The Equator's Got A Great Chance - Lerena
The Equator winning his second start in SA under Gavin Lerena (JC Photos)
Reigning SA Champion Jockey Gavin Lerena has a policy of never looking at the betting before races, but he did agree a win in a Pinnacle Stakes event and in a Graduation Plate would not normally justify a horse being the favourite for Johannesburg’s biggest race, which is what is currently the case with The Equator.
However, he is bullish about the imported five-year-old Galileo entire’s chances.
He said about the Tony Peter-trained horse, “I think he’s got a great chance. From the winter he has just kept on improving. He has a nice galloping weight (55kg) and I think he’s better than his rating. He has a big action and he’s a grinder, so I think the Turffontein Standside 2000m will be ideal for him. He will enjoy the soft too.”
Gavin felt the Irish-bred had brought his ever improving homework to the races in his last two starts and believes he can do so again.
He added, “I am happy with the draw (three). There does not look to be a lot of pace in the race, so I am very pleased with the draw.”
Asked on who he felt the dangers were, he replied, “Definitely Atticus Finch and On My Honour and I think King Pelles is a big runner – he stays well and he has a good turn of foot.”
He added, “If Spumante Dolce came back to her best form she would be a runner, but not on her last two starts.”
Gavin has won the Summer Cup three times before , on the St. John Gray-trained mare Dancewiththedevil in 2011 and twice on the Geoff Woodruff-trained Master Sabina in 2015 and 2016.
He also has a fine chance in Saturday’s main supporting feature, the Gr 2 Betway Dingaans over 1600m on the Sean Tarry-trained Tin Pan Alley, who will be out to exact revenge on Jan Van Goyen, who beat him in the Gr 1 World Pool Moment Of The Day Champion Stakes over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on the last weekend of last season.
Jan Van Goyen has not run since then, while Tin Pan Alley has beaten older horses in the Gr 2 Betway Joburg Spring Challenge over 1450m and won the Gr 3 Betway Graham Beck Stakes over 1400m.
Gavin said, “Obviously Jan van Goyen is comming off a break, but he’s a very good horse. But Tin Pan Alley has done nothing wrong. It’s his third run now after a rest. I think it was a great win last time as he had to give the field 2kg and it was just after a downpour. Being drawn 12 on the Turffontein Standside 1400m course is very difficult, but he did it from that draw. Since his gelding (after last season) he has done so well.”
He said about some of his other rides, “I think Rachel Wall is up against it, it’s not going to be easy for her, but she’s also a filly who is improving. I’m hoping Barbaresco comes back to form, he did actually give Quantum Theory 8kg and a beating back in January over this 1160m trip and he is now only giving him 3,5kg. He came from stone last that day, so if he recaptures that sort of form he has a chance.”
He revealed, “I did ask for the other one (Pretty Persuasive) in Merryweather’s race.”
However, Muzi Yeni was aboard Pretty Persuasive last time and they have stuck with him.
Gavin must have a good chance on Magic Carpet Ride in the second race.
He is not riding in any of the last three races and quipped, “I’ll be celebrating.”
If he does pull off the Summer Cup it will be a second Summer Cup win for the Peter yard with Tony’s father Paul having won it with Summer Pudding in 2020.
The owners of The Equator, Willem Ackerman and Advocate Nigel Riley, will have a lot to celebrate because they purchased him due to his stallion potential. His pedigree has improved since the purchase through his three-parts sister, the Frankel filly Lake Victoria, who has won the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf and the Irish 1000 Guineas. A Summer Cup win for The Equator will be a further boost.
Gareth van Zyl Confirms King Pelles' Has Surprised Him
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.
Ravi Padayachee Overwhelmed By Well Wishes For "KP"
Mon Petit Cherie Sounds A Warning
Mon Petit Cherie has blossomed into a classy customer and she did just enough to stave off Miss World, to whom she gave 6kg (Picture: Wayne Marks)
The James Crawford-trained Rafeef filly Mon Petit Cherie has blossomed into a classy filly, who could give Double Grand Slam something to think about this Summer.
