Sandringham Summit will be out to brighten his already bright star at the Big T tomorrow (Saturday) when he takes on some classy rivals in the Gr 1 TAB SA Classic (JC Photos)
Sandringham Summit and Gimme A Nother look hard to beat in the Gr 1 TAB SA Classic and Gr 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic respectively at Turffontein Standside tomorrow and it might just be their stamina capacity that stands between them and respective Triple Crown and Triple Tiara glory.
Meanwhile, Princess Calla is poised to land her sixth career Gr 1 in the wfa Gr 1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m.
The David Nieuwenhuizen-trained Sandringham is a shoe-in on paper in the SA Classic, but the 1800m trip will be new territory for him. His sire Gimmethegreenlight was ostensibly a miler, who was effective over 2000m, and his dam Townsend by Captain Al won a Gr 2 and a Gr 3 over 1400m and a Listed race over 1600m. The other Gr 1 winner Townsend has produced was the sprinter Eden Roc. However, Townsend has also produced a horse by Dynasty who has won over 2400m. Sandringham did take quite a hold early in the Gr 2 TAB Gauteng Guineas, but can be forgiven for that because he was relatively fresh after a layoff. He looks likely to stay the extra 200m, although it won’t be easy to find a nice energy-conserving position from draw ten. Whether, he can stay the SA Derby distance is another story and it must be remembered that his paternal half-brother, the Gimmethegreenlight stalwart Got The Greenlight, failed to land the Triple Crown when overtaken late in the Derby, although trainer Joe Soma reckoned that might have been more to do with his habit of idling when hitting the front than his stamina capacity.
William Iron Arm will be a threat to Sandringham Summit in the SA Classic. He is by William Longsword out of a Galileo mare and will relish the step up in trip. This long-strider has scope for further improvememt and is drawn well in five. His TAB Gauteng Guineas 3,20 length third was in fact his seasonal reappearance and also his first run for the Tony Peter yard. He is entitled to have come on from the run.
Storm Brasco’s Gauteng Guineas sixth place finish is better than it looks on paper, because he was one of the group at the back who were caught behind Mondial, who apparently couldn’t go the pace. Storm Brasco ran on very well in the straight. He is by Pathfork out of a Fort Wood mare and is drawn well in four. The blinkers have been fitted to help him get focused early because he was ending up too far back in his races. He could be the dark horse and has already been backed in from 25/1 to 14/1 with Hollywoodbets.
Barbaresco will also relish the trip being by Gimmethegreenlight out of Fort Wood mare Negroamaro, who was runner up in both the Gr 1 SA Filllies Classic and Gr 1 Woolavington 2000. He finished close to the top class Main Defender when receiving just 2kg in the Gr 3 Got The Greenlight over 1400m and followed up with an impressive victory over 1600m in a handicap.
Gimmeanotherchance was another one caught in the back group in the Guineas and he also ran on well. He was nearly caught by Storm Brasco and this is 200m further. He is out of a mare by stamina influence Judpot. She won up to 1400m but was runner up in the Gr 2 Fillies Guineas at Greyvillle and finished a 2,35 length sixth in the Gr 1 Paddock Stakes over 1800m to Bela-Bela. Gimmeanotherchance’s Gauteng Guineas run followed two front-running races when narrowly beaten in the Jonsson Workwear Dingaans and then fading out when going too fast in the Got The Greenlight. He has a lot of class, but has had quite a tough season.
KZN raider Navajo Nation also stayed on well from that back group in the Guineas and can’t be ignored.
Pure Predator caught the eye running on in the Gr 3 London News over course and distance and from draw two he could be in the shake up.
Purple Pitcher is proven over the trip and this Jonsson Workwear Dingaans winner should have come on from his Guineas fourth place finish. He produced an amazing late surge in the Dingaans to nail Gimmeanotherchance on the line. If turning up in the same shape he should be in the shake up. He is a half-sister to the speedy Miss Daisy, but also a half-sister to a horse who has won over 2400m, although the latter was by stamina influence Golden Sword. Purple Pitcher’s dam by Count du Bois only won one race over 1200m.
Hotarubi stayed on well from a handy position to finish runner up in the Guineas and his below par run over 1700m earlier might have just been a flat run rather than him not staying. Indeed, he won his maiden over 1700m from the front in comfortable fashion, so should stay 1800m, despite being out of a speedy Var mare who won five times from 1000m to 1400m, including a Listed race over 1200m.
Guy Gibson has some class and although out of a speedy Jet Master mare who won three times from 1200m to 1400m he is by middle distance horse Lancaster Bomber and he has also won over 1700m before. He can’t be ignored under Piere Strydom, although he has a tricky draw of nine.
Mondial should relish the step up in trip, but will need to step up on his Guineas performance.
Gimme A Nother should make it six out of six in the Gr 1 Wilgerbosdrif SA Fillies Classic.
Her sire Gimmethegreenlight was ostensibly a miler who was effective over middle distances, but her mother Nother Russia, who was also a good miler, did win over 1800m and her grandmother Mother Russia won the Gr 1 Paddock Stakes and a Gr 2 over 2000m, among other big race victories. So Gimme A Nother should stay the trip and should mow them down again.
Gr 1 bridesmaid Silver Sanctuary will enjoy the trip being a full sister to Safe Passage.
Bavarian Beauty, Let’s Go Now and Champagne Cocktail could make their presence felt too.
In the Horse Chestnut over 1600m the top class three-year-old Main Defender is at 6/1 with Hollywoodbets having shortened from 10/1. His recent hanging antics are a concern and he is yet to prove he stays this trip, but such is his class he should be in the shake up.
Princess Calla is the one to beat if at her best. She traveled up from Cape Town straight after her win in the Majorca last time out and Sean Tarry said she was in good shape.
Cousin Casey should be cherry ripe and will enjoy the course and distance, but he has a tough draw.
Melech is on the up and should make a bold bid.
Puerto Manzano can never be ignored at this track.
Safe Passage can’t be ignored either, but these days this is a touch sharp for him.
At My Command has proven class and is in good form and is distance suited.
Dave The King ran a cracker in his first run as a gelding and could be right there if it pans out well for him from draw ten under Piere Strydom.
Winchester Mansion has only had one run this season and might need this.
Cosmic Highway is interesting as one who placed in the Gr 1 Cape Guineas as a three-year-old.
MK’s Pride is a former winner of this race and has his first run back with the yard who trained him to that win. He will need to bounce back from some below par recent form though.
Sugar Mountain has some decent Cape Town form and can’t be ignored.
Son Of Raj will find this a bit sharp.
Back In Buiness is well regarded, but this is a big step up in class in his first try at this trip.
