The chance of a one-way ticket into the Gr1 Sansui Summer Cup later this month awaits the winner of Sunday’s postponed R400 000 Gr2 Victory Moon Stakes. Without a standout in the field, every one of the seventeen runners looks to have a winning chance.
This should be a great spectacle of a race.
Bankable Teddy – in form and fit
Known as the traditional Summer Cup last chance saloon, and with final entries for the big one due on Monday, with final declarations on Tuesday 15 November, there will be plenty to play for.
Trainer Tyrone Zackey has a decent record in this event.
He saddled the 2011 winner, the near-miss July winner Smanjemanje as well as 2014 victor Judicial, who is back for more and lumbers top weight.
The race is benchmarked on merit rating ranges, as follows:
MR of 109 or more gets 60kgs
MR of 104 to 108 gets 57kgs
MR of 99 to 103 gets 54kgs
51,0 kg = 98 and below
Then penalties accrue for Gr1 winners at 2kg, winners of Gr1’s restricted to the fairer sex will get only 1kg which penalty will also apply to winners of a Gr2 race.
A 6yo son of Miesque’s Approval, Judicial is all heart and even though his title defence last year went awry, he has shown decent form recently and must be a factor.
Judicial – big effort expected at best
He has won 2 of his last 4 starts and his sterling effort for second behind Marinaresco in the Champions Cup on Super Saturday was top-class stuff. He gave the Cape star 1,5kgs and was only beaten 1,25 lengths.
He does have a wide draw to overcome, which won’t be in his favour.
Sean Tarry sneaked in to grab the Golden Loom on Charity Mile day and he will be looking to go close here.
The champion saddles Gr3 Jubilee Handicap winner Liege and the recently disappointing Halve The Deficit.
Liege won his last start, but is 4,5kgs worse for a 4,70 length beating of Judicial from the Jubilee. On the plus side, he is well drawn and has champion S’manga Khumalo in the irons.
Brian Wiid – fancies Bankable Teddy
Trainer Brian Wiid was bullish about his Listed Derby Trial winner Bankable Teddy when we chatted to him this week.
Fit, in form and well drawn, Bankable Teddy gets the services of the talented Chase Maujean and while ideally looking for another 400m, will be running at them late and carries a nice galloping weight.
Alec Laird’s Bezanova is well in if recapturing his best form (he ran to a high of 107) but has not won a race in over a year and has shown little in his two starts this term – admittedly over short of his best.
Geoff Woodruff saddles two decent 5yo’s who look ready to break through to the big league.
Master Switch came out of his fifth placed finish in the Consolation July to beat accomplished stablemate Master Sabina (in receipt of 3,5kgs) in a Vaal 1800m handicap last time.
Master ‘N Commander has improved nicely in two runs since an eight month break.
The son of Captain Al showed pace when beating Moofeed at his last start and will be more effective over this trip.
Mike Azzie – saddles four runners
Mike Azzie saddles a quartet of runners for owners Adriaan and Rika van Vuuren.
None of the four have recent form to speak of, although Amsterdam showed a glimmer of ability when runner-up to French Navy in the 2015 Gr1 SA Classic.
Easy Lover looks well held by Judicial on earlier form.
Mike de Kock’s pair of Bold Rex and the stayer Enaad will have their supporters.
The 3yo Bold Rex looks to be improving nicely and has won his last two against weaker handicap company. The handicapper hasn’t been kind to him and his two previous shots in the bigger leagues didn’t pan out well.
Enaad will need further
Gold Cup winner Enaad is obviously in the process of building fitness and this looks on the sharp side.
Joey Ramsden also has two runners to saddle.
Coltrane pulls a wide gate but has Piere Strydom up. He falls into the Enaad category, but his stablemate St Tropez is a different proposition!
The son of Silvano moved up in last Saturday’s Charity Mile looking a winner, but hit a brick wall and fell away to 6,50 lengths behind New Predator,
Anton Marcus takes over from Raymond Danielson but will two races in the space of seven days catch him out?
Candice Dawson has made a great start to her solo training career and sends out Prince Of Orange for the Ralphs.
Prince Of Orange dives through late to win a great race on Grand Heritage day
The well drawn son of Indigo Magic won a gutsy race on Grand Heritage Day to beat Counterstroke in a field of 23!
He ran sixth and only 6,60 lengths behind Deo Juvente in this race last year. Include him for quartets.
The 4yo Judpot gelding Rocketball has shown nothing since his smart fourth behind Rabada in the Daily News last term.
The standside track suits Liege and he could make further improvement to score the biggest success of his career.
Bankable Teddy, Master Switch and the very fit St Tropez could be the best of the rest.