She gave her decent contemporary Miss World 6kg in a 1200m Progress Plate at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Wednesday and Richard Fourie was able to pretty much toy with the latter.
The Ridgemont-homebred filly, who is part-owned by Devin Heffer, got up by a neck but was not given a hard time and was asked to do just enough to win.
The Gr 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes over 1800m and the Gr 1 Maine Chance Farms Majorca Stakes over 1600m could be the races where she will have a chance to exact revenge on Double Grand Slam.
The latter beat her by 0,80 lengths when winning the Gr 1 Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Hollywoodbets Durban July day.
Fourie rode a double at the Wednesday meeting to close the gap on Craig Zackey, who only had one win.
There were also doubles for Vaughan Marshall and Candice Bass.
Fourie is now on 77 wins achieved at a strike rate of 26.10% for the season.
Zackey is on 93 wins at 17.58%.
Marshall is on 24 wins at 14.72%.
Bass is on 23 wins at 10.55%.
Manyeleti Takes Her Next Step And Many Will Be Watching
Manyeleti blitzes home on debut at The Vaal (JC Photos)
The meeting scheduled for the Vaal on Thursday has been moved to the Turffontein Inside track which will have a significant impact on draw fortunes because seven races which were scheduled to be down the straight are now around the turn.
The highest rated two races at the meeting are a MR92 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1000m and a MR92 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1450m.
In the fillies and mares MR92 handicap over 1000m the exciting prospect Manyeleti has her first run since blitzing the field on debut in an excellent time. The Lucky Houdalakis-trained Danon Platina three-year-old filly has not been straight forward at all but possesses tremendous pace and the ability to kick on. She received rave comments after the race from Craig Zackey and although the connections would likely have preferred this race to have been at her home course she has at least drawn virtually ideally in four which should give her an opportunity to use her pace to get to the front. Anchorage has fine form over sprints and from draw three should make a bold bid. Alpine Jet is promising too but has a wide draw to overcome. Glastonbury had some eyecatching juvenile form but returns from a six month layoff and doesn’t have an easy merit rating of 99. Bright And Brazen could earn from pole position.
In the MR 91 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1450m the hard-knocking Francilien looked the right one but she now has a tricky draw of six out of nine. Daisy Jones ran a cracker last time against good opposition and can go close if repeating it. She now has a good draw of three. Last Car To Pass is distance suited and has a fair draw. Cape Saffron has been in fine form and sneaks into the handicap with the minimum weight but now has a tough draw. Arashi has useful form and is interesting stepped up in trip from a fair draw.
In the second leg of the Pick 6 over 1450m Grace’s Kiss won well on debut and was the tip to win this but she now has a wide draw to contend with. Opera Fan has the ability to be involved from a fair draw. Can’t Catch Me has a chance if repeating either of her last two and she has a good draw now.
In the sixth race over 1450m Hemisphere is in fine form in sprints and should get this trip, but he now has a tricky draw so will need some luck. Paul Revere is in good form and ideally distance suited, so looked set to be a big runner but he now has a tricky draw. Palace Prince also looked to have a big chance as he was not disgraced in a Gr 3 last time, but he has landed a very wide draw. Joost Droocksloot won a fair race second time out and has a chance from a good draw. After Hours can never be ignored over this trip and he has a plum draw.
In the eighth over 1000m Vannakan will make a bold bid from a plum draw as he went close after his maiden win and he performed against some good sorts as a juvenile. Victory In Orleans looked to have a chance but now has a wide draw. Queensland should be a runner from pole position.
In the last race His Lordship has good form and looked the one to beat but he now has a wide draw. One Tiger ran a good second last time and can go close with a repeat from a fair draw. Tiger Storm can earn if repeating his last start and he has landed a plum draw.
