Summer Pudding – in winning mode (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
SA Horse Of The Year and current Gauteng Summer Cup ante-post favourite Summer Pudding will have a grass gallop at Turffontein on Friday to form a better picture of her current state of fitness.
Currently at second place on the official race-log behind Got The Greenlight, who is unlikely to run, Summer Pudding is currently quoted at 22-10 with Hollywoodbets.
The daughter of Silvano, undefeated in her seven starts to date, was sent for a rest at her birthplace Mauritzfontein after winning the Gr1 Woolavington 2000 in sensational fashion last term. She has last seen race action on 28 June.
She has been back at Turffontein for six weeks now and has only had sand work to date.
“The grass-work on Friday will give us a better idea of where we are with her,” said trainer Paul Peter when contacted by the Sporting Post on Tuesday.
The man who currently heads the national trainer log and has achieved wonders with South Africa’s favourite equine athlete, said that Summer Pudding is likely to go into the Gauteng Summer Cup with just one run under the belt.
“There is a mile Pinnacle Stakes at Turffontein on 7 November. That’s not ideal but she is likely to run there.”
Asked if he wasn’t concerned about the big handicap, her first test against male opposition, coming up as a second run after the rest, Peter said that she had not had an issue with that in the past.
“But let’s gallop her on Friday and we can catch up thereafter to advise the public,” he concluded.
