Turf Talk Newsletter – 15 November, 2023

Puerto Manzano Draws Wide In Summer Cup Defence

Puerto Manzano jumped from draw seven when winning last year’s Betway Summer Cup and this year he will have to overcome draw 16 and is five points higher in the merit ratings. (JC Photos)

Turf Talk

Atticus Finch is 1,5kg under sufferance in the Gr 1 R5 million Betway Summer Cup according to official merit ratings, yet is third favourite with the sponsor at 6/1. He drew best of the top three in the betting in barrier six.

The favourite, the Hollywoodbets Durban July winner Winchester Mansion, has drawn a middle draw of eleven, which is the sort of draw a lot of trainers prefer in a big 20 horse field as it does give one options.

Last year’s winner and second favourite this year Puerto Manzano has drawn 16, as opposed to seven last year.

Bless My Stars has a notable draw of two having jumped from pole position when third in the July.

The other single figure priced horse Cousin Casey drew 12.

The final field panellists had a simple task because only 21 horses stood their ground and it was easy to eliminate River Romeo, who was merit rated just 101.

Two horses who held top 20 positions on the final log, Nebraas and None Other, were late scratchings.

Nebraas will still run at the meeting in the ROA Stayers over 3200m.

The field and draws are below and the sponsors betting is below that.

Race-7 (Turf) R5 000 000 2000m 15:35 Ref-318
1st R2875000, 2nd R1000000, 3rd R500000, 4th R250000, 5th R125000, 6th R50000, 7th R50000, 8th R50000, 9th R50000, 10th R50000
BETWAY SUMMER CUP (Grade 1)
Handicap
WFA: 3yrs-8kgs 4yrs-0.5kgs
No Apprentice / Female Sex Allowance

(NB. Draw is in the second column)

1	16	Puerto Manzano (ARG)	60	125	BA	Gavin Lerena	J A Janse van Vuuren
2	12	Cousin Casey	58.5	123	BA	Grant van Niekerk	Sean Tarry
3	11	Winchester Mansion	58	121	CA	Kabelo Matsunyane	Brett Crawford
4	10	Anfields Rocket	57	120	A	Raymond Danielson	Grant Maroun
5	2	Bless My Stars	56.5	119	A	Richard Fourie	Sean Tarry
6	3	Bingwa	56.5	118	BAe	Serino Moodley	J A Janse van Vuuren
7	9	Safe Passage	56	117	BA	Luyolo Mxothwa	Mike de Kock
8	7	Second Base	56	117	BA	Kaidan Brewer	Robyn Klaasen
9	13	Billy Bowlegs	55.5	117	A	S’manga Khumalo	Brett Crawford
10	19	Son Of Raj	54.5	115	BA	Athandiwe Mgudlwa	Weiho Marwing
11	1	Aragosta	54.5	114	A	Jarryd Penny	Mike de Kock
12	18	Shoemaker	54	112	A	Diego De Gouveia	Mike de Kock
13	6	Atticus Finch	54	111	A	Calvin Habib	Alec Laird
14	14	Royal Victory	54	111	A	Muzi Yeni	Nathan Kotzen
15	4	Zeus	54	111	A	Denis Schwarz	Fabian Habib
16	8	East Coast	54	110	A	Juan Paul v’d Merwe	Mike de Kock
17	17	Litigation	54	110	TCA	Craig Zackey	Sean Tarry
18	20	Meridius	54	110	A	Philasande Mxoli	Tony Peter
19	15	Lady Of Power	54	107	BA	Chase Maujean	M G Azzie/A A Azzie
20	5	Electric Gold	54	105	BA	Jason Gates	Tony Peter

Winchester Mansion 9/2

Puerto Manzano 5/1

Atticus Finch 6/1

Cousin Casey 7/1

Bless My Stars 8/1

Billy Bowlegs 16/1

Electric Gold 18/1

Safe Passage 20/1

Anfields Rocket 20/1

Litigation 25/1

Son Of Raj 28/1

Zeus 28/1

Bingwa 35/1

Aragosta 50/1

Meridius 50/1

Shoemaker 50/1

East Coast 66/1

Royal Victory 80/1

Second Base 100/1

Lady Of Power 300/1

4Racing Thrilled With The Fields For Summer Cup Meeting

4Racing

With the publication of the final fields for 2023 Betway Summer Cup Day, the countdown to the Highveld’s marquee race day is under way in earnest.