In the first leg of the Bipot Naretoi had some fair Cape Town form and made a fair Highveld debut so looks the one to beat from a good draw.
In the first leg of the PA Blood Of Eden looked the one but now has a wide draw and Into Dancing could now be the one to side with.
In the first race over 1200m Lilac Snow looked the one but now has a wide draw. Emerald Forge and Pleiades Star now look to have chances.
Weighted To Win Summer Cup Panel Discussion
Left to right: Anton Marcus, Sean Tarry, Jonathan Blumberg, Mike de Kock, Darryl Maree and Clyde Basel discuss the Betway Summer Cup in the new Weighted To Win studio (picture via youtube)
“Darryl and Clyde” need no introduction as hosts of the country’s most popular tipping show and this week they have even managed to bring the great Anton Marcus into the public eye for a rare appearance and hopefully it will set a precedent.
Darryl Maree and Clyde Basel hosted Mike de Kock, Sean Tarry, Anton Marcus and Betway’s Jonathan Blumberg in the Betway Summer Cup panel discussion this week and it is well worth watching.
Agony For Ferraris As IJC Berth Snatched From His Grasp
All Cash, paying HK$26 on the Tote, gives Hugh Bowman a last gasp IJC berth and his rival for the berth, Luke Ferraris, is second on the second favourite Fortune Star. Ferraris had one more chance in the last race race but he was unplaced on a 10/1 shot, albeit just 0,75 lengths behind the winner (Picture: HKJC)
Luke Farraris said about two week ago, “I’ve been chasing the IJC since I’ve been here but I’ve always just fallen short. Now that they’ve reduced it to two spots I’m in the same position again. I’m sitting second and I’ve got Bowman breathing down my neck. I’ll do what I can to get in and hopefully it’s good enough, but I’ll be pretty disappointed if it’s not. We’ll give it our best.”
However, there was more disappointment because this time he not only lost out on a count out but Hugh Bowman also earned the berth in scarcely believable last gasp fashion.
Ferraris went in to today’s Happy Valley meeting lying in second place on the Hong Kong Jockeys log and staying there would have secured him a berth in the IJC, because the log leader Zac Purton had already qualified as Champion Jockey.
However, he was only one win ahead of Hugh Bowman and the other crucial statistic was Bowman had acccumulated way more second place finishes than him.
Therefore, Luke was going to have to stay one ahead.
Ferraris had four rides to Bowman’s five.
Luke would have breathed a sigh of relief when Bowman’s late swoop on the 25/1 outsider Flow Water Flow failed by a whisker to earn him a valuable win in Race 3.
Ferraris had finished unplaced on an outsider in the first race, while Bowman finished third, beaten just half-a-length, when running on late on a fancied horse in the second race.
Bowman was on another fancied horse in the fourth race, Denfield who was paying 4.20 on the Tote, while Ferraris was on Fatal Blow, who was paying 7.10.
Luke entered the straight in second place one out and one back on the back of a strong pace and he led at the 100m mark.
However, Bowman and Denfield burst through the centre and looked to have won it until Everstar flashed up late to snatch it from him.
When Bowman finished unplaced on the favourite Hakka Radiance in the fifth race, his chances of an IJC berth looked forlorn as his only remaining ride was in the seventh race where his mount All Cash was a 25/1 shot, while Ferraris was on the second favourite Fortune Star in that race and he also had one more ride after that in the last race.
However, world class sportsman have the habit of pulling something out of the hat when least expected and that is exactly what Bowman did.
Bowman pinged the gate from draw seven on the grey All Cash in the 1650m Class 4 event and found a handy position one out in fourth place, while Ferraris had dropped out from draw nine and was on the rail near the back.
The pace was slow and All Cash turned it on best of all in the sprint for home.
Ferraris managed to burst through late towards the outside on Fortune Star, but he was a neck shy at the line.
It must have been a heartbreaking moment and a classic case of so near and yet so far.
