Summer Cup: Meet all the runners

The suspense and excitement of Cup Day will now play out at Turffontein on Tuesday and the 2021 edition of Joburg’s greatest horseracing event has virtually every ingredient fans of the sport adore.

The Summer Cup, presented by World Sports Betting again this year, has the leading role in a production that contains five other feature events and comprises 10 races in all.

Here, get the inside track on all the runners in the Gauteng Summer Cup:

1 GOT THE GREENLIGHT

Trainer: J Soma

Jockey: B Fayd’Herbe

Draw: 10

Twice narrowly beaten in the Durban July, this five-year-old is top drawer and will be a formidable rival at best. Genuine excuses when unplaced last but bit disappointing nonetheless.

Lifetime: 20 Runs; 8 Wins; 10 Places

Earnings: R3,410,500

2 MALMOOS

Trainer: M de Kock

Jockey: G Lerena

Draw: 1

Star colt. Won SA Triple Crown for three-year-olds last season and bids to give trainer Mike de Kock his 10^th Cup success. One run since six-month break, may not be at a peak.

Lifetime: 10 Runs; 7 Wins; 0 Places

Earnings: R1,487,100

3 WAR OF ATHENA

Trainer: Paul Matchett

Jockey: Muzi Yeni

Draw: 5

Champion filly and has won eight of 12 races at this track, including last season’s SA Triple Tiara. Won well recently after a rest and the boys will have to go to beat her.

Lifetime: 17 Runs; 10 Wins; 6 Places

Earnings: R1,851,300

4 BINGWA

Trainer: Dorrie Sham

Jockey: Chase Maujean

Draw: 18

Courageous win from poor draw in a 1600m feature at this track a month ago and had seven Cup rivals behind him. Wide draw of little account here but may not stay this 2000m.

Lifetime: 17 Runs; 4 Wins; 8 Places

Earnings: R815,850

5 AFRICAN ADVENTURE

Trainer: Joe Soma

Jockey: Julius Mariba

Draw: 3

Classy stayer. Has won two of four races over this distance, but is better over further and has first run since five lengths back in 3200m Gold Cup four months ago. Tough task.

Lifetime: 21 Runs; 6 Wins; 8 Places

Earnings: R434,750

6 SECOND BASE

Trainer: Johan Janse van Vuuren

Jockey: Raymond Danielson

Draw: 15

Strong claims on a close second to GOT THE GREENLIGHT (2.5kg worse off) in the 2000m Champions Challenge seven months ago, but has not run to that level in last three races.

Lifetime: 14 Runs; 5 Wins; 6 Places

Earnings: R764,900

7 SHANGO

Trainer: Sean Tarry

Jockey: Craig Zackey

Draw: 13

Won the Dingaans and second in the SA Derby two seasons ago. Rested after winning a feature on July Day this year and has had two prep runs since. Beware this gelding.

Lifetime: 17 Runs; 4 Wins; 7 Places

Earnings: R726,875

8 PUERTO MANZANO

Trainer: Johan Janse van Vuuren

Jockey: Keagan de Melo

Draw: 17

Promising sort and still improving, but cut little ice in a 1600m feature at this track four weeks ago. Prefer this distance but needs to raise his game quickly if he’s to shape here.

Lifetime: 8 Runs; 4 Wins; 3 Places

Earnings: R228,300         

9 ASTRIX

Trainer: Paul Peter

Jockey: Warren Kennedy

Draw: 6

From the yard of last year’s Cup winner Summer Pudding, this five-year-old is bang in form with two seconds and two thirds from his last four runs. Handy weight, do well.

Lifetime: 27 Runs; 6 Wins; 12 Places

Earnings: R715,350

10 GOLDEN PHEASANT

Trainer: Barend Botes/Yolandi Vosloo  

Jockey: Ryan Munger

Draw: 12

A win and three seconds from his last four starts and touched off by SPARKLING WATER (4kg worse off) in an 1800m feature last time. Oldest horse in the field.

Lifetime: 32 Runs; 7 Wins; 14 Places

Earnings: R616,025

11 MAJESTIC MOZART

Trainer: Ashley Fortune

Jockey: Diego De Gouveia

Draw: 11

Former Cape runner who made an impressive winning debut in Joburg in a 1600m minor race recently. No problems with this longer trip, but takes a big step up in class.

Lifetime: 33 Runs; 3 Wins; 17 Places

Earnings: R1,130,750

12 SPARKLING WATER

Trainer: Mike de Kock

Jockey: Kabelo Matsunyane

Draw: 19

Smart filly and never unplaced, last time edging out GOLDEN PHEASANT (4kg better off) in the 1800m Victory Moon Stakes. Tougher task these weights but can improve

Lifetime: 9 Runs; 4 Wins; 5 Places

Earnings: R511,625

13 FLYING CARPET

Trainer: Sean Tarry

Jockey: Calvin Habib

Draw: 4

Comes into the picture on some form, including a fourth to MALMOOS (5kg worse off) in last season’s 1800m SA Classic. Last two efforts not as good but can improve.

Lifetime: 15 Runs; 2 Wins; 6 Places

Earnings: R281,350

14 SEEHAAM

Trainer: Sean Tarry

Jockey: Grant van Niekerk

Draw: 8

Beat SPARKLING WATER (3.5kg better off) by five lengths in an 1800m feature here in March and warrants respect on that level of form. Last two runs fair and can improve.

Lifetime: 10 Runs; 4 Wins; 2 Places

Earnings: R215,500

15 TIERRA DEL FUEGO

Trainer: Sean Tarry

Jockey: Ashton Arries

Draw: 9

This six-year-old has not won for nearly two years and fitting him with blinkers in a 1600m feature here recently brought no improvement. Hard to see him making any impact.

Lifetime: 31 Runs; 6 Wins; 14 Places

Earnings: R779,412

16 TREE TUMBO

Trainer: Sean Tarry

Jockey: Serino Moodley

Draw: 16

Finished a distant third in the Summer Cup last year, but hasn’t shaped in his two races this season and finished a long way behind in the recent Victory Moon Stakes.

Lifetime: 20 Runs; 4 Wins; 8 Places

Earnings: R400,350

17 JOHNNY HERO

Trainer: Tyrone Zackey

Jockey: Denis Schwarz

Draw: 7

Useful six-time winner and beat SHANGO (4kg better off) in the 1800m Jubilee Handicap at this track in June. Stays 2000m but should battle to confirm that form with SHANGO.

Lifetime: 23 Runs; 6 Wins; 9 Places

Earnings: R448,325

18 AL MUTHANA (AUS)

Trainer: Mike de Kock

Jockey: S’manga Khumalo

Draw: 14

Smart four-year-old and bidding for a hat trick when fourth in a 1600m feature here a month ago. Tries 2000m for the first time and failed at 1800m in only previous race past 1600m.

Lifetime: 8 Runs; 3 Wins; 3 Places

Earnings: R198,000

19 GREEN HAZE

Trainer: Paul Peter

Jockey: Sean Veale

Draw: 2

Running thereabouts but has not won for more than 600 days, has yet to show he’s effective at 2000m and has done little to suggest he can make an impact in a race of this stature.

Lifetime: 37 Runs; 4 Wins; 16 Places

Earnings: R655,188