4Racing’s Head of Racing Operations, Gabriel Soma, commented, “Our team, our sponsors, our partners and all our stakeholders have worked hard to put this year’s event together and we are delighted to have a full field of 20 acceptors for the Gr1 Betway Summer Cup, including no less than 8 individual Gr1 winners. R5 million is serious prize money and we have a serious field of horses and riders lined up to ensure it will be a thoroughly competitive event.”

“The quality of the card is further underlined by the likes of Sandringham Summit taking his place in the Gr2 Jonsson Workwear Dingaans and Main Defender lining up in the Gr3 New Turf Carriers Merchants, promising a really high calibre day’s racing.”

However, the growing confidence in the Highveld Season is most clearly endorsed by the overall number of declarations. “We have received a total of 147 declarations for the 10 race card, averaging out at a very healthy 14.7 runners per race. We are really excited about that,” he continued. “The card opener, the Betway Summer Cup Maiden Juvenile Plate, has attracted 19 declarations. It could potentially be a record, but I cannot remember when last the first juvenile race of the season has had this kind of field size. A very sincere thanks to our owners. We appreciate your ongoing positivity and support.”

“We cannot put on race days like these without the support of sponsors like Betway and Jonsson Workwear, who have done so much not only to increase stakes and incentives, but more importantly, to help inject energy and enthusiasm into our Highveld season. We would also like to thank New Turf Carriers as well as SAA and Joburg Tourism for also partnering with us and we are looking forward to a great day’s racing.”

Sandringham Is Meeting Banker As Main Defender Defects

Sandringham Summit (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

Turf Talk

The conections of the Gr 3 Betway Graham Beck Stakes winner Main Defender said last week they would unlikely run the latter in the Gr 2 Jonsson Workwear Dingaans having drawn 20. They have duly defected to the Gr 2 New Turf Carriers Merchants over 1160m.

Sandringham Summit, narrowly defeated by Main Defender in the Graham Beck albeit when giving the latter 1kg, has ended with draw 9 of 12 in the Dingaans over 1600m, but that should not stop him.

All eyes were on Main Defender and Sandringham Summit in the Graham Beck as they fought out a thrilling finish.

However, a look at the replays shows Gimmeanotherchance producing a highly impressive burst of speed which would have won him most races.

So one stops and thinks perhaps he can give Sandringham Summit a go in the Dingaans.

But then one remembers that he received 3kg in the Graham Beck.

He will thus be 3kg worse off in the Dingaans despite having been beaten by 3,25 lengths.

Such an impressive specimen and racer, yet he has to find 6kg improvement.

One then wonders just how g0od Sandringham Summit is?

He was beaten a shorthead by Main Defender, but was giving him 1kg, and in the Gr 1 World Pool Moment Of The Day Champion Stakes over 1600m he had beaten Main Defender by 2,40 lengths at level weights.

Well just how good he is is summed up by respected anlyst Karel Miedema awarding him a 117 Ability Rating for his Graham Beck run. The highest he ever awarded Charles Dickens was 117, which puts it in to perspective.

It is still early days for the Gimmethegreenlight colt, but the Dingaans will be a a race to savour and Sandringham Summit will be very hard to beat.

Main Defender might be a banker too, considering the way he obliterated the field in the Gr 2 Betway Jo’Burg Spring Challenge over 1450m without seeming to come off the bit. His class might pull him through over 1160m in the Merchants.

The Gr 2 R650,000 Jonsson Workwear Dingaans field is shown below:

O Dr	N Dr	Horse	Weight	MR	No.	Trainer	Jockey
1	1	The Africa House	60	98	10	Sean Tarry	Richard Fourie
2	2	Guy Gibson	60	105	6	Roy Magner	Raymond Danielson
6	3	Royal Edition	60	89	12	Phillip Labuschagne	Luyolo Mxothwa
7	4	We Are The Logans	60	106	5	Tony Peter	Piere Strydom
9	5	Gimmeanotherchance	60	108	3	Mike de Kock	Craig Zackey
10	6	Purple Pitcher	60	112	2	Robyn Klaasen	Kabelo Matsunyane
11	7	Mexican Pete	60	100	9	Frank Robinson	Muzi Yeni
12	8	House Of Romanov	60	93	11	Tony Peter	Calvin Habib
13	9	Sandringham Summit	60	121	1	David Nieuwenhuizen	Gavin Lerena
14	10	Pure Predator	60	101	8	Fanie Bronkhorst	S’manga Khumalo
15	11	Fire ‘N Flames	60	101	7	Kobus Roux	Denis Schwarz
17	12	Sovereign State	60	106	4	Frank Robinson	Grant van Niekerk

Rascova Draws Well In Cape Fillies Guineas

Rascova wins the Gr 2 Western Cape Fillies Championship easily (Picture: Wayne Marks)

Turf Talk

The Gr 2 Western Cape Fillies Championship (WCFC) winner Rascova has drawn well for the Gr 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas in four.

