Peter adds cream to Summer Pudding

She’s all heart, she has the pedigree and will be equal to the task.

Those were the confident words of trainer Paul Peter about favourite Summer Pudding ahead of Saturday’s R1 million World Sports Betting Gauteng Summer Cup over 2 000m at Turffontein.

Summer Pudding is currently quoted at 5-2 and is unbeaten in eight starts. The four-year-old daughter of Silvano has the class to win but is drawn wide at No 18 and has to give weight to all but two of her 20-horse opposition.

“Summer Pudding is exceptionally well, her weight is spot on, her coat is bright and she has champion jockey Warren Kennedy up,” said Peter.

Last season, she won all three races – the Gauteng Fillies Guineas over 1 600m, the SA Fillies Classic over 1 800m and the SA Oaks over 2 450m – to claim the Triple Tiara. She then travelled to Durban and won the Grade 1 Woolavington 2 000 over 2 000m at Greyville.

After that, she was given a long break and returned to the track on 7 November to easily win her warm-up run. There were some suggestions she perhaps needed a harder workout ahead of the Summer Cup.

But Peter does not agree. “She was close to her peak at the time and that run, and few runs on the track, have just brought her on. I didn’t want a tough race for her and was glad she didn’t get bumped around.

“We had a short workout on the grass [on Tuesday] and after her workout she was bucking at the pull-up, which is a good thing, and had a good roll in the sand.”

This will be the first time Summer Pudding will be taking on the colts but that does not perturb Peter. “She’s a big, strong fi lly, so that should not trouble her. The bad draw and the weight are against her, but I don’t believe this is the strongest of Summer Cup fields.

“She was a late foal. In fact, she only turned four last Saturday and she is only starting to mature now. But her work is outstanding and she has really blossomed.

“She is the ‘people’s horse’ and we need to run her in this race.”

Peter has two other horses in the race – Astrix and Riverstown. While he feels Riverstown will have a lot to do from her wide draw and is uncertain to stay 2 000m, Peter said he was very happy with Astrix, who will be ridden by Piere Strydom.

The bad draw and the weight are against her, but I don’t believe this is the strongest of Summer Cup fields.

Paul Peter Trainer