King Pelles’ road to prominence began with three Gr 3 staying race victories in quick succession starting with the Tote Derby over 2400m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville (Candiese Lenferna Photography)
King Pelles has transformed this season from a horse who was a much admired Equus Champion Stayer into second favourite for the Gr 1 R6m Betway Summer Cup and the fancy of many.
Trainer Gareth van Zyl admitted the horse had surprised him over the last two or three months.
Gareth said, “He’s doing very well and has had a very good preparation.”
He said about the draw of eleven, “It’s fine. It is not going to be anything that is going to change the result of the race for us, it’s workable. S’Manga has ridden hiim once in work recently and he was happy with him.”
He added, “The 2000m distance should be alright for him. He is a sharper horse now, his prep runs have shown that he has sharpened up.”
Gareth ageed that the five-year-old Duke Of Marmalade gelding had appeared to be blossoming as he got older and he admitted, “He surprised me. After the Gold Cup we targeted the Summer Cup and I thought we would maybe run a place and if the going is soft it would help us to do so, but the way he has been prepping has shown me that he is a serious contender.”
The Drakenstein Stud-bred King Pelles has an exceptional turn of foot and looks to have all the credentials to be a potential Summer Cup winner.
He carries 57,5kg from draw eleven with 2012 Summer Cup-winning rider S’Manga Khumalo aboard and he is the 32/10 second favoutite with the sponsor.