The WCFC runner up Double Grand Slam has drawn in pole.

The Highveld-based champion filly Mrs Geriatrix has drawn wide in 19 out of 21 entries and the exciting Highveld-based filly Champagne Cocktail has drawn 16.

The first battle has been won with Rascova by teaching her to race less aggressively and settle, thanks to the work done on her at home by Chad Little.

This enabled Craig Zackey to take her to the front and dictate, although it was not the pre-race plan to lead.

Kotzen said, “We used to be scared to take her forward because she raced aggressively, so we always jumped and tried to tuck her in. She would then begin overracing and take three furlongs to drop the bit. On Saturday I actually asked Craig to take her forward. I didn’t expect her to lead but when I saw her in front I knew she would drop the bit because that is what she has been doing in her work. So it is a different story now.”

He said about the Guineas trip, “She is a beautiful filly and looks like a classic horse, so she actually wants a mile plus.”

Racova has been priced up by the WSB Fillies Guineas sponsor as the fourth favourite at 15/2.

The favourite is the Justin Snaith-trained Double Grand Slam, who finished strongly from midfield in the WCFC to be the 3,50 lengh runner up, and she has been priced up at 4/1.

Champagne Cocktail is 5/1 and Mrs Geriatrix is 11/2.

Mrs Geriatrix was caught wide throughout in the WCFC so a line can drawn through that run.

Double Grand Slam was closer to the back than the front in the WCFC despite having led in her previous start and jumping from draw two.

Grant van Niekerk said after the race, “They did go slow and she had to do very well to run past a few with that pace we went, so I’m really happy with the run going into the bigger races coming up.”

Rascova’s times for the successive 100m sections were 7,26 seconds; 5,60 seconds; 5,57 secs; 6,10 secs; 6,29 secs; 6,48 secs; 6,50 secs; 6,39 secs; 5,89; 5,54; 5,46; 5,56; 5,77; 5,94;

The sectional times suggest she dictated at a rate that allowed her to quicken and made her difficult to catch, but it also says something about her temperament and her class.

Champagne Cocktail has won her first two starts over 1700m and 1800m respectively by a combined margin of 12,50 lengths. In her first start out of the maidens she only faced four other opponents in a handicap, but she had to race off a 94 merit rating and faced decent sorts. To beat an older handicapper like Say Yes by five lengths second time out was a good effort.

Mike de Kock, who has a fine record in the Cape Fillies Guineas, trains her and has entered four other fillies. They include Silver Sanctuary, who is a full sister to Safe Passage and comes off a good Listed win, and Gimme A Nother, who is by Gimmethegreenlight out of De Kock’s Gr 1 winner Nother Russia. He has also entered the promising pair White Pearl and Platina Princess.

Silver Sanctuary has drawn 10 and Gimme A Nother 14.

The entries are and WSB ante-post betting is shown below:

O Dr	N Dr	Horse	Weight	MR	Trainer		Jockey
1	0	Double Grand Slam	60	104	Justin Snaith	Still To Be Declared
2	0	Cala Muretta	60	101	HWJ Crawford/M Rix	Still To Be Declared
3	3	Luna Halo	60	103	Alan Greeff		S’manga Khumalo
4	0	Rascova	60	110	Glen Kotzen	Still To Be Declared
5	0	Summer Lily	60	89	Justin Snaith	Still To Be Declared
6	0	Royals	60	103	Glen Kotzen	Still To Be Declared
7	0	Platina Princess	60	97	Mike de Kock	Still To Be Declared
8	0	Red Palace	60	93	Candice Bass-Robinson	Still To Be Declared
9	0	Betula	60	100	Stuart Pettigrew	Still To Be Declared
10	0	Silver Sanctuary	60	107	Mike de Kock	Still To Be Declared
11	0	Secret Identity	60	98	HWJ Crawford/M Rix	Still To Be Declared
12	0	Just Be Lekker	60	99	Candice Dawson	Still To Be Declared
13	0	Francine	60	98	M G Azzie/A A Azzie	Still To Be Declared
14	0	Gimme A Nother	60	92	Mike de Kock	Still To Be Declared
15	0	Beach Bomb	60	98	Candice Bass-Robinson	Still To Be Declared
16	0	Champagne Cocktail	60	102	Mike de Kock	Still To Be Declared
17	0	Trip To Maputo	60	89	Candice Bass-Robinson	Still To Be Declared
18	0	White Pearl	60	109	Mike de Kock	Still To Be Declared
19	0	Mrs Geriatrix	60	112	Sean Tarry	Still To Be Declared
20	0	Gimmethatpearl	60	88	Justin Snaith	Still To Be Declared
21	0	Distant Winter	60	108	Candice Bass-Robinson	Still To Be Declared

