Crack youngsters at 15-10 and 16-10 for Big T showdown

Star three-year-olds Sandringham Summit and Main Defender will race against their age peers after all, in the Graham Beck Stakes at Turffontein next Saturday.

With optimal, side-by-side draws of 3 and 4, their trainers could hardly have gone with the far riskier option of the open-company Charity Mile on the day – though merely being entered in that contest told
us a lot about lofty aspirations.

Bookmakers immediately chalked up the two rivals at 15-10 and 16-10 respectively, signalling expectations of a battle royal over 1400m.

Third on the boards is Gimmeanotherchance, who is well regarded in the Mike de Kock yard and looks set to justify his name sooner or later.

Only Frank Robinson’s raider from KwaZulu-Natal, Sovereign State, unbeaten in three outings to date, is below two figures in the odds, at 8-1.

Young runners

On form, the seven other runners appear to be making up the numbers. But, as always with young horses, there can be rapid improvement away from the public eye and an upset is an ever-present possibility.

Most of the field carry 57kg for the stakes event, with Sandringham Summit getting a 3kg penalty for his Grade 1 win in the Premiers Champion Stakes, and Main Defender 2kg for a recent Grade 2 victory.

Meanwhile, the two youngsters were among 21 entries that fell away from the Alrode Steel Onamission Charity Mile, which tops the 28 October card at the Big T. The maximum field of 16 is undoubtedly the highest-quality line-up the race has drawn in years.

The bookmakers calling 5-1 the field is testament to the fierce competiton.

On that mark is Winchester Mansion, making his first appearance since winning the Hollywoodbets Durban July.

At 7-1 is Summer Cup champ Puerto Manzano, while the chronically unlucky Safe Passage slots in at 9-1 – alongside July third Bless My Stars.

Topweight Dave The King, who glories in a merit rating of 126 despite having won just three out of 13 – but running close in two Grade 1s – is a 10-1 chance, while defending champion Bingwa can be had for 18-1.