Johannesburg's biggest horseracing event, the R2 million Grade 1 Sansui Summer Cup(2000m) takes place at Turffontein on Saturday.
Pierre Jourdan, known as the people's horse is favourite, but he does not have an easy task at the weights and has a wide draw to contend with.
Gavin van Zyl believes that the number one draw will not affect the chances of his star four year-old colt, The Apache and is confident of a good performance from his other runners Bulsara and Seal.
While Champion trainer Mike de Kock saddles four runners and is attempting to win the race for the 10th time. He feels that classy stayer Ilsanpietro(BRZ) will spearhead his challenge and is confident that the gelding will handle the rain affected track.
Below are pen pictures of all the runners.
1 – PIERRE JOURDAN
Gary Alexander's gelding has enjoyed a flawless preparation, winning both races this season including the 1600m Charity Mile this month when he had a number of these rivals behind him. At least 2.5kg worse off with all of them and is drawn wide at No 19. But a high-number draw is not an insurmountable disadvantage over this 2000m and he is the class of the race.
Record: 16 runs; 9 wins; 6 places. Earnings R4,475,675.
2 – THE APACHE
Last season's Equus Champion Three-Year-Old Colt. Put up a promising preparatory run when finishing strongly under a kind ride for third behind SMANJEMANJE (5kg worse off) and ILSANPIETRO in the 1800m Victory Moon Stakes recently. No 1 draw is unlikely to benefit Gavin van Zyl's star because he likes to run from behind but he's set to make a bold bid.
Record: 11 runs; 5 wins; 5 places. Earnings R1,671,250.3 – DANCEWITHTHEDEVIL
Has failed when tried over further than 1600m, but St John Gray's mare was not that well drawn in either the 2000m Champions Challenge or the 1800m Champions Cup. Was expected to do better when fifth behind PIERRE JOURDAN (2.5kg worse off) in the Charity Mile, but got going too late which might augur well for her chances over this longer trip. Respect.
Record: 16 runs; 7 wins; 4 places. Earnings R2,053,425.4 – ILSANPIETRO (Bzl)
One of four runners from champion trainer Mike de Kock's stable. Smart stayer and looks best at 2400m and beyond, but ran on well for second to SMANJEMANJE (5kg worse off – the equivalent of 5.60 lengths) in the 1800m Victory Moon Stakes. Will be cherryripe in his third run after a layoff, has drawn well and will have Weichong Marwing in the irons. Can shape.
Record: 25 runs; 7 wins; 13 places. Earnings R907,150.
5 – BLACK WING
KwaZulu-Natal raider. Finished fifth behind PIERRE JOURDAN (2.5kg worse off) in the Charity Mile in his first run at Turffontein and will prefer this distance. Weighted to beat THE APACHE (3.5kg worse off) on the form of last season's Daily News 2000. Trainer Paul Gadsby's runner will sport blinkers for the first time and will make his presence felt at best.
Record: 11 runs; 4 wins; 3 places. Earnings R258,200.
6 – SEAL
This year's SA Derby winner is the second of Van Zyl's three runners. Tired late when fading to ninth behind SMANJEMANJE (5.5kg worse off) in the Victory Moon Stakes and might find this trip a trifle sharp in this class, even though he finished a two-length second to SOUL MASTER (1.5kg better off) over this course and distance this year. Second run after a layoff.
Record: 12 runs; 3 wins; 5 places. Earnings R1,079,212.
7 – BULSARA
Has long been highly rated by the Van Zyl stable, but has not won since early in January and is still rated three points higher than his merit rating back then. Has not run far back in major features recently and did finish a neck second to stablemate THE APACHE (2.5kg worse off) in the 1800m Champions Cup at Greyville in July. Be right there if he can repeat that effort.
Record: 26 runs; 4 wins; 9 places. Earnings R1,282,505.
8 – RUDRA
De Kock's seven-year-old warrior won this race back in 2008 and finished fifth behind stablemate FLIRTATION (4.5kg worse off) last year. Is drawn widest of all and has finished unplaced in all three recent runs since a five-month rest. Runs well above his form every so often though and will be partnered by champion jockey Anton Marcus. Could feature if he rises to the occasion.
Record: 33 runs; 6 wins; 14 places. Earnings R2,664,670.
9 – JET JAMBOREE
Trainer Dominic Zaki's colt faces his toughest test to date and seems to be better over shorter. But he will have master of pace Piere Strydom in the irons and some of his form is quite promising, including a win over Ice Axe in a 1900m Greyville feature in July and a recent second to 1.50-length winner SOUL MASTER (0.5kg worse off) over 1800m.
Record: 10 runs; 3 wins; 5 places. Earnings R308,525.
