Field for Summer Cup
THERE will be quite a few jockeys on diet over the next 10 days in order to make the weight for their rides in the R2-million G-Bets Gauteng Summer Cup at Turffontein on Saturday December 1.
The final field for the Grade 1 race over 2 000m on the Standside track was released yesterday although the draw for barrier positions will only be made at a function tonight.
With Coral Fever allotted top weight of 60kg, the maximum allowed in a Grade 1 handicap race, that forced the weights at the bottom of the scale to be concertinaed and as a result, eight of the 19 runners will be racing under sufferance.
Cascapedia, one of five runners from the Mike de Kock yard, is the second highest weighted runner and this Irish-bred filly is carded to carry 54.5kg. The bottom of the scale is 52kg.
As expected, De Kock pulled out Buffalo Bill Cody who will be aimed at the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate but still has Cascapedia, Takingthepeace, Noble Secret, Like A Panther and Kilrain. The latter was not on the original list of horses who were certain to get in but the late scratching of six horses left 19 standing and that suited Kilrain.
Gavin Lerena will ride Cascapedia, Warren Kennedy will retain the ride on Takingthepeace who he rode in the Victory Moon Stakes last week, Randall Simons is on Noble Secret, Craig Zackey on Like A Panther, while apprentice Diego de Gouveia is aboard Kilrain.
Sean Tarry has three runners left in the race – Tilbury Fort, Social Order and last year’s winner, Liege. Tarry has put champion jockey Lyle Hewitson on Tilbury Fort and has announced S’manga Khumalo for Social Order and Raymond Danielson to reprise his ride on Liege.
However, as far as the last two are concerned, Tarry has said the jockeys will only be confirmed after the draws are announced tonight.
Geoff Woodruff dominated this race for four years, winning it in 2013 (Yorker), 2014 (Louis The King, 2015 (Master Sabina) and 2016 (Master Sabina).
Last year the best he could do was finish fourth on Pagoda but this year he has an interesting runner in SA Oaks winner Secret Potion. She surprised Cascapedia at Turffontein last Thursday night and they will meet on the same weight differential in the Summer Cup.
Both will be better over the extra distance so there should be little to choose between the pair.
Dean Kannemeyer has Gold Cup winner It’s My Turn in the line-up and Anton Marcus will have to get down to 54kg to ride him.
He has not raced at Turffontein but is sure to love the galloping course with the long straight.