With a projected R7 million Pick 6 pool in the mix, the Betway Summer Cup card at Turffontein on Saturday could provide a few curved ball posers for players. Like, is Barend Botes’ Equus champion Quid Pro Quo a banker in the R650 000 Betway Gr2 Dingaans?
Lance’ dual Grade 1-winning daughter galloped into the SA record books last season becoming the first filly to win all of the Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship over 1200m, the Gr2 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper over 1400m, and culminating in the Gr1 Douglas Whyte Stakes over a mile, where she ran without front shoes after spreading a plate on the way to the start. Heroic stuff!
Lance’s daughter Quid Pro Quo makes history as she flies home ahead of Fatal Flaw under Piere Strydom (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Quid Pro Quo has not run since that milestone day 17 weeks ago and steps into the lion’s den on Saturday where she takes on the boys in the 1600m Dingaans.
In the break of the seasons, her trainer packed up his base at Summerveld and moved to Turffontein, where the Kalil star will have her first start as a 3yo on Saturday at 14h55.
We asked Barend Botes the million dollar question – is she a banker?
“That’s not a simple straightforward yes, no,” he laughs as he explains the background and lets us be the judge as to whether the 16-10 second favourite tag is any value.
“She has had two grass gallops. Andrew Fortune, a top judge, rode her in both. The first he said she was still in need of it. The second, just days ago, he declared her ‘feeling good’,” explains the charismatic trainer of his stable flagbear.
Barend feels she will suit Piere Strydom perfectly.
“She turns it on late. Piere is as good as anybody around right now, and he will know what to do,” he adds.
While no filly has won the Dingaans in recent years, Barend explains that the Grade 1 penalties and the strength of the race, made him sidestep the fairer sex option.
“We didn’t even enter her in the Fillies Mile. This race makes more sense. Although, clearly Mike de Kock’s Greaterix is no slouch and he does look very progressive. He has won 3 on the trot and won a mile last time. But we know what our girl is capable of!”
Barend Botes – quietly confident but hasn’t had a big horse going into a big race after a rest (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Barend points out that he has never had a Grade 1 horse coming back from a break of this duration and going into a race of this level.
“That’s why it is so difficult to shoot from the hip. But it’s a good place to start her season, so let’s see where we stand.”
Asked if he was enjoying his new Turffontein base, Barend says that it’s ‘not easy adjusting’ to the environment for a guy who enjoyed the Vaal.
The Turffontein Pick 6 starts in Race 4 @ 13h08.
The R2 million carryover means a likely pool of R7 million.