Double Grand Slam 4/1

Champagne Cocktail 5/1

Mrs Geriatrix 11/2

Rascova 15/2

Silver Sanctuary 8/1

White Pearl 10/1

Beach Bomb 10/1

Gimme A Nother 12/1

Distant Winter 14/1

Red Palace 14/1

Royals 18/1

Summer Lily 20/1

Just Be Lekker 22/1

Luna Halo 25/1

Platina Princess 25/1

Trip To Maputo 33/1

Betula 35/1

Secret Identity 35/1

Gimmethatpearl 40/1

Cala Muretta 66/1

Francine 66/1

Call To Unite And Passchendaele Both Have Classic Pretensions

Call To Unite (Picture: Wayne Marks)

Turf Talk

The coincidence of a son of Siren’s Call and a daughter of Pine Princess winning successive 1800m maiden races at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Tuesday was commented on in yesterday’s newsletter.

However, speaking to the yards today both Call To Unite and Passchendaele are held in high regard and look to have classic race pretensions.

Jonathan Snaith said about three-year-old Vercingetorix gelding Call To Unite, who won his 1800m maiden on Tuesday by 3,25 lengths easing up, “He’s a horse Justin has always rated from day one. He’s bred to get a trip and his aim this Summer is the Gr1 Cape Derby if he comes through his prep in the Gr3 Politician Stakes four weeks earlier. If he steps up to the level that is expected of him, then he’ll have an exciting summer. He’s got plenty of scope and could be anything.”

Call To Unite was bred by Drakenstein Stud and is owned by Nick Jonsson.

The Glen Kotzen-trained Querari filly Passchendaele, who is a daughter of Pine Princess, achieved her win in a time 0,80 sec0nds quicker than Call To Unite (both were carring 57kg) and won by 2,50 lengths.

She is already stakes placed having finisheed third to Beach Bomb in the Listed WSB Irridescence Stakes over 1500m in July and she was also a good fifth recently in the Cape Racing Sales Ready To Run Stakes over the probably too sharp 1400m.

Kotzen, asked whether Passchendaele would have the Gr 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes on her program, replied, “She should have won sometime ago, she has been a touch unlucky. She is a very smart filly, especially now that she is going over a trip. Her mother won a Gr 1 over a trip (SA Oaks was a Gr 1 in 2015, where she touched off Siren’s Call and denied her the Triple Tiara).”

He continued, “If we can qualify her for the Paddock Stakes in time … but otherwise we will wait and take her to Durban. You don’t want to push them into the big races, they have to pull themselves in to them.”

He concluded by saying she was a “gorgeous filly” and he believed she had a lot of class.

Passchendaele was bred by Maine Chance and Coolmore Partnership and is owned by Maine Chance Farms.

Call To Unite and Passchendaele are two to watch for the rest of the season.

High hopes for Pettigrew

Picture: Duenna is selected to win race seven

Jack Milner (Tab4Racing)

In what is typical midweek card at the Vaal on Thursday, bettors could find themselves being challenged but it could turn out to be a good meeting for trainer Stuart Pettigrew.

The Randjesfontein-based trainer has three runners carded at this meeting on the Classic track and it would come as no surprise were he to bag a clean sweep with his trio. Clearly the bookmakers see it as a possibility as all three have been priced up as the favourite in their respective races.

First up is Twenty Drachma’s in Race 2, a Maiden Plate over 2000m, and on paper, he is the horse to beat.

Based on merit ratings the three-year-old son of Danon Platina is at least 2.5kg better weighted than any of his opponents. After a very poor first outing, he was given a rest and has steadily been improving with each run since.

