Past SA Triple Crown winner Abashiri has pulled an awful draw of 19 for today’s Sansui Summer Cup but the big son of Go Deputy has been prepped with this race in mind.
Abashiri – triple crown winner
He was given a quiet ride by Karl Zechner in the Victory Moon where he finished a staying on 4 lengths behind Girl On The Run. Well proven over the trip, he meets the filly on 6,5kgs better terms and comes into the picture on all fronts.
Girl On The Run played herself into contention with a thrilling win over Coral Fever in the Victory Moon. She meets Coral Fever on 1,5kgs worse terms and the Robbie Sage galloper can turn the tables – but has a wide draw to beat.
His multiple Gr1 winning stablemate French Navy ran his best race in ages when staying on late in the Charity Mile. He finished third in this race in 2015 and is a class galloper who is winless since January 2016.
Master Switch ran on strongly for third behind Master Sabina last year and his prep when a flying third in the Victory Moon was an eyecatching effort. Piere Strydom will counteract the negative impact of a wide draw.
The now 8yo Master Sabina races out of the Joey Soma yard and there will be many rooting for him to come good and make it a third straight win in the race. He has not enjoyed the benefit of a prep run as he did last year.
Listed Derby Trial winner Pagoda comes in with a handy galloping weight and is a horse that will be running at them late.
Course and distance winner Brazuca
Gavin Lerena bids to make it three personal Summer Cup wins in a row when he partners the Australian-bred Brazuca. This high-class course and distance winner opened his season with a great win over Abashiri – and meets the now fitter Azzie runner on a kilo better terms.
Oaks winner Wind Chill has pulled a perfect draw and ran a cracking prep beating Holy Joe in what was little more than an exercise gallop last time out.
Handily weighted, the lightly raced Social Order ran on powerfully behind Hat Puntano in the Charity Mile. The son of Count Dubois tries the 2000m for the first time.
Last season’s eyecatching Gr2 Gold Bracelet winner Fort Ember showed plenty of pace before fading out late in the Victory Moon Stakes where she ran just under 3 lengths off Girl On The Run. She meets the Janse Van Vuuren galloper on a kilo better terms and has her third outing this season.
Orchid Island – good prep
Mike de Kock’s Orchid Island ran a smart prep when fourth and only 2,80 lengths behind Girl On The Run in the Victory Moon Stakes. She is a top-class daughter of Silvano and the betting support suggests she be taken very seriously.
The recent Java Handicap end-to-end winner Let It Rain has pulled a wide draw but has good gate speed and could make them gallop with his handy weight. That said, he is better over slightly further.
Consistent Crowd Pleaser
The lightly raced Consolation July winner Crowd Pleaser has maintained a consistent form-line and ran a cracker behind recent Victory Moon Stakes winner Girl On The Run at his last start. The son of Captain Al has drawn well and must rank as a place prospect on best form.
Equus Champion Stayer Hermoso Mundo has enjoyed plenty of support in the betting market but looks to have a task of note from his 18 draw over this trip. He never showed in his prep outing in the Charity Mile but he has won over 2000m and will strip a fitter horse.
It’s a typical handicap with chances to many. The sentimentality and heart says one thing – the head says another. We would go as a wide as possible in the exotics.
