Picture: The Ultimate King could bounce back at Turffontein. (JC Photos).
Aspirations of a berth in the R6-million Betway Summer Cup sees a number of horses on the cusp hoping to book their places in the Grade 1 race over 2000m at Turffontein on Saturday 29 November.
A few of them will be in action at Turffontein on Thursday when the eight-race card will be run on the Inside track, writes JACK MILNER.
One of the most interesting contests comes up in Race 4, a MR 95 Handicap over 2000m, where three of those hopefuls – The Ultimate King, Pumpkin Pie and Infinite Wonder – will attempt to get their merit ratings up to an acceptable level and also indicate to the team making the final selection that they are in form and worthy of consideration.
Infinite Wonder is probably the least likely to book a place in the big race as he has been out of form and his merit rating has been moving in the wrong direction.
The other two, however, hold outside chances of claiming a place but even if they did win this race, they will still need to prove themselves in races like the Grade 3 Betway Victory Moon Stakes on 9 November.
The Ultimate King, trained by Tony Peter and to be partnered by Gavin Lerena, is a proven specialist over the distance. The four-year-old son of Vercingetorix has thrived since being gelded, stringing together three consecutive wins – the last of those over this very course and distance – before narrowly failing to extend that streak when conceding 2.5kg to the winner in a similar MR 95 Handicap.
His subsequent fifth over 1800m at the Vaal can be forgiven, given the penalty and change of rider. With Lerena back in the saddle and a return to his preferred 2000m, he looks to be a massive contender.
The stable is in top form as they have indicated with victories by the likes of The Equator, Buffalo Storm Cody and Rachel Wall over the past few days.
Candice Dawson also has her yard in top form and she will send out lightly raced Pumpkin Pie to be ridden by Serino Moodley. The Buffalo Bill Cody gelding has shown enough promise in shorter events to suggest the step up to 2000m could bring about further improvement. He is bred for middle distances and if he sees it out strongly could make a compelling case for inclusion in the Cup line-up.
However, there are others, not entered into the Summer Cup, who need to be taken into consideration for this event, headed up by Hawkbill. This Lucky Houdalakis-trained Elusive Fort gelding finished 1.40 lengths ahead of The Ultimate King last time and they meet at the same weights.
That run puts him right into the fray, but he does have to jump from No 11 draw. Craig Zackey takes the ride.
The other contender looks to be Kudzu, a reliable handicapper, worth including in Exacta and Trifecta combinations for those chasing bigger dividends.
Earlier on the card, the James Crawford – Callan Murray combination looks poised for a flying start. Real Stunner caught the eye on his Highveld debut when a fast-finishing fifth over 1200m, and the step up to 1600m in Race 1 should see the Oratorio gelding go very close.
Stablemate Duchess Of Paloma, a Royal Mo filly who has shown steady improvement since relocating from Cape Town, appears ready to strike in Race 2 over the same trip. – 4Racing.
