Summit tops quality line-up
PURPLE PITCHER AND GIMMEANOTHERCHANCE ALSO STANDOUTS
Master trainer Mike de Kock sends army of fillies out to do battle.
There’s no Main Defender – but plenty of front-line attackers – in the final field for the TAB Gauteng Guineas at Turffontein tomorrow. A popular view has it that the Highveld’s three-year-old crop is generally superior to those in other centres and racing fans will be treated to most of the best of them in the Grade 2 1 600m first leg of the Triple Crown series.
Juvenile Grade 1 winner Sandringham Summit, from David Nieuwenhuizen’s Turffontein yard, heads the list – and tops the early betting at 13/10.
The recent Dingaans first and second, Purple Pitcher and Gimmeanotherchance, who relegated an unlucky Sandringham Summit to third, are also standouts in the 11-horse line-up.
Some relatively unexposed and unpolished diamonds add intrigue – the likes of Mondial, William Iron Arm, Navajo Nation and Storm Brasco, who could all be fast improvers as they mature.
An iffy provisional draw of 12 probably came into trainer Tony Peter’s decision to scratch his star, Main Defender, at the final declaration stage this week. The six-time winner has only once gone as far as 1 600m, when he suffered his sole defeat – at the hands of Sandringham Summit – making the draw a factor.
But Peter will saddle William Iron Arm, a new arrival in his stable courtesy of the ambitious Playgate syndicate. This beautifully bred colt, who has won two from three but has not raced for 221 days, emerged in the betting as 4/1 second favourite – reflecting heavy insider support.
Sean Tarry’s Storm Brasco, who was barred from travelling to Cape Town for the well-endowed Gold Rush last week due to a horse sickness alert, will clearly be well tuned. Title-chasing jockey Richard Fourie has chosen him over The Africa House. Master trainer Mike de Kock sends out current 7/1 shot Gimmeanotherchance, but it is the companion piece on the day, the Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas, he is more likely to win. There, he has five runners likely to dominate punters’ thoughts.
The unbeaten Gimme A Nother faces challenges from Silver Sanctuary, Champagne Cocktail and White Pearl.
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Tarry’s Storm Brasco will be well tuned