The Gr1 Betway Summer Cup heads a bumper Turffontein Saturday meeting and this year’s renewal has drawn an eclectic mix of contestants.
Royal Victory storms to Betway Summer Cup history in 2023 (Pic – JC Photos)
Looking at the main protagonists, no less than seven Gr1 winners have thrown their hats into the ring for the R6-million showpiece race, amongst which the past two winners Puerto Manzano and Royal Victory, as well as 2023 Hollywoodbets Durban July victor Winchester Mansion.
Remarkably, no less than four KZN visitors will make the journey from their Summerveld base. Joining defending champion Royal Victory is Michael Roberts’ Gr1 winner See It Again, Andre Nel-trained Gr3 winner Cape Eagle and Frank Robinson’s Gr3 Gold Vase winner Madison Valley.
Not even the lavish R6 million purse could lure a visitor from the Western Cape, more’s the pity.
Current favourite See It Again, who was gelded over the winter, kept very smart company last season, winning the Gr2 Green Point Stakes, running second in the Gr1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate and third in both the Gr1 Gold Challenge and Gr1 HKJC Champions Cup.
He also finished a close-up fifth in the Hollywoodbets Durban July, barely a half-length behind third-placed Royal Victory.
Kudos to the connections for allowing him a chance to strut his stuff over a galloping course, something many pundits feel is just what the big-striding chestnut needs. One thing is sure, Roberts won’t be travelling to Turffontein to make up the numbers.
Who knows, perhaps Royal Victory’s success in last year’s race emboldened fellow KZN trainers to make the trek to Gauteng? That was an auspicious occasion, considering that the then four-year-old broke a 16-year drought going back to 2007 when Strategic News scored for Dylan Cunha.
Now based in the hallowed equine centre of Newmarket, Dylan hit the headlines earlier this year with his expert handling of Prague, a Coolmore throw-out he had purchased for a mere ten grand as an unraced three-year-old.
Both Royal Victory and See It Again made their seasonal debuts on November 3 in a mile pinnacle stakes at Hollywoodbets Greyville, with the latter prevailing by just over a length. We keenly await Saturday’s rematch!
KZN star and topweight See It Again (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
There is no disputing that the Sean Tarry stable has virtually made the race its own since winning it for the first time with Aslan in 2009. Five more trips to the winner’s box followed, the most recent with Flying Carpet, who claimed the honours in 2021.
This year, Tarry fields a three-pronged attack headed by champion stayer Future Pearl, and one has to take cognizance of the fact that Richard Fourie will be in the irons.
Brett Crawford’s satellite stable is now firmly entrenched in Gauteng under the guidance of his very capable son James. With a sterling win in the Gr2 Charity Mile in tow, class act Winchester Mansion, together with SA Oaks victress Frances Ethel, will do duty for the stable on Saturday, and strong cases can be made for both.
The passion for success still burns for maestro trainer Mike de Kock, who has won the Summer Cup on six previous occasions. With Horse of the Year Dave The King being targeted at the L’Ormarins King’s Plate, the stable’s hopes rest solely on Silver Sanctuary, last season’s Gr1 Woolavington 2000 victress, and a strong-finishing fourth in the Gr2 Charity Mile.
Given that De Kock’s most recent winner was also a filly, the 2010 winner Flirtation, it would not be out of place if this daughter of Silvano puts one over the boys.
Besides, she will be aiming to go one better than full brother Safe Passage, who has had to settle for second in the last two renewals.
Fillies have a fine record in the Summer Cup, its most recent winner being Paul Peter-trained Horse of the Year Summer Pudding.
Son Tony will saddle Main Defender, whose shock withdrawal on the morning of last year’s race was not without controversy. Be that as it may, the four-year-old has never won beyond a mile and the crunch question now is will he see out the stiff 2000m trip.
There are no stamina doubts whatsoever about New Predator siblings Purple Pitcher and Pure Predator, after all, they put their late lamented sire on the map when dominating last season’s Gr1 SA Derby.
The same applies to Zeus. Fourth in last year’s race, he will be partnered by Rachel Venniker, who is riding at the top of her game, so watch out boys!
Whichever way you slice it, the stage is set for another intriguing renewal of this time-honoured contest.
