Quite remarkably, Summer Pudding (s/s 108) remained a perfect nine from nine when scoring a resounding win in the G1 Summer Cup over 2000m at Turffontein. Negatives such as carrying 59kg’s, starting from an 18 draw and churning through sticky ground could not scupper her bid to stay flawless.

This heroic Silvano ex Cherry on the Cake filly, who seldom wins by far yet just gets the job done each time, completed her most resounding victory, ironically under the toughest circumstances, with only Running Brave (s/s 105) getting into the same time zone.

The rest of the field were left trailing in her wake, with many underperforming terribly for a whole host of reasons, something that seems more common in distance races at altitude than elsewhere.

The three year-old Act of War filly, War of Athena (s/s 101+) looked formidable carrying only 51kg’s in the G2 Ip Tombi Challenge and indeed proved best though high class, Queen Supreme did try hard to match her whilst carrying top weight.

The Elusive Fort gelding, Catchtwentytwo (s/s 100) won the G2 Dingaans after being delivered smoothly down the centre of the course by Gavin Lerena. Hot favourite Mount Pleasant was given every chance but caved in to get badly beat out the places, as Paul Peter saddled a stable exacta with MK’s Pride up for second.

Ultra Magnus (s/s 106) proved too strong in the G3 Merchants, getting the better of a protracted struggle with Bold Ransom, who in turn succumbed late to Eden Roc’s bid for second spot. The winner, a son of Oratorio, was skillfully placed and expertly prepared by Peter Muscutt from his Summerveld base in KZN.

The Magnolia Handicap (G3) fell to Winter Smoke (s/s 100) trained by Fortune Racing. The What a Winter filly is a committed speedball and she narrowly out-dueled a valiant, Gallic Princess (s/s 98) who was conceding her 8.5 kg’s.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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