A Gr1 winning champion juvenile, and certainly one of the most talked about and exciting prospects this season, the David Nieuwenhuizen trained Sandringham Summit stamped his claims on the 2024 SA Triple Crown trophy as he made it a winning debut in the Varsfontein silks when running out an easy winner of the R1 million TAB Gr2 Gauteng Guineas at Turffontein on Saturday.
Sandringham Summit cruises to victory under Gavin Lerena (Pic – JC Photos)
While his Hollywoodbets-sponsored trainer will be hoping that there will be no serious hurry to ship the sensational athlete off to commence his second phase duties down in magnificent Paarl, Sandringham Summit is definitely set for a return to his birthplace as a possible successor to his champion Dad, after being syndicated for stud duties late last year.
We really can’t blame the Turffontein conditioner for being all smiles though as his handsome ‘pressure’ colt put a below-par last run behind him when the real Sandringham Summit pitched up for racing on Saturday.
He showed his ability in no uncertain means under a forward ride from Gavin Lerena, as he shrugged off any side effects from his ten week break to give his sire a dual sex Guineas double on the day.
Lerena grabbed his fourth winner of a memorable afternoon when the 5-4 favourite, who had always been within striking distance of the pace, stormed clear to beat the late finishing Hotarubi (66-1) by 3 lengths in a time of 97,59 secs.
William Iron Arm was backed into 18-10 and stayed in touch with his pacemaking stablemate House Of Romanov all the way, before staying on for third.
Purple Pitcher (14-1) was going for six on the trot, but was well beaten into sixth.
The winner was bred by Varsfontein Stud and is out of the Captain Al mare Townsend. She won both the Gr2 Odessa Stud Fillies Championship and Gr3 Diana Stakes, and in addition to Sandringham Summit, she is also dam of Gr1 Gold Medallion winner Eden Roc, who now stands at Clifton Stud.
Townsend is a half-sister to Gr1 Champions Challenge winner Regal Ransom and hails from the female line of Gr2 Guineas winner Zapatillas and Gr2 Dingaans second Shoemaker, both of which were bred at Varsfontein.
Originally purchased for R1,7 million off the National Yearling Sale, Sandringham Summit has now won 4 of his 8 starts with 4 places and stakes of R1 612 250.
Significantly, Sandringham Summit offers breeders a wonderful outcross pedigree, free of the all-pervading Northern Dancer and Mr Prospector blood in the first four generations.
The last winner of the SA Triple Crown in 2021 was a Varsfontein Stud product called Malmoos.
Can Sandringham Summit follow him, and the likes of Abashiri (2016), Louis The King (2014) and Horse Chestnut (1999)?
Time will tell and we can’t wait for the second leg, the R1 500 000 Gr1 SA Classic to be run over 1800m at Turffontein on Saturday 2 March.
The final leg is the R1 250 000 Gr1 SA Derby run over 2450m at Turffontein on Saturday 6 April.
A bonus of R2 million will be paid to the connections of the horse that wins all three legs of the SA Triple Crown.
Enjoy the replay!
