SUMMER CUP.
- Bob Brogan
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Re: Re: SUMMER CUP.
13 years 9 months ago
Gold Onyx, a 40-1 chance with Betting World and currently paying more than R100 for a Win with TAB, is a horse several experts consider the value in Saturday’s R2-million Sansui Summer Cup proudly hosted by Gauteng.
There are plenty of reasons and, as trainer Sean Tarry says, “he ticks the right boxes, except for a wide draw.”
The New Zealand-bred gelding has tons of ability on his day - as he showed when winning the Grade 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes of his year when he beat highly rated Kavanagh. He is classy and has been allotted only 52kg. He also has a jockey with big-race temperament in Robbie Fradd and has the acceleration to run at them from off the pace. While some consider him a better horse at Greyville, he has a win to his credit at Turffontein.
Why, then, is he quoted at 40-1?
No 18 draw in a 20-horse field is one reason, even though a wide draw is not considered insurmountable over 2000m on the standside track.
The main reason might be that the son of Black Minnalousche became a hard act to follow as a three-year-old last season, with random good runs - like a 1.45-length fifth behind The Apache in the Daily News 2000 - interspersed with poor efforts.
Most of those bad runs can be explained away though says his trainer: “I’m not going to go into the details of every run, but his campaign last season was a comedy of errors. Firstly, my yard was not firing in Joburg. Then he started haemoconcentrating (producing too many red blood cells), so we had to geld him.
“His first run back was in the SA Classic and he needed the run, so finishing 7.25 lengths off English Garden wasn’t bad, especially because the going came up heavy on the day. Then he went to Durban so we could line him up for the Durban July.
“In the KZN Guineas, he was badly hampered by Ridethebreeze, so you can draw a line through that form. His run in the Daily News 2000 was very good, but he still didn’t make it into the Durban July field, so we were forced to extend his prep after he had already had a long season to take in the Champion’s Cup. In that race, he broke through the front of the pens, which would definitely have affected his performance, and then Gavin Lerena was forced to produce him earlier than we would have liked. His one five-star prep was for the Durban July.”
Has he had a five-star prep for the Summer Cup? That seems all that is necessary for a five-star run. After all, Gold Onyx is 6.5kg better off with The Apache on the Daily News 2000 form and at these weights, some experts consider him a certainty.
“He is certainly the fittest of my three (Tarry will also saddle Regal Ransom and Power Park) and has had the best prep. He’s fit and well. But I wouldn’t back him from that draw. It’s hard to have confidence from there, especially in a 20-horse field. But he has to be the right one of my three.”
He did warn punters that, although 10 days ago Regal Ransom was considered a no-hoper, he should start coming into their reckoning at least for Places. “The recent rain has improved his chances enormously. He does very well in the soft,” said Tarry.
Regal Ransom, the best drawn of Tarry’s Cup trio, returned from a five-month rest in the Victory Moon Stakes and was irascible going to the start. He then lost four lengths as the gates opened, made up ground to a point and then got tired.
Said Tarry: “He was very fresh. He normally is a bit naughty, but he needed that run quite badly, which made matters worse. I would have preferred him to have had another race before the Summer Cup, but he has had a hard grass gallop since that race and has tightened up considerably. With a decent draw, he won’t have to come from last, and he could surprise everyone if the going comes up soft.”
As for Power Park, he said, the Camden Park gelding wouldn’t mind soft going, in spite of the record books that show he has flopped in both his runs on rain-affected tracks.
“I’d be more confident if he’d had another run leading into this race, but he normally runs well in his second run after a layoff and he enjoys this track and trip. Against him is that he has also drawn badly.
“My horses have got it all to do. They’re in the race on merit and we’re hoping they can overcome the obstacles, but it’s hard to be confident. We’ve done everything we could to ensure they run to their best. I’ve got them into the best condition with limited opportunities and they’ve all come through very well, considering.”
The possibility of a slow pace is something that is concerning many experts, but Tarry disagrees with the assessment that there will be no pace on in the race.
“I’m not saying there’ll be a fast pace,” he said. “But if you look at the form, horses like Jet Jamboree, Queen’s Bay, Princess Of Light and Smanjemanje will need to be up there among the front-runners, which could force the pace a little bit.”
There are plenty of reasons and, as trainer Sean Tarry says, “he ticks the right boxes, except for a wide draw.”
The New Zealand-bred gelding has tons of ability on his day - as he showed when winning the Grade 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes of his year when he beat highly rated Kavanagh. He is classy and has been allotted only 52kg. He also has a jockey with big-race temperament in Robbie Fradd and has the acceleration to run at them from off the pace. While some consider him a better horse at Greyville, he has a win to his credit at Turffontein.
Why, then, is he quoted at 40-1?
No 18 draw in a 20-horse field is one reason, even though a wide draw is not considered insurmountable over 2000m on the standside track.
The main reason might be that the son of Black Minnalousche became a hard act to follow as a three-year-old last season, with random good runs - like a 1.45-length fifth behind The Apache in the Daily News 2000 - interspersed with poor efforts.