Vincent Ho, a previous winner of the IJC, earned the berth for the leading homegrown jockey after scoring a double at the meeting.
Today's Question
FIELDS, Thursday, 27 November
Today’s Question Answer
Picture: The George Azzie-trained Elevation won the Gr 1 Holiday Inns (Summer Cup) three times in succession from 1972 to 1974.
Elevation became the second SA-bred after the 1918-born Dignitary to be crowned South Africa’s Champion Sire.
The late passionate racing guru Jay August compiled the following article about Elevation in southafricanracehorse.wordpress.com, which he extracted from an article by Alan Breck which appeared in the 1976 South African Racehorse (July 1976).
Elevation
It may sound strange to say of a horse that garnered over R240 000 in stake monies that Elevation was, in some respects, an unlucky performer. Some of the several photo-finishes in which he was the loser could just have easily have gone in his favour, while it is generally accepted that he was denied full opportunity in both the Rothman’s July Handicap and Metropolitan Handicap won by Yataghan in 1973 and 1974. But, be that as it may, the fact remains that the reputation of Elevation is based mainly on his three successive victories in the valuable Holiday Inns races at Turffontein in December of each year.
Without that achievement (also accomplished, but for far less monetary reward, by Java in 1956-7 and 8) Elevation would not be a subject for this discussion. Although he was seen in action in all three of the main centres, and victorious over such diverse distances as 1000 metres at Germiston and 2400 metres at Turffontein, Elevation was almost essentially a Turffontein star. His best performance, in what was to prove his penultimate appearance, was at Turffontein on 14th December, 1974.
With the conditions of the Holiday Inns changed in a manner which pointed the intention to prevent Yataghan from adding this prize to his “July” and “Met” trophies and the completion of the “hat-trick” in this particular prize by Elevation, the son of High Veldt delighted his admirers by defying his impost in a comparatively easy victory. Set to carry 60.5kgs in a field of eighteen (Yataghan had one kilo more in the saddle but finished with only three behind him) and set to allow 9.5kgs to Sledgehammer (favourite at 5/2); 11.5kgs to the imported filly Queen of All; 7.5kgs to the subsequent Clairwood Winter Handicap winner Sabre, and 9 kgs to Numerator, who later won the Durban Gold Cup, Elevation literally toyed with the opposition to win conclusively.
It was, unquestionably, a very fine effort by any standard, and I remember pondering at the time if even Sea Cottage could have accomplished the mission with the same authority. It required only a swift recollection of his (Sea Cottage) cavalier treatment of that selected “star” opposition on his farewell appearance at Germiston, and that spectacular defeat of King Willow at Clairwood to cause any thought of his dethronement by Elevation, or any of the latter day stars, to fade into the background.
Hereabouts, one might be accused by some, especially the newer recruits to racing, of viewing the past through rose-tinted glasses in the rating of these thoroughbreds. This thought did occur to me and, in order to place the problem (if any) in its right perspective, who better to consult than George Azzie who had charge of Hawaii (circa 1968) and Elevation throughout their racing careers in this country?
To the question of which was the better racehorse George did not even hesitate in his award of the palm to Hawaii. Which I’m sure Syd Laird (Sea Cottage, Java Head, Colorado King, etc.) and John Breval (Tiger Fish, King Willow and Hengist) will agree accurately sums up the merits of today’s top performers with those of a decade or more ago. After that digression let it be recorded that Elevation bowed out as the winner of fourteen of his 34 races. Of the balance he was placed second on no fewer than eleven occasions (the majority in photo-finishes) and failed to reach the first four in only two of the contests.
His earnings amounted to R240865 which, in addition to the sum which accrued through his syndication for stud purposes, is a very handsome return on the R42000 which Messrs. Dennis Mosenthal and Eric Gallo paid to the estate of the late Charles Engelhard when Elevation was a relatively unraced three-year-old in April 1972.
