Summer with cherries on top
ABILITY: SUMMER PUDDING HAS THE CLASS TO OVERCOME THE SUMMER CUP OBSTACLES
Cornish Pomodoro looks primed to follow her home.
The dam of Summer Pudding is Cherry On The Cake, and how true would that be for her connections if she were to win tomorrow’s R1-million World Sports Betting Summer Cup over 2000m at Turffontein.
The daughter of Silvano has done everything asked of her, winning eight out of eight races, but she will face her toughest challenge when she lines up for this Grade 1 race.
If you had to weigh up her prospects, on the debit side will be that she jumps from No 18 draw, takes on the colts for the first time, has to give weight to 17 of the 20 runners and has only had one comeback run.
On the credit side is that she comes from an in-form stable, will be ridden by the current champion jockey and has matured as she has got older. However, and most relevantly, she has the one thing that swings the pendulum firmly in her favour – pure class!
It won’t be easy, but champions know how to win and this daughter of Silvano is a proven champion.
Trainer Paul Peter exudes positivity. “I was very happy with her comeback run. I just wanted a comfortable run from her. She was close to her peak and that run, and few runs on the track, brought her on. I’m glad she didn’t get bumped around.”
Kennedy could not contain his excitement after that race, claiming she showed none of her previous quirks. There were no flat spots, she was happy to sit up with the pace and she did not wait for company when she hit the front.
“She’s showing that in her work,” added Peter. “She’s running away from horses. I feel she is just maturing now. She has really blossomed nicely.”
Sean Tarry will be chasing his fourth successive Summer Cup and his fi fth overall, and he has five runners to fight his cause. The horse who appeals most is Cornish Pomodoro, who comes in with a light weight and will be ridden by Lyle Hewitson.
The son of Pomodoro was always highly regarded but he did disappoint in the Derby Trial and, to an extent, in the Grade 1 SA Derby. He was gelded and came back to run out a very impressive winner, beating Imperial Master by four lengths.
Third was Pack Leader, who ran an amazing race to get beaten 4.05 lengths, especially as he was taken out badly shortly after the start and had to come from way back. Cornish Pomodoro did disappoint in the Charity Mile but it could have been his second run after a layoff that had negative effects. Hewitson did say prior to the race the Summer Cup was his mission. The money has poured on and he is now trading at 17-2 with some bookmakers.
Pack Leader has been the boom horse. Alec Laird’s charge is well weighted and has a good draw, but two questions remain
unanswered. Firstly, how will he handle the wet if it rains, because the forecasts claim there is a 70% chance of showers today.
Secondly, he has yet to prove he sees out a true-run 2000m and that could be his downfall, as a
horse needs staying power over this track and trip.
The other runner to include in Quartets are Victory Moon Stakes first and second, Christopher Robin and Astrix, as well as Mike de Kock-trained Charles, who has often let the side down on the big occasions but appears to have had the perfect preparation.