Zillzaal (speed score 105) went from start to finish under Dennis Schwarz to stave off the centre run of top weight Soqrat and win the G1 Summer Cup at Turffontein. The victor was trained by Sean Tarry, who is an expert at extracting peak efforts from his charges when it counts on big days. He also saddled third placed Al Mutawakel (s/s 105), with Queen Supreme (s/s 103) rounding off the quartet.
A 28/1 longshot, Zillzaal had run around six lengths of Hawwaam at level weights over this course and distance in May, which, with the perfect vision of hindsight, should have entitled him to more respect carrying just 52kg’s in the Summer Cup, and getting 8kg’s from Mike de Kock’s star performer, Soqrat.
Punters are often put off by a tame recent run, and difficult draws. Zillzaal’s ordinary last start saw him clock in ten lengths off Barahin, and the Silvano gelding was drawn wide (15) in the Cup. I suppose the lesson to be learnt is that outsiders always have chinks in their past performances and bettors should perhaps be more forgiving of those lapses if they want to find big priced winners.
Earlier, Shango woke up markedly to win the G2 Dingaans for Tarry. There are so many statistical angles in racing – e.g. second time blinkers is one that shows a better chance of improvement than the conventional wisdom of a first time blinkers strike, though it was hard to anticipate Shango waking up to the extent that he did in suddenly running an outstanding speed figure of 106.
Frosted Gold (s/s 101), who beat him by six lengths a month ago was left trailing 2.75 lengths in his wake this time. The game is seldom static and anybody trying to make money punting needs to be able to almost mystically anticipate improvement and decline in thoroughbred performance.
True To Life (s/s 102) tried further as a young filly but her prowess seems best expressed over sprints. The Duke of Marmalade filly trounced her rivals in the G3 Magnolia Handicap. JJ van Vuuren was the successful conditioner.
Mardi Gras (s/s 105) returned after 189 days off track and a stable change to hammer the opposition in the G2 Merchants. The grey son of Oratorio has now won seven of 16 starts and is a potent speedball when in fine physical condition. In case you’re wondering – the winning trainer was Sean Tarry!
In the last of the Graded races held in Johannesburg, Ronnie’s Candy (s/s 103) took out the Ipi Tombe Challenge. Bred, owned and trained by SJ Gray this King of Kings filly regularly runs figs of around 102 – 103 despite a history of coughing/bleeding, and got her due reward on Saturday evening.