King Pelles Has Burst Into The Summer Cup Picture

Gareth van Zyl felt complimented when seeing his Equus Champion Stayer King Pelles priced up as second favourite for the Betway Summer Cup as he had expected him to be further down the betting board.

However, he had a rethink after his reappearance fifth over a way too sharp 1200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville, an A Stakes event on Sunday in which he carried level weights with two Gr 2 sprinters and finished 3,20 lengths and 1,80 lengths behind them respectively.

Gareth said, “Having looked at his run on Sunday, perhaps the bookmakers were a bit closer to the mark than I would have been. I was very surprised to see how engaged he was in that sprint. I thought especially in that company he would be under pressure to stay with them during the race, but he held his position well and he gave a kick with them. Obviously he couldn’t sustain it as well as the sprinters. However, to finish just over three lengths back in a field that had two of the country’s best 1200m horses in it is very exciting for me.”

Gareth said the aim was to give King Pelles one more run before the Summer Cup, although he did not yet have a date for that run.

The five-year-old Duke Of Marmalade gelding was placed third on the first Summer Cup log with only two KZN contemporaries, See It Again and Royal Victory, ahead of him.

King Pelles seemed to get every inch of 3200m in the Gr 3 World Pool Gold Cup.

However, he is most certainly not a dour stayer as he has an exceptional turn of foot.

He is also able to stay on resolutely after displaying that turn of foot, so the Turffontein Standside track 2000m with its long straight should suit him down to the ground.

He is also going to only have to carry 58,5kg as things stand off his 122 merit rating with the highest rated entries being the 125-rated pair See It Again and Royal Victory.

King Pelles odds of 17/2 with the sponsor are not at all unrealistic and he looks to be a major contender.