Ultimate Dollar – aiming for Summer Cup but first stop Vaal next Saturday
A quality final field of fourteen will line up in Africa’s richest race on the sand at the Vaal on Saturday 26 September. The R1 million Gr2 Supreme Cup will be the final feature on the Vereeniging surface and the much maligned track is set for a champagne send-off.
Former L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate winning pair of Justin Snaith and Piere Strydom cracked a beautiful 2 draw with the Consolation July winner Ultimate Dollar, who has his first Gauteng outing.
The progressive son of Jet Master adds plenty of posers for punters in a wide open contest.
August Stakes winner Roman Carnival’s connections will not be thrilled by his 16 draw and the son of Windrush could present some betting value – but regular jockey Chase Maujean will need plenty of luck to land the R100 000 bonus carrot that is on line after his last win.
Mike Azzie saddles Deputy Jud – and knows his way around the Vaal
Another intriguing entry is Deputy Jud, the Gr 1 SA Derby-runner up. He goes well on sand and his low draw looks ideal for his strong, galloping style, although he would prefer further.
His stablemate Isphan has enjoyed a good preparation and looks nicely weighted over a suitable distance, and he could overcome his wide draw with his speed coupled with his ability to run on.
Toro Rosso was a convincing winner over course and distance in his last start and either he or Mootahadee, who was also an impressive winner over course and distance last time out, could give Mike de Kock a third victory in this race.
Precursor is a speedster in the mould of last year’s winner Tommy Gun so is most interesting from pole position draw.
Jade Vine is also in this category and should have come on from his last run which followed a five month layoff.
Uncle Tommy has finished third and second in the last two runnings, but looks a bit high in the weights these days.
Race-7 (Sand) R1 000 000 1450m 15:55
SUPREME CUP (Grade 2) sponsored by SAP
| 1 | 3 | Uncle Tommy | 60 | 112 | TBA | I Sturgeon | Weiho Marwing | |
| 2 | 9 | Willow Magic (AUS) | 56 | 106 | A | A Fortune | Sean Tarry | |
| 3 | 11 | All The Bids | 54 | 103 | A | S Chambers | Corne Spies | |
| 4 | 4 | Deputy Jud | 54 | 103 | A | J P v’d Merwe | Mike Azzie | |
| 5 | 6 | Mootahadee (AUS) | 54 | 103 | TBA | R Simons | Mike de Kock | |
| 6 | 1 | Precursor | 54 | 102 | A | S Khumalo | Dominic Zaki | |
| 7 | 2 | Ultimate Dollar | 54 | 102 | A | P Strydom | Justin Snaith | |
| 8 | 16 | Roman Carnival | 54 | 100 | TBA | C Maujean | Stephen Moffatt | |
| 9 | 14 | Taptap Makhatini | 54 | 99 | T A | …………… | Sean Tarry | |
| 10 | 15 | Isphan | 52 | 99 | A | F Herholdt | Mike Azzie | |
| 11 | 17 | Toro Rosso (BRZ) | 52 | 98 | T A | A Delpech | Mike de Kock | |
| 12 | 8 | Lavender Landscape | 52 | 97 | TBA | *C Zackey | Dominic Zaki | |
| 13 | 5 | Jade Vine | 50 | 97 | A | M Yeni | Sean Tarry | |
| 14 | 7 | Solar Triptych | 50 | 92 | A | *C Murray | Alec Laird | |
| 15 | 12 | Raise The Red | 52 | 96 | T A | Reserve 1 | Lucky Houdalakis | |
| 16 | 10 | Kiss Me Hardy | 56 | 107 | A | Reserve 2 | Corne Spies | |
| 17 | 13 | Across The Ice | 54 | 102 | TBA | Reserve 3 | Sean Tarry | |
| Same Trainer – Not Coupled on Tote | ||||||||
| (2,9,13,17) (3,16) (4,10) (5,11) (6,12) | ||||||||
