Sansui Cup hopefuls to prepare at Turffontein

SEVERAL Sansui Summer Cup hopefuls — including Berry Blaze, Chesalon, Meissa and Pierre Jourdan — will begin their preparations for the big race on December 1 with outings at Turffontein tomorrow.

Champion jockey Anton Marcus will partner a number of runners for Mike de Kock on the ninerace programme, including the Irish-bred mare Berry Blaze.

Although Berry Blaze has not been seen out since May, the fiveyear-old could still prove too smart for her nine rivals in the seventh race, the Joburg Spring Fillies and Mares Challenge, over 1,450m.

Katy’s Lane is a talented inmate from Tyrone Zackey’s stable, but she has not raced since April so her wellbeing will have to be taken on trust. However, it is a plus factor that Piere Strydom has been booked for the ride.

It is the same story with Ormond Ferraris’s mare, Hawker Hunter, so swingers coupling Berry Blaze and Demanding Lady may be the best way to bet on the race. Trainer Lucky Houdalakis has done well with the latter, who may have an advantage in fitness having run second at the Turffontein track last month.

Durban July third Chesalon has joined Michael Azzie’s stable and takes his chance in tomorrow’s main event, the Grade 3 Joburg Spring Challenge.

This former inmate of Mike Bass’s yard will find this trip too sharp and Aussie-bred colt Soweto Slew looks the one to be on. Owner Hassen Adams has sent Soweto Slew to trainer Weiho Marwing and the four-year-old could notch up the fifth win of his career by beating Snowdon and Pierre Jourdan.

From his favourable draw, Snowdon is a must for inclusion in place accumulator and jackpot perms, but it is Pierre Jourdan’s performance that will be closely scrutinised by the pundits.

De Kock saddles Link Man, who failed to shape on the sand at the Vaal last month. Anton Marcus teams up with the grey this time, so expect a better showing.

Another possible winner for the De Kock-Marcus combination is Rocco’s Luck, who is certain to start favourite in the final leg of the Pick 6. This lightly raced Aussie-bred four-year-old has the advantage of pole position in a big field of 14 runners.

Apart from Pierre Jourdan, trainer Gary Alexander will be looking to Meissa to further boost his rising reputation by beating another De Kock Aussie import, Mujaarib, in the fourth race.

With three victories from five starts, Meissa now faces his toughest test to date but could be yet another winner for Strydom.

Mujaarib arrives at the city track with a 100% record following two wins at Clairwood. The last of these was in June, so this will be the four-year-old’s first start this term.

Camelot was yesterday declared a definite starter for Sunday’s Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe in Paris, the richest race on the European calendar.

Trainer Aidan O'Brien announced that Frankie Dettori had been booked for the ride on the Investec Derby winner.