The R1 million Supreme Cup sponsored by SAP will not become defunct due to the discontinuation of the Vaal Sand, but instead will be raced on turf, although the venue is still the subject of discussions.
Clyde Basel, who officially became Phumelela’s Racing Executive on October 1 while still retaining his position as Executive in charge of hospitality and events, said the Vaal Triangle was an “untapped” racing area and the validity of staging the Supreme Cup at The Vaal racecourse had already been proven. This year’s event, held September 26 and sponsored by the enterprise software giant SAP, was said by some to be the best ever.
Clyde Basel – new man in the hot seat
The Vaal looks likely therefore to be the favourite to retain the Supreme Cup meeting.
The Vaal Sand will be replaced by a turf track. It was a sad day for many to see the end of the Vaal sand, because the surface clearly offered a lifeline to many horses who were going nowhere on the turf.
However, a R1 million turf race over 1450m on the last weekend of September could well offer an exciting springboard for big horses being targeted at such races as the Gr 2 Peermont Emperor’s Palace Charity Mile and the Gr 1 SANSUI Summer Cup.
Also under discussion at Phumelela will be the building of a polytrack. Basel said the merit of such a surface had already been proven at Fairview, whose polytrack had to date saved 15 racemeeting since being opened in October 2013.
