Summer Cup picture starts to emerge

Punters are digesting dollops of new information about the World Sports Betting Gauteng Summer Cup, which is just over three weeks away.

Firstly, there was the form of the Saturday’s Charity Mile at Turffontein, in which almost every runner was a Summer Cup entry – and some of those that weren’t have since been supplemented into Joburg’s biggest race on 28 November.

Secondly, the big-race weights were announced, followed, thirdly, by an updated log of the 20 “probable” runners at this stage. Fourthly, a press release dropped with the official handicappers’ merit rating adjustments following the weekend’s action.

Sifting all that intelligence appears not to have brought many revelations as the betting market has been uncommonly subdued, according to bookmakers.

Charles, from the Mike de Kock yard, ran a good second in the Charity Mile, which saw his merit rating upped from 108 to 110 and bookmakers quickly trimming his odds from 12-1 to 9-1 second favouritism – behind Horse of the Year Summer Pudding, who reigns lonely at 28-10.

Seven-races-unbeaten Summer Pudding wasn’t involved on Saturday, but tackles a Turffontein Pinnacle Plate as her key Çup prep race this coming weekend.

Youcanthurrylove impressed with a third place in the Charity Mile, edged in from 18-1 to 16-1 and got a two-point MR increase to 112, while fourth-placed Tree Tumbo – a reserve runner racing under a weight sufferance – got a whopping nine-point hike to 109 and came tumbling in from the far reaches of the market to 25-1 and lower.

The Charity Mile is 400m shorter than the Cup journey, but does allow the fitness of horses to be gauged by smart race watchers.

Immediately after Saturday’s action, trainer Paul Peter paid the late entry free for his duo Riverstown and Astrix, neither of whom had bothered the winner Hudoo Magic (not a Summer Cup entry). The former was an early favourite for the race but drifted in the betting and finished well downfield, while the latter showed a bit of cheek before managing sixth place.

When the latest Summer Cup log was released on Tuesday evening, both Riverstown and Astrix slotted straight into the top 20.

A few hours earlier, when the Summer Cup weights were announced, Riverstown was allotted 56.5kg but drew 41 out of 50. Astrix fared better with 53kg and No 8 draw. Their respective WSB prices are 18-1 and 35-1.

Important news was the scratching of talented colt Gothegreenlight, who trainer Joey Soma indicated was a doubtful starter but who lingered on betting boards.

Cornish Pomodoro, 4-1 favourite for the Charity Mile, could do no better than midfield in that contest. However, the pre-race money for him, plus steady support in the Cup ante-post market, suggests he has been impressing in gallops. He hovers at fifth favourite on 15-1.

Another curiosity in the betting is St John Gray’s filly Dance Class, who won six races in a row from early June, but who has disappointed when heavily backed in two recent outings. She eased from second favourite at 8-1 a months ago to 13-1 this week – but retaining a lofty market position despite being nowhere near a spot on the log.

Final entries close at 11am on Monday 16 November with declarations by 11am on Tuesday 17 November.

Weights may change up to the time of declarations, but there will be NO change to the weights after the final field has been issued. The maximum field size is 20 runners.

Betting for the R1-million Grade 1 World Sports Betting Gauteng Summer Cup over 2000m at Turffontein on 28 November 2020:

28-10 Summer Pudding

9-1 Charles

11-1 Queen Supreme

13-1 Dance Class

15-1 Cornish Pomodoro

16-1 Zillzaal, Youcanthurrylove, Pack Leader

18-1 Riverstown

25-1 Tierra Del Fuego, Divine Odyssey, Crown Towers

25-1 Tree Tumbo, 28-1 Running Brave, Hero’s Honour, Victoria Paige

35-1 and upwards the others

Latest log (as at 3 November):

News on the local big race front:

Two runners were supplemented into the field for the R1-million WSB Gauteng Summer Cup. Seven runners were withdrawn from the Grade 1 race over 2000m at Turffontein on Saturday 28 November.

Both supplementary entries come from the Paul Peter yard: Riverstown and Astrix. Riverstown has been allocated 56.5kg but is drawn No 41 of the 51 runners entered. Astrix fared a lot better in both departments, given a weight of 53kg and has landed No 8 draw.

The most significant runner pulled out of the race is Joe Soma-trained Got The Greenlight, winner of two Grade 1 races last season. Other withdrawals are Ronnie’s Candy (St John Gray), Keep Smiling, Shenanigans and Nebraas (all from the Sean Tarry yard), Sworder Street (Paul Peter) and Category Four (Grant Maroun).

Final entries close at 11am on Monday 16 November with declarations by 11:00 on Tuesday 17 November.

Weights may change up to the time of declarations, but there will be NO change to the weights after the final field has been issued. The maximum field size is 20 runners.

WORLD SPORTS BETTING GAUTENG SUMMER CUP (Grade 1) R1,000,000 2000m

44 QUEEN SUPREME (M F De Kock) 59.5

35 TIERRA DEL FUEGO (S G Tarry) 58.5

36 ZILLZAAL (S G Tarry) 58.5

23 DIVINE ODYSSEY (J J van Vuuren) 57.0

41 RIVERSTOWN (P A Peter) 56.5

40 SUMMER PUDDING (P A Peter) 56.5

39 ATYAAB (Z Oosthuizen) 56.0

24 CROWN TOWERS (S J Snaith) 56.0

22 GREEN HAZE (A G Laird) 55.5

25 RUNNING BRAVE (P F Matchett) 55.5

4 TRISTFUL (A J Rivalland) 54.5

17 YOUCANTHURRYLOVE (F P Habib) 54.0

26 CHARLES (M F De Kock) 53.5

2 CHITENGO (A G Laird) 53.5

37 HERO’S HONOUR (G M Alexander) 53.5

29 LIKE A PANTHER (M F De Kock) 53.5

8 ASTRIX (P A Peter) 53.0

15 PACK LEADER (A G Laird) 53.0

1 BALLET SHOES (C Dawson) 52.5

9 DAWN ASSAULT (S J Gray) 52.5

21 TREE TUMBO (S G Tarry) 52.5

6 FACTOR FIFTY (D Nieuwenhuizen) 52.0

7 TILBURY FORT (S G Tarry) 52.0

42 VICTORIA PAIGE (S G Tarry) 52.0

43 IMPERIAL RUBY (C Spies) 51.5

20 ORPHEUS (M/A Azzie) 50.5

19 SEVEN PATRIOTS (M/A Azzie) 50.0

16 SNOW PALACE (C Spies) 50.0

14 DARK MOON RISING (P V Lafferty) 49.5

32 CORNISH POMODORO (S G Tarry) 49.0

30 D’ ARRIVEE (C Dawson) 49.0

18 FULL MAST (M/A Azzie) 49.0

27 EXPRESSFROMTHEUS (S T Pettigrew) 48.5

31 SUNSHINE SILK (D Nieuwenhuizen) 48.5

12 WESTERN FORT (P A Peter) 47.5

10 ALIBI GUY (M F De Kock) 47.0

38 CASH TIME (A B Fortune) 47.0

5 CHRISTOPHER ROBIN (S J Gray) 47.0

11 AFRICAN ADVENTURE (J A Soma) 44.5

3 AKWAAN (M F De Kock) 44.0

33 DANCE CLASS (S J Gray) 44.0

13 MASTER SUPREME (C Dawson) 43.5

28 HELLOFARIDE (M F De Kock) 40.5

34 OUR COYS (J A Soma) 38.0

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