Purple Pitcher winning the BSA Sales Cup (JC Photos).
Turf Talk
Robyn Klaasen has two runners in big races on Saturday at “the Big T”, Second Base in the Gr 1 R5 million Betway Summer Cup and the exciting prospect Purple Pitcher in the Gr 2 Jonsson Workwear Dingaans over 1600m.
Six-year-old Gimmethegreenlight gelding Second Base was ignored in the betting for the Gr 1 weight for age WSB Premier’s Champions Challenge over the 2000m course and distance of the Summer Cup in his first start for the Klaasen yard earlier this year and only just failed, beaten a shorthead by Summer Cup winner Puerto Manzano.
He started 33/1 that day and has been ignored again, being at 80/1 with the sponsor, but Robyn said, “I can’t really blame them this time after his run in the Charity Mile (beaten 12,25 lengths off a 120 merit rating).”
He was lowered three points by the handicapper to 117 after that run and jumps from draw seven under Kaidan Brewer.
Robyn said, “He needed the Charity Mile run quite badly. It was also very short for him and the race just did not work out for him from his draw (of nine) the way Dave The King went so fast. I am expecting him to run a nice race on Saturday . He’s got a nice draw (seven out of 20). He can be handier than he normally is from that draw, which will help, and hopefully that is what he needs.”
Robyn bought the Gold Star Stud-bred Second Base at a horses in training sale for a bargain R150,000 and he is owned by Nu-Atlas Racing (Nom: Mr P J Klaasen) in partnership with Mr “Stinky” Pooe.
Mr Pooe also owns the Bush Hill Stud-bred New Predator colt Purple Pitcher, who is unbeaten in four starts since joining the Klaasen yard.
Robyn said, “He’s doing very well, can’t fault him in his work and his well-being.”
She confirmed he was a progressive horse and added, “He is still very dum, believe it or not, which I think works in his favour because he doesn’t overdo it in his work.”
He beat Gimmeanotherchance at level weights in the BSA Sales Cup by two lengths over 1450m and the latter was subsequently beaten 3,20 lengths by Dingaans favourite Sandringham Summit in the Gr 3 Graham Beck Stakes over 1400m.
That leaves Purple Pitcher with about four lengths to find on Sandringham Summit on paper.
However, he does have a draw of six out of twelve compared to Sandringham Summit’s nine.
Robyn said about the draw, “He is so versatile he can be placed anywhere, but having that nice draw makes it a bit easier.”
She added, “I am expecting a huge run from him.”
Purple Pitcher has his final work out on Wednesday. Not a lot has had to be done with him because he has had a run every month of this season.
He will be ridden by Kabelo Matsunyane, who has been aboard for all four of his wins to date.