10 – QUEEN'S BAY
Just when racing fans were wondering whether it was time for Mike Azzie to call it a day with this six-year-old mare, she came out and trounced her opposition in the Yellowwood Handicap (1800m) last month. PRINCESS OF LIGHT (1.5kg better off) was beaten six lengths into fourth. Well drawn but has a tough task against the males in this contest.
Record: 27 runs; 8 wins; 7 places. Earnings R836,125.
11 – PRINCESS OF LIGHT
Trainer Geoff Woodruff's Var filly finished second to Igugu in the 2450m SA Oaks before winning the 2400m KZN Oaks last season and showed she had trained on when trouncing Salutation over 2200m on the inside track here in September. Then well beaten by QUEEN'S BAY (1.5kg worse off) over 1800m in the Yellowwood Handicap, but will be 100% fit now.
Record: 12 runs; 4 wins; 5 places. Earnings: R496,500.
12 – FLIRTATION
Gave De Kock his ninth Summer Cup victory when beating stablemate Mother Russia at odds of 25-1 in this race last year. Unplaced over 1450m and 1600m in her last two races, but needed those runs and found the distances too short. Sure to be fully fit now and looks likely to put up a bold effort over what is her best course and distance.
Record: 15 runs; 4 wins; 5 places. Earnings R1,947,250.
13 – SMANJEMANJE
Tyrone Zackey supplemented this winner of the recent Victory Moon Stakes into the Summer Cup after saying he had no intention of running the five-year-old. The Victory Moon was Smanjemanje's first win in 20 months and his improvement was attributed to gelding and the addition of a cornel collar to help him breath. Has a six-point penalty for that win, but not out of it.
Record: 32 runs; 4 wins; 12 places. Earnings R601,700.
14 – MAGICAL
Ormond Ferraris' runner has not won for more than two years but was on the sidelines from November 2009, when he just failed to catch Aslan in the Summer Cup, to February this year and has been lightly raced since his return. Fair efforts include a third to PRINCESS OF LIGHT (5.5kg worse off) over 2200m on the inside track. Needs to raise his game to shape.
Record: 17 runs; 3 wins; 10 places. Earnings R1,087,900.
15 – PERANA (Aus)
With Anthony Delpech on board, he looks the De Kock stable elect. Has loads of ability, but his enthusiasm for racing is suspect and he seemed to show scant interest in the Victory Moon Stakes, trailing in a long way behind in last place. Hard to beat at these weights on his best form, but it's anybody's guess whether he will put his mind to the task at hand.
Record: 13 runs; 2 wins; 4 places. Stakes R391,030.
16 – REGAL RANSOM
One of trainer Sean Tarry's three runners. Last year's Champions Challenge winner is a volatile sort, who placed for the only time this year when a distant third behind RUDRA (2.5kg worse off) over 1600m back in April. Never raised a gallop after a slow start in the recent Victory Moon Stakes and will need to improve if he is to feature.
Record: 23 runs; 8 wins; 6 places. Stakes R1,674,250.17 – SOUL MASTER
Woodruff's second runner looks well held by the likes of PIERRE JOURDAN and SMANJEMANJE, although he did have JET JAMBOREE (0.5kg better off), PERANA (2.5kg better off), BULSARA and GOLD ONYX behind him over 1800m on the inside track in his penultimate start. Has a win over the course and distance to his credit but others appeal more.
Record: 9 runs; 4 wins; 1 place. Earnings R261,525.
18 – CAPTAIN SCOTT
Trainer Alec Laird's good-looking grey has not won since March last year, but is becoming more competitive as his merit rating drops and he is now six points lower than when he notched his last win. Has improved steadily this season and stayed on for fourth behind SMANJEMANJE (0.5kg worse off) in the Victory Moon Stakes. Has come well at right time.
Record: 29 runs; 4 wins; 12 places. Earnings R760,430.
19 – GOLD ONYX (NZ)
Arguably the Tarry stable elect with Robbie Fradd in the irons. Won the Premier's Champion Stakes last year and then lost form as a three-year-old, although he was only 1.45 lengths behind THE APACHE (6.5kg worse off) in the Daily News 2000. Cast a shoe when sixth behind SOUL MASTER last time and is showing signs of regaining his top form.
Record: 17 runs; 3 wins; 2 places. Earnings R533,350.
20 – POWER PARK
The third Tarry runner, he made a promising seasonal debut after a six-month rest when just failing to tag Veto over 1200m at the Vaal this month. Has form over this longer distance, is likely to improve on that run and could shape if he repeats his run in last year's Victory Moon Stakes, when beaten a length into third behind PERANA. Outside chance.
Record: 15 runs; 4 wins; 5 places. Earnings R317,305.
(Pen pictures courtesy of Computaform)
