The top-class mare Dancewiththedevil was the last member of the fairer sex to win the Summer Cup. That was back in 2011 when Gavin Lerena partnered the daughter of Modus Vivendi to victory.
Flashback to 2011 – Dancewiththedevil wins the Sansui Summer Cup
The past SA Champion jockey partners one of the five ladies in Cascapedia in the class of 2018.
This very wide open handicap has a host of runners making claims – depending on what angle one looks at it.
Cascapedia has been backed in from long odds
Lerena rides Cascapedia for Mike de Kock. The Irish-bred mare has enjoyed a top-class prep with a great win in the Joburg Spring Challenge over a distance short of her best after a six month break. She was then beaten just under a half length by Secret Potion when stepping up to the mile last time. Ridden much handier there, she is better held up for a run and should be cutting them back late.
Her stablemate Takingthepeace had everything in her favour when producing a great finish to win the Victory Moon Stakes at her last start. Another with a top prep under the belt, she has plenty to do at the weights on Saturday.
Piere Strydom rides the in-form Sabina’s Dynasty
Sabina’s Dynasty went down just 0,75 lengths there and is a kilo better off with Takingthepeace. The Gr2 Gerald Rosenberg winner has Piere Strydom aboard from a good draw and looks primed for a booming finish.
SA Oaks winner Secret Potion won her return start in a small field and will be more effective over this trip. Her form prior to her unsuccessful July bid was top-class.
The 2017 Summer Cup runner-up Fort Ember could be held by a fitter Takingthepeace on her penultimate jump and failed to spark when downfield in the Yellowwood Handicap.
The SP top-rated It’s My Turn has been scratched.
Mike De Kock – five runners
The De Kock 4yo pair of Noble Secret and Like A Panther have enjoyed good preps and Noble Secret will enjoy the 2000m after failing to go with them in the Charity Mile. This dual Gr1 placed 3yo will enjoy running at them late off a fast pace.
Deo Juvente is a class act but has not bee at his best lately and was well beaten in the Victory Moon Stakes.
Defending champion Liege has done little since winning this race last year. His form is uninspiring.
Social Order ran 7 lengths off stablemate Liege last year and does not have the recent form credentials.
The handily weighted Cash Time is a strong front-runner on his day and ran a gutsy third in the Victory Moon Stakes behind Takingthepeace.
Coral Fever carries 60kgs
The topweighted Coral Fever was a gutsy winner of the Charity Mile and stayed on well for a 3 length third to Liege in this race last year. A Gr1 winner over Saturday’s course and distance, him and Muzi Yeni make a formidable partnership.
G-BETS GAUTENG SUMMER CUP (Grade 1)
| 1 | 3 | Coral Fever | 60 | 120 | BA | M Yeni | Robbie Sage | |
| 2 | 4 | Cascapedia (IRE) | 54.5 | 109 | BA | G Lerena | Mike de Kock | |
| 3 | 8 | Roy Had Enough (AUS) | 54 | 109 | A | *S Moodley | Frank Robinson | |
| 4 | 9 | It’s My Turn | Scratched | 54 | 108 | A | A Marcus | Dean Kannemeyer |
| 5 | 7 | Secret Potion | 53 | 107 | A | M V’Rensburg | Geoff Woodruff | |
| 6 | 18 | Liege | 53 | 106 | T A | R Danielson | Sean Tarry | |
| 7 | 1 | Sabina’s Dynasty | 53 | 106 | A | P Strydom +1.0 | Paul Peter | |
| 8 | 15 | Dawn Assault | 52.5 | 105 | TBA | K Zechner | St John Gray | |
| 9 | 19 | Social Order | 52.5 | 105 | TBA | S Khumalo | Sean Tarry | |
| 10 | 16 | Noble Secret | 52 | 105 | A | R Simons | Mike de Kock | |
| 11 | 5 | Takingthepeace | 52 | 105 | A | W Kennedy | Mike de Kock | |
| 12 | 14 | Like A Panther | 52 | 104 | A | C Zackey | Mike de Kock | |
| 13 | 6 | Tilbury Fort | 52 | 104 | T A | *L Hewitson | Sean Tarry | |
| 14 | 10 | Arctica | 52 | 102 | BA | R Munger | M G Azzie/A A Azzie | |
| 15 | 17 | Deo Juvente | 52 | 102 | A | C Maujean | Geoff Woodruff | |
| 16 | 2 | Cash Time | 52 | 100 | A | J P v’d Merwe | Ashley Fortune | |
| 17 | 13 | Tandava (ZIM) | 52 | 99 | A | J Penny | Gokhan Terzi | |
| 18 | 11 | Fort Ember | 52 | 98 | A | C Herrera Gomez | Paul Peter | |
| 19 | 12 | Kilrain | 52 | 90 | A | *D De Gouveia | Mike de Kock | |
| Same Trainer – Not Coupled on Tote | ||||||||
| (2,10,11,12,19) (5,15) (6,9,13) (7,18) | ||||||||
KZN raider Roy Had Enough has not enjoyed his previous trips to the Highveld but may be a different proposition as a 4yo. He lumbered topweight when staying on steadily behind Warfarer in the Michaelmas Handicap last time out.
Drum Star winner Dawn Assault is 4kgs better off with Takingthepeace for a 3 length beating in the Victory Moon. He stayed on well to beat Sabina’s Dynasty at his penultimate start but that was on the inside track and he meets the mare on a kilo worse terms.
Tilbury Fort was well beaten in this race last year but showed heartening improvement when looking a winner late in the Charity Mile last time out. There is evidence he doesn’t necessarily stay the 2000m but must have a chance if maintaining his improvement at his second start after a break.
Arctica – regular placer
A perennial earner, the 6yo Arctica has maintained a length solid line of consistent form and is another who looked dangerous late in the Charity Mile and ran another gutsy race when beaten 1,25 lengths in the Victory Moon.
Tandava cannot be fancied on current form.
The last of the De Kock quintet, Kilrain is well out at the weights but is a 7yo who often produces a late rattle. His trainer will be satisfied with an earning top eight spot.
A tough race to put the head down. Our ratings suggest Mike De Kock has other ideas with all of Noble Secret and Cascapedia looking to be major contenders. Then Sabina’s Dynasty and Tilbury Fort are also in the picture. And who dares discard the trojan Coral Fever?
