BETWAY SUMMER CUP FIRST LOG

Johannesburg, South Africa — See It Again, a two-time Grade 1 winner trained by Michael Roberts, tops the first Betway Summer Cup Log, which was released on Tuesday, 14 October.

A total of 42 horses have been entered for the Grade 1 Betway Summer Cup to be run at Turffontein on 29 November, but with the field limited to 20 runners, it still remains to be seen which runners will face the starter and try to grab their share of the R6-million purse on offer.

4Racing, in consultation with the NHA Handicappers, will publish a series of logs leading up to the premier Highveld race, and the determination of the final field is at the discretion of the NHA in consultation with 4Racing.

According to NHA Handicapper Lennon Maharaj, the Summer Cup log functions as the official ranking tool used to determine which horses are most likely to be selected for the Betway Summer Cup, based on their position at the time the log is published.

The Betway Summer Cup is limited to a maximum of 20 runners. The log is published in stages, including the initial and final versions and is compiled by the Racing Operator (4Racing) in consultation with the Handicappers.


It ranks the top 20 horses most likely to make the final field if selection were to take place at the time of publication. These horses are listed in order of preference.
All other entries outside the top 20 are listed in descending Merit Rating order.

It is also important to note that, while it is not stipulated that the winner of races such as the Allied Steelrode Onamission Charity Mile and the Betway Victory Moon Stakes enjoy automatic entry into the Betway Summer Cup, it is unlikely that they would be left out of the final field if entered.


The log rankings are based on a combination of factors, including but not limited to:
●    Merit ratings
●    Recent race form
●    Form over the distance
●    Performance in key preparatory races
●    Form in Graded races
The log serves as a strategic guide for owners and trainers, providing a clear indication of where their horse stands in relation to the competition.

Horses outside the top 20 are often required to enter and perform well in major preparatory races such as the Betway Victory Moon Stakes to secure a win or improve their merit rating, thereby increasing their chances of making the final field.

Horses near the bottom of the top 20 must maintain strong performances to solidify their position or avoid poor results that could see them replaced by late improvers.

Publishing the log ensures transparency in the selection process. It builds excitement, encourages speculation, and drives engagement among racing fans and punters, who closely follow the rankings and form of their preferred horses in the lead-up to race day.
 

The first Summer Cup log, in order position, horse, age and sex, merit rating, nett merit rating, runs, wins, and trainer, is:
1 SEE IT AGAIN (6G) 125 - 125 - 26 - 7 Michael Roberts
2 ROYAL VICTORY (6G) 125 - 125 - 27 - 5 Nathan Kotzen
3 KING PELLES (5G) 122 - 122 - 23 - 7 Gareth van Zyl
4 ATTICUS FINCH (6G) 121 - 121 - 25 - 6 Alec Laird
5 OKAVANGO (4G) 120 - 119 - 10 - 3 Justin Snaith
6 CONFEDERATE (4G) 118 - 117 - 11 - 5 Fabian Habib
7 SON OF RAJ (6G) 119 - 119 - 24 - 6 Tony Peter
8 SPUMANTE DOLCE (4F) 117 - 116 - 8 - 3 Mike/Mathew de Kock
9 FIERY PEGASUS (4F) 119 - 118 - 11 - 5 Joe Soma
10 MADISON VALLEY (5G) 115 - 115 - 21 - 5 Frank Robinson
11 ON MY HONOUR (4G) 116 - 115 - 9 - 3 Glen Kotzen
12 OTTO LUYKEN (6G) 116 - 116 - 27 - 5 James Crawford
13 LEGEND OF ARTHUR (4C) 117 - 116 - 11 - 3 Sean Tarry
14 PARISIAN WALKWAY (4G) 117 - 116 - 12 - 2 Alec Laird
15 THE EQUATOR (IRE) (5H) 116 - 116 - 8 - 2 Tony Peter
16 RULE BY FORCE (6G) 117 - 117 - 13 - 3 Joe Soma
17 WILD INTENT (4G) 116 - 115 - 10 - 2 Lucky Houdalakis
18 SOLAR SAIL (4G) 115 - 114 - 12 - 2 Mark Khan
19 OLIVIA'S WAY (4F) 112 - 111 - 13 - 5 Roy Magner
20 WORLD OF ALICE (4F) 106 - 105 - 13 - 2 Sean Tarry


