Former jockey Johnny Geroudis is a member of 4Racing’s media team (JC Photos)
Dave Mollett
In a bigger promotion for the Betway Summer Cup than ever before, 4Racing has cast its advertising net far and wide to include the broadcasting networks CNN, Sky and the BBC.
Many people in South Africa tune into these big name networks because of their top-class reporting.
A popular daily show on CNN is hosted by the award-winning presenter, Christiane Amanpour.
But – shock of shocks – in the last three weeks her slot has been followed by 4Racing’s presenting duo of Vikki Lerena and former jockey, Johnny Geroudis.
They are seen at Turffontein racecourse promoting their “Turftrack” show and Saturday’s Betway Summer Cup.
As a presenter for 15 years I feel I’m in a position to comment on this part of the sport and – to be honest – I was sceptical that Mrs Lerena, wife of champion jockey Gavin Lerena, and much-liked former top jockey, Johnny Geroudis, were up to the task.
Happily, they have proved that opinion wrong because – as they have covered more and more meetings – they have become more self-assured and confident in their interviews. Yes, perhaps they need to ask more in-depth questions (“Do you feel you rode a bad race”) but both know the sport well.
Then – perhaps if you’ve been watching Sophie Ridge on her “Breakfast” show on Sky, there is an advert break and up pops top commentator, Nico Kritsiotis. He is pictured behind the mic at Turffontein and says he’s “really looking forward to calling my eighth Betway Summer Cup.”
Nico commented: “Yes, it was a surprise when a friend called me to say he’d seen me on Sky, but one has to applaud 4Racing for targeting a wider audience.”
Also seen at the Turffontein track with the Joburg skyline behind him is well-known presenter, Neil Andrews, also promoting the Cup.
Now he didn’t seem flavour of the month for a while but is back in favour because he is to sports presenting what Martin Locke was for many years – the ultimate professional.
So – now the scene has been set – what is going to win Saturday’s R6 million race?
At last Wednesday’s draw at a Sandton bar (wonderful snacks!), I was lucky enough to have a long chat with Gareth Van Zyl who saddles the second favourite, King Pelles, in Saturday’s race. The KZN raider is one of my favourites as he made me money at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Durban July day.
First impressions are always important and mine with Gareth is this – here is a young man with both passion and intellect for his profession and it’s no surprise he’s popular with owners, particularly in his home province.
Of King Pelles’ draw of 11, the 39 year-old commented: “Not ideal but it’s OK and – in S’manga Khumalo – I’ve got the right pilot for the big occasion.”
“We intend trucking King Pelles’ up on Saturday morning – we have determined this is the best course of action to counter the altitude.”
Gareth is lucky in one regard in that he can call on his father, Gavin, for advice.
His dad was a top jockey and trainer – he rode just shy of 2000 winners and – as a trainer – saddled 800 winners which included 45 stakes races and eight Gr 1’s. He rated The Apache as one of his best, a dual Gr 1 winner bred by the much-missed, Robin Scott.
The Van Zyl horse which springs to mind is Slumdogmillonaire whom Piere Strydom rode to victory in the Gr 1 Horse Chestnut Stakes and Marthinus Mienie won the SA Classic on the son of Strike Smartly.
I’m not sure if he was involved in the naming of the horse (after a 2008 British drama film), but the late Jimmy Lithgow – an outstanding journo and presenter – was Slumdogmillionaire’s biggest supporter.
The Equator is firm favourite for the Betway Summer Cup but most of us have missed the price on the son of Galileo.
If the Tony Peter inmate takes top honours, it will be a huge feather in the cap of the horse’s owners, Nigel Riley and Willem Ackerman. It’s not every day you are able to acquire an Aidan O’Brien inmate, even one of the lesser lights.
I don’t miss a York Ebor meeting so will have been there when the Equator ran second in the 2024 Melrose Handicap. That race was run over 2800m which begs the question whether Saturday’s trip of 2000m will be too sharp.
Nevertheless, Nigel Riley must be licking his lips at the prospect of standing The Equator at his Heversham Park Stud and – with Gavin Lerena in the irons – one can assume the import will be the selection of his presenting wife, Vikki.
Popular owner, Gerald Sadleir was at the Betway Summer Cup draw and had to wait for the last ball out of the bowl to find out his filly, Olivia’s Way, had drawn gate nine.
He was worried about Grant Van Niekerk putting up overweight but – then 48 hours later – Turf Talk revealed that Andrew Fortune had been booked to ride.
At Kenilworth on Saturday, 58 year-old Andrew partnered the prolific winning mare, Double Grand Slam, to the ninth win of her career.
While Atticus Finch is sure to make a bold bid to follow up his 2024 win, one horse I won’t be leaving out of my quartet bet is Frank Robinson’s raider, Madison Valley. Yes, his charge is drawn in the nearby Rand Stadium, but he’s got red-hot Craig Zackey in the saddle. He’s been booting home the winners as regularly as Manchester City striker, Erling Haaland, has been scoring goals.
African Pride looks worth a bet in the fifth race but – in the final analysis – a happy festive season for the Mollett household rests on King Pelles. Hopefully Gareth Van Zyl can follow in his father’s footsteps with a successful raid on Gauteng.
