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 |
