncan Howells, then Stuart Pettigrew charge Easy Lover, who had run on so well for second in the Victory Moon Stakes, was bought by Adriaan Van Vuuren and moved to Mike Azzie’s yard.
The son of Right Approach ran a dismal race, finishing 11,45 lengths back in fifteenth position.
Master Sabina is a horse with a colourful story to his name.
He ran second in the 2013 Summer Cup and won the 2014 Consolation July after failing to make the cut, under the usual cloud of controversy, for the Vodacom Durban July.
Four months later he was withdrawn at the eleventh hour from the 2014 Sansui Summer Cup, after an injury to his off-fore tendon in his final workout.
Mike De Broglio – bred and owns the winner
Master Sabina was bred by his owner Michael De Broglio and is a son of the great champion sire Jet Master out of the five time winning Sportsworld mare, Sabina Park.
The latter also raced for De Broglio and had a major public following in her career, largely at the instigation of her passionate owner, who was very involved in the sport at that stage.
Sabina Park won her races from 1200m to 2400m.
Master Sabina has won 8 races from 20 starts for 4 places and took his earnings to R2 399 475.
We asked Geoff Woodruff if he specifically targetted the Summer Cup:
“Since we have been at Randjesfontein, most definitely yes. Horses that don’t get into the big races on the coast are aimed at this race. And thankfully, we have been pretty lucky so far,” he joked in what must rank as the racing understatement of the year.
Hopefully we will see Master Sabina and Deo Juvente in the J&B Met entries this coming week.
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Gr1 Sansui Summer Cup (SAf-Gr1)
Turffontein, South Africa, November 28, R2 million, 2000m, turf, good, 2.02.55
1 – MASTER SABINA (SAF), 56.5, b g 6, Jet Master (SAF) – Sabina Park (SAF) by Sportsworld (USA). Owner Mr M De Broglio; Breeder M De Broglio; trainer GV Woodruff; jockey G Lerena
2 – Deo Juvente (SAF), 54.5, b g 4, Trippi (USA) – Circle Of Life (SAF) by Complete Warrior (ANY)
3 – French Navy (SAF), 60.0, b g 4, Count Dubois (GB) – Redoubtable (SAF) by Elliodor (FR)
Margins: 0.20, 0.40, 0.50
