Summer Cup adds a splash of colour

This year’s R2-million race over 2 000m could prove to be a memorable one for trainer Mike de Kock and his sole entrant Ilha Bela, with the grey mare looking to emulate the feat of her mother, Ilha Da Vitoria, who mowed down the field to claim victory in a memorable finish in 2005.

A win here would also mean that De Kock would have won this race first run in 1887 10 times.

It is hoped that this year’s race day, which has a card of 12 races and will feature the legendary “mankini” sprint after the last race, will be able to boast a serious number of racegoers with 25 000 spectators expected to attend.

It’s the upsurge in numbers that has organisers excited at the prospect of this event becoming Joburg’s equivalent of the Durban July or Cape Town’s J&B Met.