Although going off at 50-1 last time over 1600m, he ran on steadily to finish a neck behind Jury’s Out. He appears to be crying out for a little more distance and if that is the case, he will be hard to stop over this 2000m.

Based on average merit ratings, he is taking a drop in class on this occasion as well. Philasande Mxoli has ridden him in his last three starts and should get his reward for that hard work on this occasion.

Next up for Pettigrew is Duenna in Race 7, a MR 68 Handicap over 1450m. This lightly raced three-year-old filly has only raced seven times for a win and four places, and she will be taking on the boys for the first time.

However, this does not appear to be the strongest of races and Pettigrew may have found the ideal vehicle for the daughter of Fire Away.

Despite having to give weight to some older runners, Duenna does look to be the runner with the most scope for improvement and as such, should have the ability to notch up her second career win.

Calvin Habib has been aboard for her last two runs, and he will take the ride once again. She is also well enough drawn in barrier No 5.

Pettigrew’s runner in Race 9 is probably the most interesting of the lot because she could be anything. Sweet Basil made her debut in May as a two-year-old in open company over 1400m up the Vaal straight and showed a lot of guts to get up and beat Count Your Chances by 0.10 lengths.

This daughter of Flower Alley comes up in the MR 68 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1450m and once again, it is not a particularly strong field. We will know a lot more about her after this match because not only does she have to come back from a 175-day break but also will need to overcome No 12 draw.

Habib takes this ride as well.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 3 Breath Of Magic, 5 Judgement Day, 9 Well Loved, 10 Lady Greensleeves

Race 2: 2 Twenty Drachma’s, 1 Exhale, 3 District Twelve, 6 Karoo Gold

Race 3: 3 Little Prince, 4 Viva Brazil, 2 Romeo’s Magic, 1 Kambulu

Race 4: 2 Flying Bull, 3 Battleground, 5 Mambo Come Tesio, 6 Rule Book

Race 5: 1 Tsar Bomba, 2 Silver Tudor, 4 Richard The First, 7 One Fell Swoop

Race 6: 4 Princeofgreen, 2 Chocolate Bomb, 1 Esquevelle, 7 Kalahari Blue

Race 7: 3 Duenna, 5 Parker Getrix, 1 Coming In Hot, 6 Godfather

Race 8: 6 Free Movement, 4 Captain Of Grit, 1 Funky Music, 5 Mo The Man

Race 9: 2 Sweet Basil, 5 Count Your Chances, 7 Run For Isla, 4 Si Veloce

BEST BET

Race 7 No 3 Duenna

VALUE BET

Race 6 No 4 Princeofgreen

BEST SWINGER

Race 2 1×2

BIPOT

R288

Leg 1: 1, 2

Leg 2: 2, 3, 4

Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 5

Leg 4: 1, 2, 4

Leg 5: 1, 2, 4, 7

Leg 6: 3

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R324

Leg 1: 3, 4

Leg 2: 1, 2, 3

Leg 3: 1, 2

Leg 4: 1, 2, 4

Leg 5: 3

Leg 6: 1, 4, 6

Leg 7: 2, 5, 7

PICK 6

R1800

Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6

Leg 2: 1, 2, 4

Leg 3: 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8

Leg 4: 3

Leg 5: 1, 4, 5, 6

Leg 6: 2, 3, 4, 5, 7

JACKPOT 1

R120

Leg 1: 1, 2, 4, 5, 7

Leg 2: 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8

Leg 3: 3

Leg 4: 1, 4, 5, 6

JACKPOT 2

R120

Leg 1: 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8

Leg 2: 3

Leg 3: 1, 4, 5, 6

Leg 4: 2, 3, 4, 5, 7

Venniker/Roberts Double, Puller And Moodley Doubles

The Dennis Bosch-trained Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein Stud-bred Ideal World gelding Diani provides Serino Moodley with the first leg of a double (Picture: Candiese Lenferna).

Turf Talk

Rachel Venniker and Micheal Roberts combined for a double on the Hollywoodbets Greyville turf on Wednesday and Garth Puller and Serino Moodley had individual doubles.

Venniker goes to 13 wins for the season at a strike rate of 6.07%.

Roberts goes to nine wins for the season at 7.20%.

Moodley is on 27 wins at 15.17%.

Puller is on 11 wins at 6.29%

One notable happening at the meeting was that former jockeys who are now trainers won seven races in succession from race two to eight, MJ Odendaal, Garth Puller, Michael Roberts, Garth Puller, Michael Roberts, Dennis Bosch, Carl Hewitson.