Frances Ethel is in fine shape ahead of her Betway Summer Cup campaign (Candiese Lenferna Photography)
James Crawford confirmed that the Hollywoodbets Durban July winner Oriental Charm is in Cape Town and would be having a Cape Racing Summer Season campaign, but the Brett Crawford yard will still have a strong hand in the Gr 1 R6million Betway Summer with Frances Ethel and Winchester Mansion and they hope to also get the talented Pomodoro’s Jet into the big race.
Frances Ethel’s three-year-old season, in which she won the Listed Ormond Ferraris Oaks Trial over 2000m and the Gr 2 SA Oaks over 2450m, was curtailed when she had a bad bout of colic after finishing a close up fourth in the Gr 1 Tabgold Woolavington 2000.
However, the beautifully bred Rafeef filly came out of the bout of colic fine and James said about her current well-being, “She is looking like a beast. She is a different animal this season and is twice the horse she was last season.”
Frances Ethel’s intended route into the Summer Cup, which is to be run on November 30, is a Pinnacle Stakes race over 1600m at Turffontein Inside on October 12 and she will then run in the Gr 2 Allied-Steelrode Onamission Charity Mile at Turffontein Standside on November 2.
James said former July winner Winchester Mansion would take that same route into the Summer Cup.
He said about the Trippi gelding, “He has just got one niggle I have got to get on top of, but when I get on top of it he should be spot on for the Summer Cup.”
Pomodoro’s Jet is entered in a Middle Stakes event over 1400m at the Vaal next Thursday and will then take in the Charity Mile. In his case the Charity Mile will be of upmost importance as he is only officially merit rated 96, so will need a big run to get into the Summer Cup.
James believes Pomodoro’s Jet’s best trip is probably 1800m, but he added, “If he can run a really good race in the Charity Mile, and even win it, then I’m sure he will have a ticket into the Summer Cup. Over 2000m with 54kg on his back he will have to be respected.”
