‘The People’s Race’ a grand occasion
UNIQUE BREW: HORSERACING AND BETTING ONLY PART OF AN ‘UNFORGETTABLE’ EXTRAVAGANZA OF FUN
Gauteng’s greatest race, the R2-million G-Bets Gauteng Summer Cup, will be run at Turffontein tomorrow and the stage is for a grand clash between the stables of Cup kings Mike de Kock and Geoff Woodruff. The two trainers have dominated the Summer Cup in the 19 years since the race was reintroduced in its traditional format in 1999, winning six times apiece. De Kock, of course, has three earlier Cup successes to his credit, collectively giving him an astonishing nine victories. And the cards are stacked heavily in his favour now by sheer weight of numbers. Irish-bred mare Cascapedia will lead a fivestrong De Kock army to the Cup war, while Woodruff’s battle plans rest on SA Oaks heroine Secret Potion and outsider Deo Juvente. But there’s much more to the occasion than the De Kock-Woodruff clash. The event has been remodelled to give life to its billing of the People’s Race and everybody who makes the trip to Turffontein can bank on an unforgettable experience. The new-look Cup Day marries an entertainment extravaganza before the headline event and the fun of a carnival to the heady excitement of horseracing and the chance to win a small fortune. It’s a unique brew of bands and drum majorettes, majestic thoroughbreds, celebrities, champagne and cash, mechanical rides for the kids and a choice of exclusive hospitality areas catering for everybody from families to rich VIPs. And whether you catch the action on TV in a TAB or in the flesh at the track, it’s going to be an eight-hour feast of high-quality racing. Half the 12 races are feature events and TAB betting pools will be huge, including a likely R7.5-million carryover Pick 6 pool that is creating a real stir. History may favour a De Kock or Woodruff victory, but that’s no given in a race in which the runners carry different weights to equalise their chances of winning. Cascapedia looks the part because we have probably not seen the best of her yet. Plus she has a top jockey in Gavin Lerena and an inside draw, so she can idle close and cosy if the pace is slow as seems likely. Banker her to win in the carryover TAB Quartet pool on the Cup and include as many others as you can afford for second, third and fourth. Those looking for a longshot for a TAB Place (payouts first six) should in order of preference choose from Deo Juvente, Cash Time, Social Order and Dawn Assault.