Cup Day delivers on its promise
THE Sean Tarry stable’s form did not give punters much confidence leading into the R2-million Gauteng Sansui Summer Cup but he is not champion trainer for nothing and the affable Randjesfontein handler bounced back into prominence when Liege won the big race.
The entire race meeting was postponed for a day from Saturday due to incessant rain the morning of the race meeting, which made the track unsafe for horses and jockeys.
With a full day’s entertainment lined up off the track, the occasion was still well attended and those who braved the weather seemed to have a wonderful afternoon. Few trainers were that concerned about the delay and the race meeting went off without a hitch on a sunny, well-attended Sunday meeting.
Liege, ridden by Raymond Danielson, started at 16-1 and beat Fort Ember with Coral Fever third and favourite Pagoda fourth. Early favourite Orchid Island finished sixth.
Danielson said: “I’ve never ridden Liege in a race although I have worked him once or twice at home. He didn’t feel at home like he did today. He felt very well - I feel I rode the best horse in the race.
“Liege was cruising at the 400m. When I sent him I felt I might have gone a little early and I didn’t expect him to kick like that. I really like him as a horse. He’s not the nicest ride in the parade but at the start and in the race he was a true gentleman.”
Tarry, scoring his second Summer Cup win after Aslan in 2009, said: “Thank goodness everything’s come together for today.”
Liege is owned in partnership by businessmen Chris van Niekerk and Markus Jooste.
A quick-fire raid on the Highveld paid off handsomely for trainer Alistair Gordon and Monks Hood, who flew from third last entering the straight to win the R500 000 Investec Dinaans (Grade 2) over 1 600m.
Gordon said afterwards: “We were planning to take him to Cape Town to contest the Selangor and the Cape Guineas, but we had a setback with him and he wasn’t going to be ready in time.
“Everybody kept telling me the Cape three-year-olds are very strong and suggested we come to the Dingaans. I spoke to (his owner) Mary Slack and she agreed.
“We may still have a go at the Guineas but it’ll depend on where he draws. There’s not point in travelling all the way there if you don’t get a decent draw.”
Seerite, who trainer Robbie Sage has high hopes for during the Highveld Autumn Season, was finishing fastest and failed by only a head to get the better of the winner and Anthony Delpech.
It was yet another turn-up in the mega Pick 6 because Monks Hood started at 12-1.
Favourite at 21-10 was Big Bear, who was always midfield and finished seventh, although only 2,75 lengths off the winner.