Powerhouse players Sean Tarry and Mike de Kock dominated the 2019 Summer Cup as anticipated, albeit in the popular wrong order, with Tarry registering a glorious hat-trick courtesy of a peach of a front-running ride by 20 year old apprentice Denis Schwarz, who was celebrating a career-first Gr1 success.
Tarry won the Cup in 2017 with Liege and last year with Tilbury Fort, and put the cherry on the top of a wonderful day at the office with his 56th Gr1 winner.
Denis Schwarz keeps a cool head as Zllzaal keeps rolling (Pic – JC Photos)
Placed in all three legs of the SA Triple Crown last season, Zillzaal (28-1)is something of a tricky customer and an enigmatic fellow at best.
After a puzzlingly poor run in the Charity Mile following a winning first start as a gelding, the often fancied galloper, who was 1,5kg under sufferance today, kept at his task to lead most of the way to finally find some of the flashes of ability that made him a talking 3yo.
Schwarz brought Zillzaal across from his 15 draw and after brief exchanges with Queen Supreme and Atyaab, he had Zilzaal relaxed in front all the way.
At the 300m Zillzaal looked beaten as he plugged away hard against the inside rail with his stablemate Al Mutawakel threatening to go on by and Queen Supreme and favourite Soqrat – the latter on the wide outside – found their best efforts.
But the young rider didn’t panic and at the 50m Zillzaal seemed to find a second breath – which allowed him to hold off the flying Soqrat by 0,40 lengths in a time of 123,96 secs.
Soqrat’s finish appears to suggest he stays the 2000m, but unfortunately Mike de Kock will have to extend his Summer drought to a decade after Flirtation was his last success in 2010.
The lightly raced and inexperienced Al Mutawakel – also for Al Adiyaat SA – ran a great race a neck back in third, with De Kock’s Irish-bred 4yo Queen Supreme back in fourth.
The top trainers also filled fifth with Cape Derby winner Atyaab banking the R50 000 cheque for that position.
Barahin was the last horse to bank a cheque when he took the R10 000 for eighth position. The son of Gimmethegreenlight was always running on through the traffic but was 2,85 lengths short at the line.
Frank Robinson’s Roy Had Enough finished best of the visitors in sixth – and was the last qualifier for a tote place dividend.
Man of the moment – Denis Schwarz rode a cracker (Pic – JC Photos)
Winning rider Denis Schwarz said that he undertook to get his weight down when approached by Sean Tarry.
“When I saw the draw, I was a little taken back and thought about it – but realised that it was an honour to have a ride in a great race like this. To win it is absolutely fantastic,” he added.
Trainer Sean Tarry welcomed his wife Karen to the races for ‘the first time in a long time’.
“What an absolutely fantastic ride – this apprentice has ridden a top race. I knew we had to get the De Kock horses to carry their weight. And we did,” he said.
Bred and raced by Al Adiyaat SA, Zillzaal is son of champion sire Silvano (Lomitas) out of the unraced Gianty’s Causeway mare, Zulaal.
He has won 3 races with 8 places from 13 starts for stakes of R2 100 650.
Silvano also produced Sean Tarry’s first Summer Cup winner ten years ago. Aslan was a 4yo gelding out of Cry For The Lion. He was raced by the Brooklyn Bullet Trust (Nom: A J Joseph) & L M Leisher and was bred by Glenellen Stud.
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Gr1 Summer Cup (SAf-Gr1)
Turffontein, South Africa, November 30, R2 million, 2000m, turf, good, 2.03.96
1 – ZILLZAAL (SAF), 52.5, b g 4, Silvano (GER) – Zulaal (USA) by Giant’s Causeway (USA). Owner Al Adiyaat South Africa (Pty) Ltd; Breeder Al Adiyaat; trainer SG Tarry; jockey D Schwarz
2 – Soqrat (AUS), 60.0, b c 4, Epaulette (AUS) – Elzeeza (AUS) by Hussonet (USA)
3 – Al Mutawakel (SAF), 52.0, b c 4, Silvano (GER) – Alderry (SAF) by Al Mufti (USA)
Margins: 0.40, 0.20, 1.00