Most of those bad runs can be explained away though says his trainer: “I’m not going to go into the details of every run, but his campaign last season was a comedy of errors. Firstly, my yard was not firing in Joburg. Then he started haemoconcentrating (producing too many red blood cells), so we had to geld him.
“His first run back was in the SA Classic and he needed the run, so finishing 7.25 lengths off English Garden wasn’t bad, especially because the going came up heavy on the day. Then he went to Durban so we could line him up for the Durban July.
“In the KZN Guineas, he was badly hampered by Ridethebreeze, so you can draw a line through that form. His run in the Daily News 2000 was very good, but he still didn’t make it into the Durban July field, so we were forced to extend his prep after he had already had a long season to take in the Champion’s Cup. In that race, he broke through the front of the pens, which would definitely have affected his performance, and then Gavin Lerena was forced to produce him earlier than we would have liked. His one five-star prep was for the Durban July.”
Has he had a five-star prep for the Summer Cup? That seems all that is necessary for a five-star run. After all, Gold Onyx is 6.5kg better off with The Apache on the Daily News 2000 form and at these weights, some experts consider him a certainty.
“He is certainly the fittest of my three (Tarry will also saddle Regal Ransom and Power Park) and has had the best prep. He’s fit and well. But I wouldn’t back him from that draw. It’s hard to have confidence from there, especially in a 20-horse field. But he has to be the right one of my three.”
He did warn punters that, although 10 days ago Regal Ransom was considered a no-hoper, he should start coming into their reckoning at least for Places. “The recent rain has improved his chances enormously. He does very well in the soft,” said Tarry.
Regal Ransom, the best drawn of Tarry’s Cup trio, returned from a five-month rest in the Victory Moon Stakes and was irascible going to the start. He then lost four lengths as the gates opened, made up ground to a point and then got tired.
Said Tarry: “He was very fresh. He normally is a bit naughty, but he needed that run quite badly, which made matters worse. I would have preferred him to have had another race before the Summer Cup, but he has had a hard grass gallop since that race and has tightened up considerably. With a decent draw, he won’t have to come from last, and he could surprise everyone if the going comes up soft.”
As for Power Park, he said, the Camden Park gelding wouldn’t mind soft going, in spite of the record books that show he has flopped in both his runs on rain-affected tracks.
“I’d be more confident if he’d had another run leading into this race, but he normally runs well in his second run after a layoff and he enjoys this track and trip. Against him is that he has also drawn badly.
“My horses have got it all to do. They’re in the race on merit and we’re hoping they can overcome the obstacles, but it’s hard to be confident. We’ve done everything we could to ensure they run to their best. I’ve got them into the best condition with limited opportunities and they’ve all come through very well, considering.”
The possibility of a slow pace is something that is concerning many experts, but Tarry disagrees with the assessment that there will be no pace on in the race.
“I’m not saying there’ll be a fast pace,” he said. “But if you look at the form, horses like Jet Jamboree, Queen’s Bay, Princess Of Light and Smanjemanje will need to be up there among the front-runners, which could force the pace a little bit.”
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- Bob Brogan
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Re: Re: SUMMER CUP.
13 years 9 months ago
Some believe that No 1 draw is not in star four-year-old The Apache’s favour in this Saturday’s R2 million Sansui Summer Cup hosted by Gauteng over 2 000m at Turffontein.
The Mogok colt is a back runner who has scored his five wins by putting in an impressive burst of speed in the closing stages. For such horses, an inside draw can result in them getting cut off early by faster horses looking for position.
The Apache’s trainer Gavin van Zyl is not at all worried about the draw, believing that Raymond Danielson will be able to settle his mount much closer to the leaders than usual, which will be in his favour.
He explained that waiting tactics became necessary because the Mogok colt drew wide in each of the Graham Beck Stakes, the Dingaans, the Daily News 2000 and the Champions Cup.
“We decided not to try and beat the draw and to slot him in behind. In the Graham Beck Stakes, Raymond let him go too early, he moved up and then stopped. In the Dingaans, Raymond knew the horse better - that he would find too quickly and then stop. So he brought him with a rattle and The Apache won a very nice Dingaans. He did the same thing in the Daily News and the Champions Cup.
“In the July (finished a 2,15-length fourth behind Igugu), the only race where he had a nice draw last season, he was interfered with and would have been two or three lengths closer to the leaders, which would have made a big difference.
“This time, drawn at No 1, he’ll get the cover he wants but won’t be so far back. All being well, he should only be about six lengths off the pace - much closer than normal - and it’ll be interesting to see how he does. I don’t count the draw as a disadvantage.”
On Bulsara’s chances, he says: “We’ve been disappointed in his last three runs in Joburg, but I believe he’s coming back to his Champions Cup form. He’s bounced right back to his very best now and on handicapping, he must have an outstanding chance.
“After all, he finished 1.75 lengths behind Pierre Jourdan at level weights in the SA Classic and is 5kg better off with him. And he was only 1.20 lengths behind Pierre Jourdan, getting 1kg, in the Durban July. Plus, he is well weighted with The Apache on Champions Cup form when he was only beaten a neck - he is 2.5kg better off. He’s a horse who if he brings his best form to the races on Saturday will do very well - and I believe he will because we’ve done some work with him and feel he’s improved.”
