Picture: Sandringham Summit’s two best career wins have been over a mile. He is pictured winning the Gr 2 TAB Gauteng Guineas (JC Photos)
Sandringham Summit will revert to a mile after failing to convert odds-on favouritism in the Gr 1 TAB SA Classic over 1800m at Turffontein Standside on Saturday and he is how on a Champions Season collision course with the horse who was once perceived to be his arch rival, Main Defender.
Susan Rowett of Varsfontein Stud, in whose colours the David Nieuwenhuizen-trained Gimmethegreenlight colt now races, said, “We had a discussion between John Freeman my brother John and Carl de Vos and we felt he didn’t quite see out that 1800m. It didn’t give us encouragement to go for the 2000m event (the Premier’s), which we would have gone for if he had won really well, so we are going to pull back and go for the mile again. We will go for the WSB Guineas, the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge and then we will see about the Champions Cup, because I think the Greyville 1800m is a bit easier than the Turffontein one.”
The Premier’s did still come under consideration, but they felt it was too close to the Champions Season if they were going to revert to the mile trip.
The connections of Main Defender announced earlier this week that his targets are also the WSB Guineas, HWB Gold Challenge and Champions Cup.
However, as far as the rivalry goes Main Defender has now gone ahead in the opinion polls and the handicappers also agree, awarding him a 131 for his superb win in the Gr 1 Wilgerbosdrift HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes, eight points clear of Sandringham Summit.
Although the rivalry has always been spoken about, they have only actually met twice, with Sandringham Summit emerging an easy 2,40 length winner in the Gr 1 World Pool Moment Of The Day Champion Stakes over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville at the end of last season and Main Defender prevailing by a short-head in the Gr 3 Betway Graham Beck Stakes over 1400m last October, albeit when receiving 1kg.
Main Defendeer has clearly improved, while Sandringham did not have any luck in the Gr 2 Jonsson Workwear Dingaans over 1600m, but then despatched a non-vintage field in the Gr 2 TAB Gauteng Guineas with ease.
It will mean three journeys down to Durban for Sandringham Summit if he does take in the Champions Cup.
Winchester Mansion proved that could be done last year, when winning the big one, the Hollywoodbets Durban July, on his third journey down from the Highveld.
Susan said Sandringham had come out of Saturday’s race well, but revealed he was cut into on his hindleg.
She said. “They did not pick up the cut, because he went straight to the specimen area, but that swelled up quite a lot.”
He must have been cut into by Guy Gibson, who had to be switched off Sandringham’s heels early on when the latter came across him.
Susan added, “But he has actually pulled up really well and is in fine fettle.”
She concluded, “He did really well in Durban last season, so he can miss a race on the Highveld and we will see him again in early May.”
Varsfontein Stud, owned by Susan in partnership with her brother John Kalmanson, bred Sandringham Summit, sold him for R1.7 million at the BSA Nationals, then repurchased him after his Dingaans run and syndicated him for stud.
However, the stallion syndication was done under the understanding that he still had a racing career ahead of him.
Susan said he was very well supported in the stud syndication and the shares went quickly.
However, it is his racing career that the public are more interested in and the pending clash between himself, Main Defender and possibly the like of Splashout Cape Derby winner Green With Envy is going to be eagerly anticipated.
