Woodruff can make Cup history
GEOFF WOODRUFF believes he has a shout in the Sansui Summer Cup, although he was loath to separate his three runners, Pagoda, Master Switch and Banner Hill. He added, “A lot will depend on the draws. A good draw is a good draw in any man’s language.”
Woodruff will be attempting to create South African training history on November 25 at Turffontein Standside by winning one of the country’s three major races for the fifth time in succession.
The three “majors” are considered to be the Vodacom Durban July, the Sun Met and the Sansui Summer Cup.
Woodruff ’s four Summer Cups in a row equalled the feat of trainer Fred Murray’s four successive Julys from 1910-1913 and trainer Mike Bass’s four successive Mets from 2007 to 2010.
Woodruff has not only dominated the Summer Cup’s winner’s box in the last four years, but also the placings.
He sent out the first, second, third and fifth in 2013, the first and second in 2014, the first and second in 2015 and the first and third last year.
Bi Pot
Woodruff was disappointed the filly Bi Pot didn’t make it into the final field on Tuesday, considering her good recent Graded race form.
However, he was not going to dwell on it and added, “It’s a competitive, open race and I think we have a good team.”
He continued, “All three of our runners ran good thirds in their preparation races.
“Master Switch’s was the most eye catching of the runs and it is nice to have Piere Strydom on him again. Pagoda is course and distance suited and has a light weight. I really liked Banner Hill’s last run.
“He got so close to Abashiri and will now be better off in the handicap. He has also been putting up super work at home. Of the three his work has been the best.
“However, Pagoda and Master Switch have never been great work horses, but they do bring it to the races.”
Woodruff knew Pagoda would come in with a light weight (52,5kg) so spoke to JP van der Merwe a “long time ago”.
The lightweight rider “confirmed well ahead of time” and will be hoping to add a Summer Cup to his Met win on Smart Call last year.
Woodruff said, “JP can go in confidently as he now knows how Pagoda behaves. You have to niggle away at him in the early stages, but he produces a good finish. If he can come from midfield with that light weight he must have a shout. This is the course and distance of his best career performance, which came in the Derby Trial.
“He thrashed them that day. But a good draw is important for him. He might battle if he doesn’t get a good draw.”
Master Switch
Woodruff was also hoping for good draws for Master Switch and Banner Hill, but said it would not be as important as they both possessed good gate speed.
He said, “Master Switch came from draw 17 of 19 last year, but some use of him had to be made early and he was only caught late by Master Sabina and The Conglomerate. From a better draw.”
Master Switch races off exactly the same merit rating as last year of 101 and carries 54kg as opposed to 53,5kg.
Woodruff said this horse’s poor form at Greyville could be ignored as he did not like the course and the slow pace of the races he had encountered there had not suited him.
He added, “There is normally a decent pace in the Summer Cup.”
The six-year-old Jet Master gelding has finished third in all three of his starts on Turffontein Standside.
Last time out he was running on powerfully in the Grade 3 Victory Moon Stakes over 1 800m.
Woodruff is also happy with Banner Hill’s jockey booking.
He regards Grant van Niekerk as “a good rider in big races”.
Pagoda, a four-year-old gelding by Mogok, was the Grade 1 SA Derby runner up and races off a 99 merit rating, while five-year-old Tiger Hill gelding Banner Hill is also off a 99 and carries 53kg.
Betting World quote Pagoda at 10-1 and have both Master Switch and Banner Hill on 14-1.
Woodruff has not spared any thought for records and said, “The odds are against us numerically.”
However, he did not feel his runners this year would be any weaker than in previous years.
“The Guv’nor” could well be rewriting the history books in two Saturdays time. The barrier draw for the Summer Cup was due to be held last night at 18h00 and was to be screened live on Tellytrack.