The other first entries are:
FUTURE PEARL (6G) 114 - 114 - 26 - 6 Sean Tarry
MARAUDING HORDE (5G) 112 - 112 - 18 - 5 Mike/Mathew de Kock
BUSSTOPINHOUNSLOW (4G) 112 - 111 - 16 - 4 Grant Maroun
GREETING MY MASTER (5G) 110 - 110 - 15 - 4 Alec Laird
POETS WARRIOR (6G) 110 - 110 - 14 - 6 Mike Azzie
ARISTOTLE (4G) 109 - 108 - 10 - 2 Alec Laird
HOTARUBI (5G) 106 - 106 - 27 - 3 Sean Tarry
DON'T CRY FOR ME (4G) 104 - 103 - 17 - 3 Sean Tarry
MOCHA BLEND (4F) 104 - 103 - 7 - 2 Frank Robinson
NAVAJO NATION (5G) 104 - 104 - 28 - 3 WO Marwing/WH Marwing
THUNEE PLAYA (5H) 103 - 103 - 22 - 5 Mano Pandaram
COUNT HUHTIKUU (4G) 101 - 100 - 9 - 3 James Crawford
COCOMELON (4F) 100 - 99 - 11 - 1 Sean Tarry
CHESTNUT BOMBER (4G) 97 - 96 - 14 - 2 Johan Janse van Vuuren
THE ULTIMATE KING (4G) 97 - 96 - 8 - 3 Tony Peter
PIONEER SQUARE (4G) 96 - 95 - 9 - 3 Candice Dawson
RIVER ROMEO (6G) 95 - 95 - 20 - 3 Mano Pandaram
INFINITE WONDER (8G) 94 - 94 - 17 - 3 Mano Pandaram
OBSIDIAN (4G) 94 - 93 - 9 - 4 Johan Janse van Vuuren
PUMPKIN PIE (4G) 92 - 91 - 6 - 2 Candice Dawson
DIWALI ROCKET (4G) 89 - 88 - 12 - 2 Mano Pandaram
ENFLAME (4G) 86 - 85 - 7 - 2 Candice Dawson



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10 Have come out. 4 from the top 20 log
Added to field
My Best Shot
Shoot the Rapids
Anfields Rocket
Mastership

Atticus Finch MR increased fro 121 to 127 for the Charity mile win.

ATTICUS FINCH MOVES TO TOP OF BETWAY SUMMER CUP LOG

Johannesburg, South Africa — Betway Summer Cup Log 2

After his resounding win in the Grade 2 Allied Steelrode – Onamission Charity Mile at Turffontein on Saturday, Atticus Finch now tops the log for the Betway Summer Cup over 2000m at Turffontein on Saturday 29 November.

He moves into top spot at the expense of See It Again, who was scratched at the starting stalls in what was supposed to be his comeback run in a Conditions Plate over 1400m towards the end of October at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

See It Again will, however, get his first run of the season on Friday afternoon at Greyville in a 1600m Conditions Plate, where he will come up against champion stayer King Pelles, and 2023 Summer Cup winner Royal Victory, in a small field of just seven.

Trainer Michael Roberts made no secret of his disappointment after the scratching of See It Again last month, but he is confident the Twice Over gelding will be ready for action on Friday.

He confirmed that See It Again is doing well and he is expecting a performance worthy of a Summer Cup slot come Friday.

According to Roberts, his plan is to send See It Again up to the Highveld for the Summer Cup just a few days before the race - probably on the Thursday or Friday before the event - depending on the weather.

It is also interesting to note that three supplementary entries are included in the top-20 on the Summer Cup log.

Eastern Cape raider My Best Shot, trained by Alan Greeff, finds himself in position 16 after his runner-up finish in the Listed Betway Algoa Cup over 2000m on Friday. This four-year-old Fire Away gelding boasts 11 wins from 20 runs and will be making his first trip up country. In recent years Greeff has had great success with his raiders, and My Best Shot demands respect.

