Trainer Geoff Woodruff will saddle four runners in his attempt to win this weekend’s R2 million Sansui Summer Cup, the Group One showpiece race of the Gauteng season, for the fourth year running.

Last year’s winner Master Sabina has been the subject of sustained support and was favoured with stable mate Deo Juvente and progressive four-year-old Samurai Blade at the top of the betting.

Master Sabina will be ridden by Gavin Lerena, who partnered him to win the race in 2015.

He was second when making a comeback over 1800m last time out and clearly has a chance but the expected soft to heavy conditions is a query as he has run just once in soft going when well beaten.

Deo Juvente looked a possible Summer Cup winner after a fine third in the recent G2 Emperors Palace Charity Mile.

He was runner up in the 2015 Summer Cup but the regally bred son of Trippi is worse off at the weights with Master Sabina from last year.

Master Switch, another from the Geoff Woodruff yard, is set to carry just 53.5 kg and meets Master Sabina 1kg better for a 0.8 length defeat at the pair’s last outing.

Unfortunately a poor draw of 18 could make things tough for him.

The fourth of the Woodruff runners is Master ‘N Commander who has plenty to find on his last outing.

Another trainer with a strong hand in the Summer Cup is Sean Tarry who saddles Liege, the well backed Samurai Blade and gallant front runner Stonehenge.

Leige, winner of last season’s G3 Jubilee Handicap and recent G2 Victory Moon Stakes runner up Liege appears to have had the perfect prep for the Summer Cup and has also won in soft going. However, a wide draw of 12 does Liege no favours here.

Stable mate Samurai Blade is nicely drawn at four and shoulders just 52.5 kg. He put up a smart showing when beaten under four lengths over a way too short trip of 1200m and looks to have had a good prep.

He was second on his only outing in very soft going but it remains to be seen if he is good enough to land a G1 race even off a low weight.

Stonehenge, who once again benefits from JP Van Der Merwe, won a good race last time out when making all to score over 1800m in soft conditions and will carry just 52.5 kg. However he is poorly drawn in 16.

Juxatpose was one of the better 3YO fillies last season when she won two legs of South Africa’s Triple Tiara.

She has two fair comeback runs and should relish the step up to 2000m but is taking on males for a first time.

Former Listed Derby Trial winner Bankable Teddy looks held on his unplaced run in the G2 Victory Moon Stakes while top weight Mac De Lago has a tough task here under 60kg despite his record that includes last season’s G1 Rising Sun Challenge.

Johan Janse Van Vuuren has his yard in deadly form and he relies on Grand Heritage and Charity Mile fourth Irish Pride.

The latter will be trying the 2000m trip for a first time but is nicely weighted with just 52kgs and could be a big runner if he stays and handles the conditions.

The Conglomerate improved in his Charity Mile run and once again will be ridden by Piere Strydom, who won the Durban July on the Australian bred.

The pair have a wide draw to overcome but managed to do just that in the July.

Stable mate St Tropez is drawn in pole position and carries just 52kg. Connections were not thrilled by the ride he received last time out and he has finished second in very soft conditions but it is over a year since he last won a race.

Visiting trainers Dennis Drier and Duncan Howells saddle Punta Arenas and Saratoga Dancer and Ten Gun Salute respectively.

The eight-year-old Punta Arenas, unlucky not to win the 2015 Durban July, impressed when running on strongly over 1400m last time out but has to give up to 6kg away to younger rivals.

Saratoga Dancer impressed when a close second in the recent G2 Charity Mile but has a wide draw of 13 while stable mate Ten Gun Salute has nearly five lengths to find on Saratoga Dancer on the pair’s last meeting but has won in the soft and is better drawn than his stable companion.

Veteran No Worries had excuses for his below par in the G2 Charity Mile and had smart form before that but does not have a great draw.

Another veteran Judicial has been third and fourth in the Summer Cup in 2014 and 2015 and relishes the soft going but a recent injury scare won’t have helped his chances.

Romany Prince has a wide draw to overcome and beat just four home in the Charity Mile.

Mogok Master impressed two starts back when beating subsequent Ready To Run Cup second Africa Rising but looks well held on his run in the Charity Mile.