A dogged Madison Valley fends off Natyam (Picture: Candiese Lenferna)
The Frank Robinson-trained Mambo In Seattle colt Madison Valley put in an eyecatching performance on Sunday at Hollywoodbets Greyville to win the Non-Black Type Pinkdrive Handicap over 1900m under a fine ride by Gavin Lerena.
Hollywoodbets reacted to the win by shortening Madison Valley to 50/1 for the Betway Summer Cup. Perhaps they recalled that the winner of this race last year, the Nathan Kotzen-trained Royal Victory, was also a Summerveld-trained horse and he went on to win the Summer Cup (as well as the Gr 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes).
There were a number of scratchings in the Michaelmas, both early and late, and eventually the field was reduced to just four runners.
Robinson, in retrospect, felt it had been beneficial that he had to scratch his other runner Mexican Pete with a high temperature as he had rated the latter’s chances and felt he might have got in Madison Valley’s way.
Lerena settled Madison Valley beautifully in last position, considering he wears blinkers and the pace set by Officer In Command was noty strong.
Lerena produced his mount coming up the hill at about the 650m mark.
He used Madison Valley’s long stride to sweep around the field and entered the straight in the lead.
Lerena showed his professionalism in that move because Robinson had said to him before the race, “I don’t want to tell you how to ride him, but what I can tell you is he is a bit of a staying type and takes a bit of time to get going.”
Lerena had thus given his mount plenty of time to find top gear and timed it to perfection.
Madison Valley’s long stride and ability to stay on strongly will make him suited to Turffontein Standside in the Summer Cup.
Another aspect of his make up that would have impressed his supporters is his dogged determination.
After hitting the front the other three were quickly on top of him and a lesser horse would have felt swamped and perhaps thrown in the towel. However, he fought off the attentions of Officer In Command on his inside and then fought off Natyam, despite being carried in significantly by the latter in the last 300m.
Robinson said Madison Valley had not been a hundred percent for the run too as he would need to have been brought on a little with the Summer Cup in mind and that was not to mention the small field, which was against him due to a predictable lack of pace for a long-striding staying type who needs as strong a pace as possible.
The Clifton Stud-bred gelding looks to be good ante-post value for the Summer Cup and hopefully he will be included in the final field.
The Andre Nel-trained Cape Eagle was unlucky in the Michaelmas for the second season in succession.
Last season he looked to have the race won but hung awkwardly and was somehow beaten and it actually led to a three month suspension for the jockey, which was later negated after a successful appeal.
This time Cape Eagle was squeezed out between Madison Valley and the favourite Natyam when the latter shifted inward at about the 300m mark.
Cape Eagle ran on after being snatched up and finished a 1.05 length third, but later successfully objected against Natyam.
Officer In Command was in last place, beaten 2.05 lengtths.
The race has a sence of deja vous which augurs well for Summer Cup-bound Madison Valley.
Last year Royal Victory won this race, beating third-placed Cape Eagle by 0,20 lengths, and this year Madison Valley’s victory by 0,25 lengths was also ultimately at the expense of Cape Eagle.
Royal Victory was merit rated 108 when winning the Michalemas and Madison Valley was also merit rated 108.
In Royal Victory’s next start after his win in the Michalemas he won the Gr 1 Betway Summer Cup, despite having remained at long odds after the Michalemas.
In fact he was still available at 80/1 with one firm even after the announcement of the final field.
Madison Valley also remains at long odds.
Another way in which history could repeat itself is Robinson does not envision Madison Valley having another run before the Summer Cup.
He believes he will get into the field considering his win in the Gr 3 DSTV Gold Vase over 3000m together with his Michaelmas win.
Royal Victory carried joint bottom weight of 54kg to victory in the Summer Cup off a merit rating of 111 and Madison Valley will also carry 54kg as things stand off a merit rating raised to 110.
However, when Royal Victory won the Michaelmas he was carrying 61.5kg and giving Cape Eagle 3kg, whereas Madison Valley was carrying 59.5kg and receiving 2kg from Cape Eagle.
Cape Eagle is also a Summer Cup entry and is 40/1 with Hollywoodbets.
Could a Summerveld raider win the Summer Cup this year too?
Besides Madison Valley and Cape Eagle, Royal Victory will be out to defend his crown and other Sumerveld entries are the ruling ante-post favourite, the Michael Roberts-trained See It Again, the Gavin van Zyl-trained Gr 1 Daily News 2000 runner up and Hollywoodbets Durban July fourth-placed Flag Man and the Robbie Hill-trained Navajo Nation.
