Johannesburg, South Africa — A total of 42 names were received by the 11am cutoff for first entries for the R6-million Gr1 Betway Summer Cup over 2000m at Turffontein on 29 November.
Leading the charge in the build-up to this year's renewal is defending champion, Atticus Finch. Trained by Alec Laird, Calvin Habib steered the gelded son of Master Of My Fate to a 1.1-length victory in 2024. Atticus Finch, now aged six, launched his prep for this year’s big race in fine style last Saturday, finishing second to Tin Pan Alley (The United States) in the Gr2 Betway Joburg Spring Challenge over 1450m. He is expected to have another run before this year’s big race on 29 November. Laird holds a total of 4 entries, including Gr2 Gauteng Guineas winner Parisian Walkway. Alec Laird has two Summer Cup trophies to his name, having saddled his first winner, Malteme, in 2006.
Another exciting Highveld entry is dual Gr1 winning Confederate (Fire Away) from the Fabian Habib yard. Confederate made an eye-catching start to his 4yo term, with an impressive win under Rachel Venniker over 1450m at Turffontein last Saturday.
Sean Tarry, who has already taken home 5 Summer Cup trophies, fields no less than six entries for this year’s race, including Gr1 SA Derby (2450m) winner Legend Of Arthur (Lancaster Bomber).
Joe Soma-trained Rule By Force, third in last year's Summer Cup, is also among the first entries, despite not being in action since. Stable companion 4yo filly Fiery Pegasus (Captain Of All), winner of both the Gr1 SA Fillies Classic over 1800m and the Gr2 Oaks over 2450m, gives Soma a very strong two-pronged attack. Joe Soma previously won the Summer Cup with Wagner back in 2012.
There is also a strong list of entries from around the country led by Royal Victory, who produced Nathan Kotzen’s first Betway Summer Cup title in 2023.
Other KZN entries include Madison Valley (Mambo In Seattle) from the Frank Robinson yard, who completed the Summer Cup Quartet last year. He followed that with a fifth place finish in the Gr1 Hollywoodbets Durban July over 2200m and finished in the same position in the Gr3 World Pool Gold Cup over 3200m. Madison Valley is yet to make his seasonal debut.
Dual Gr1 winner See It Again (Twice Over) also makes his second Betway Summer Cup bid, after finishing fifth in last year's race, where he finished just 2.5-lengths behind Atticus Finch under Piere Strydom. Michael Roberts' charge was last seen finishing third in the Gr1 HKJC Champions Cup over 1800m at Greyville, behind Gladatorian and The Real Prince.
Gareth van Zyl's King Pelles (Duke Of Marmalade), who finished last season with a hat-trick of Gr3 wins, is set to make his first appearance on the Highveld. This five-year-old gelding is the first horse in history to carry 60kg to victory in the country’s premier staying race, the Gr3 World Pool Gold Cup over 3200m at Greyville.
Cape entries include Okavango (Master Of My Fate) trained by Justin Snaith and On My Honour from the Glen Kotzen string. While neither are regular faces on the Highveld and it remains to be seen whether either will go through to final acceptance stage, there are 6-million compelling reasons to stand their ground. Okavango placed in both the Gr3 Greyville 1900 and the Gr1 Daily News over 2000m at Hollywoodbets Greyville this year. On My Honour was placed in both the Gr2 World Sports Betting Guineas and Gr3 Hollywoodbets Dolphins Cup Trial.
James Crawford holds a double handed entry with Count Huhtikuu (Royal Mo) from his Randjesfontein stable and the Cape-based Otto Luyken (Flower Alley), who closed his 5yo campaign with a courageous victory in the Gr3 Magical Zulu Kingdom 2200 on July day.
Spumante Dolce and Olivia's Way look to be the early standouts from the filly ranks. Trained by Mike and Mathew de Kock, Spumante Dolce (Vercingetorix) opened her account with a hat-trick of wins, the third being the Gr2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas. She also ran second in the Gr1 Daily News 2000, beaten only by superstar Eight On Eighteen. Mike is our winning-most Summer Cup trainer, with a staggering 9 Summer Cups trophies to date. Olivia's Way (Pathfork) from the Roy Magner stable, has a Gr2 victory over the Summer Cup course and distance to her name after victory in the TAB Igugu Stakes in April this year. Before that she placed in both the Gr1 SA Fillies Classic and the Gr1 SA Derby.
4Racing CEO, Patrick Duff, commented, “We are thrilled to have received a high quality list of entries, including some of the best horses from around the country. We wish them all smooth preparations over the next few weeks and look forward to unveiling the final field at our barrier draw event on 19 November.”
Last edit: 4 weeks 5 hours ago by Bob Brogan.
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