As for Seal, he said he was a bit concerned about the distance being too short for the SA Derby winner, but that he is “very well in himself and with only 55kg and a run under his belt he’s going to bring a good run to the Summer Cup”.
The Mogok colt is a back runner who has scored his five wins by putting in an impressive burst of speed in the closing stages. For such horses, an inside draw can result in them getting cut off early by faster horses looking for position.
The Apache’s trainer Gavin van Zyl is not at all worried about the draw, believing that Raymond Danielson will be able to settle his mount much closer to the leaders than usual, which will be in his favour.
He explained that waiting tactics became necessary because the Mogok colt drew wide in each of the Graham Beck Stakes, the Dingaans, the Daily News 2000 and the Champions Cup.
“We decided not to try and beat the draw and to slot him in behind. In the Graham Beck Stakes, Raymond let him go too early, he moved up and then stopped. In the Dingaans, Raymond knew the horse better - that he would find too quickly and then stop. So he brought him with a rattle and The Apache won a very nice Dingaans. He did the same thing in the Daily News and the Champions Cup.
“In the July (finished a 2,15-length fourth behind Igugu), the only race where he had a nice draw last season, he was interfered with and would have been two or three lengths closer to the leaders, which would have made a big difference.
“This time, drawn at No 1, he’ll get the cover he wants but won’t be so far back. All being well, he should only be about six lengths off the pace - much closer than normal - and it’ll be interesting to see how he does. I don’t count the draw as a disadvantage.”
On Bulsara’s chances, he says: “We’ve been disappointed in his last three runs in Joburg, but I believe he’s coming back to his Champions Cup form. He’s bounced right back to his very best now and on handicapping, he must have an outstanding chance.
“After all, he finished 1.75 lengths behind Pierre Jourdan at level weights in the SA Classic and is 5kg better off with him. And he was only 1.20 lengths behind Pierre Jourdan, getting 1kg, in the Durban July. Plus, he is well weighted with The Apache on Champions Cup form when he was only beaten a neck - he is 2.5kg better off. He’s a horse who if he brings his best form to the races on Saturday will do very well - and I believe he will because we’ve done some work with him and feel he’s improved.”
As for Seal, he said he was a bit concerned about the distance being too short for the SA Derby winner, but that he is “very well in himself and with only 55kg and a run under his belt he’s going to bring a good run to the Summer Cup”.
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- Countrymember
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Re: Re: SUMMER CUP.
13 years 9 months ago
Very BIG storm passing over Alberton ( about 12 kms from Turffies)........Hope it doesnt reach there........:S

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- Solotrama
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Re: Re: SUMMER CUP.
13 years 9 months ago
There has been rain at turffies . The track will definetly be soft on sat!
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- russelldewee
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Re: Re: SUMMER CUP.
13 years 9 months ago
Whats the deal with charles laurd???? No runners after scratching of unannounced. String not too good?
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- gordo
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Re: Re: SUMMER CUP.
13 years 9 months ago
Guys, im on PJ......
Who of you look for signs/dreams etc before a big race like this??
I have seen a few posts on here about dreams the night before a big race and seeing certain horses etc...
I don't normally buy into this school of thought, BUT last night i was at Spur with the family, and they have those wooden boards on the wall, showing the name and the distance to the next spur. And for some reason, i turned around and looked at the one above me on the wall, and it read...THE APACHE Spur....im gonna have a little nibble just in case!!! (
)
Who of you look for signs/dreams etc before a big race like this??
I have seen a few posts on here about dreams the night before a big race and seeing certain horses etc...
I don't normally buy into this school of thought, BUT last night i was at Spur with the family, and they have those wooden boards on the wall, showing the name and the distance to the next spur. And for some reason, i turned around and looked at the one above me on the wall, and it read...THE APACHE Spur....im gonna have a little nibble just in case!!! (

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- Dave Scott
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Re: Re: SUMMER CUP.
13 years 9 months ago
Gordo maybe the sign was showing how far away the Apache was from PJ ........?
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- gordo
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- Doyen
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Re: Re: SUMMER CUP.
13 years 9 months ago
DWTD loves the soft.
Can G Lerena have a red letter day?
He has very strong winning chances on all his other rides.Exceptions might be Titano & Aslan.
Can G Lerena have a red letter day?
He has very strong winning chances on all his other rides.Exceptions might be Titano & Aslan.
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- lushann
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Re: Re: SUMMER CUP.
13 years 9 months ago
Guys, I think link man is d bet of the day, n is my p6 banker, and taking d double onto taipan in the cape on sunday. Also looking forward to see beach beauty take on ebony flyer, a weekend of good racing, enjoy and make the money.
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- rolands song
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Re: Re: SUMMER CUP.
13 years 9 months ago
Gib Blue absolutely spot on , brought on the right way.... FIREX(
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- Mac
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Re: Re: SUMMER CUP.
13 years 8 months ago
Today's Business Day report says the going at Turffontein is still good and only good to soft in some places".
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