Summer Cup runner-up out of J&B Met

Deo Juvente, runner-up in last year’s Sansui Summer Cup, has been withdrawn from Saturday’s J&B Met.

Deo Juvente was regarded as one of the better outsiders for Saturday’s R2.5 million race over 2 000m at Kenilworth but trainer Geoff Woodruff did announce last week that his charge was a doubtful starter.

“He went for a roll at Milnerton and, buried in the sand, was a piece of glass from a broken bottle – and that is what cut into him.”

As a result, Woodruff was given permission by the National Horseracing Authority (NHA) for Deo Juvente not to participate in the public gallops last Thursday because he had a stitched wound on his left stifle.

A vet examined Deo Juvente prior to the gallops and, although the wound had started to heal, a small part was opening. He was sound trotting. Irrespective of the damage done to Deo Juvente, the break in his training schedule would be a major setback to his chances.

Woodruff announced yesterday that a decision had been taken to withdraw his charge from the Met. As he was a 20-1 shot, there has been little change to the betting with Legal Eagle still favourite at 12-10 and last year’s winner, Futura, at 3-1.