Frank Robinson's Shoot The Rapids is a rather surprise supplementary entry. He did finish just 1.50-lengths behind Pioneer Square in his comeback run in the Non-Black Type Michaelmas Handicap over 1900m recently, so it seems that connections are confident of his ability.

Anfields Rocket, who finished fifth in the Charity Mile, beaten 5 lengths by Atticus Finch, is the other supplementary entry who bounced straight into the top-20 on the Summer Cup log. He last tasted success in the Grade 1 SA Classic in March 2023, but with a merit rating of 109, he could find himself carrying a light weight in the R6-million race.

The Summer Cup log rankings are based on a combination of factors, including but not limited to merit ratings, recent form, form over the distance, performance in preparatory races, results in graded races.

The second Summer Cup log, in order position, horse, age and sex, merit rating, and trainer, is:

1 ATTICUS FINCH - 6G - 127 - Alec Laird
2 SEE IT AGAIN - 6G - 125 - Michael Roberts
3 ROYAL VICTORY - 6G - 125 - Nathan Kotzen
4 KING PELLES - 5G - 122 - Gareth van Zyl
5 SON OF RAJ - 6G - 119 - Tony Peter
6 MADISON VALLEY - 5G - 116 - Frank Robinson
7 ON MY HONOUR - 4G - 116 - Glen Kotzen
8 OTTO LUYKEN - 6G - 116 - James Crawford
9 THE EQUATOR (IRE) - 5H - 117 - Tony Peter
10 LEGEND OF ARTHUR - 4C - 117 - Sean Tarry
11 SPUMANTE DOLCE - 4F - 117 - Mike/Mathew de Kock
12 PARISIAN WALKWAY - 4G - 115 - Alec Laird
13 WILD INTENT - 4G - 116 - Lucky Houdalakis
14 OLIVIA'S WAY - 4F - 112 - Roy Magner
15 SOLAR SAIL - 4G - 115 - Mark Khan
16 (Supp) MY BEST SHOT - 4G - 116 - Alan Greeff
17 (Supp) SHOOT THE RAPIDS - 5G - 112 - Frank Robinson
18 (Supp) ANFIELDS ROCKET - 6G - 109 - Grant Maroun
19 BUSSTOPINHOUNSLOW - 4G - 112 - Grant Maroun
20 WORLD OF ALICE - 4F - 106 - Sean Tarry

Next in MR order:
FUTURE PEARL - 6G - 114 - Sean Tarry
MARAUDING HORDE - 5G - 112 - Mike/Mathew de Kock
THUNEE PLAYA - 5H - 107 - Mano Pandaram
HOTARUBI - 5G - 104 - Sean Tarry
DON'T CRY FOR ME - 4G - 104 - Sean Tarry
MOCHA BLEND - 4F - 104 - Frank Robinson
NAVAJO NATION - 5G - 104 - WO/WH Marwing
THE ULTIMATE KING - 4G - 103 - Tony Peter
CHESTNUT BOMBER - 4G - 97 - Johan Janse van Vuuren
(Supp) MASTERSHIP - 5G - 96 - Dianne Stenger
PIONEER SQUARE - 4G - 96 - Candice Dawson
COCOMELON - 4F - 95 - Sean Tarry
RIVER ROMEO - 6G - 95 - Mano Pandaram
OBSIDIAN - 4G - 94 - Johan Janse van Vuuren
INFINITE WONDER - 8G - 91 - Mano Pandaram
DIWALI ROCKET - 4G - 89 - Mano Pandaram

Scratched:
OKAVANGO - Justin Snaith
FIERY PEGASUS - Joe Soma
CONFEDERATE - Fabian Habib
RULE BY FORCE - Joe Soma
POETS WARRIOR - Mike Azzie
GREETING MY MASTER - Alec Laird
ARISTOTLE - Alec Laird
COUNT HUHTIKUU - James Crawford
PUMPKIN PIE - Candice Dawson
ENFLAME - Candice Dawson

The 2025 Betway Summer Cup is gearing up to being Johannesburg’s best end of year party. General Access tickets start at R100, while full hospitality packages start at R2250 per person. The Betway Summer Cup is perfect for corporate year-end parties and businesses are encouraged to book their packages soon, before hospitality areas reach capacity. Tickets are available via Ticketpro at www.ticketpro.co.za .

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