Master jockey Felix Coetzee notched up his biggest win since returning to South Africa as Aslan (SAF) squeaked home in a breathtaking finish to the Gr 1 Sansui Summer Cup ahead of Magical (SAF), Meet At Malamala (SAF) and Captain Scott (SAF).

Aslan bounced out well at the 2000m start and eventually settled in third as Likeithot went out to lead from Senor Versace. Killaridge was fourth ahead of Captain Scott as favourite Oracy raced in midfield, somewhat wide and seven lengths off the pace. Magical turned for home with only five runners behind him, one of which was Meet At Malamala.

Likeithot brought them in for home with Aslan poised to strike but all attention switched to the standside rail as Oracy was asked for an early effort. He quickened up effortlessly to hit the front about 500m out. Captain Scott came out of the pack to challenge him and it briefly looked as if these two might fight it out.

There were several twists to come, though. First, favourite-backers watched in dismay as Oracy, who had plenty of weight on his back, started to weaken, leaving Captain Scott a clear leader. Then Aslan, who seemed to have fallen out of contention, fought his way back to Captain's Scott inside. Meet At Malamala, meanwhile, had started to pick up his feet and started to close in purposefully on these two. It looked a three-way battle to the wire with barely 50m to go when Magical appeared from nowhere along the outside and finished with such a flourish that it looked as if he might have just gotten up to grab the honours.

There was a tense wait before the final result was posted up and Aslan's connections were able to celebrate a Gr 1 win victory from a horse who had only shed his maiden certificate in May this year.

This was a vintage Coetzee ride, having his mount perfectly placed throughout and showing his trademark strength in a tight finish. The former champion jockey was celebrating his second local Gr 1 win since returning from Hong Kong nearly a year ago and despite turning 50 earlier this year, has clearly lost none of his passion or skill.

He said after the race, “He's always been a very gutsy horse. That's been his trademark. Today, he just showed it. A lot of people were saying that he had a big chance with a light weight and being a galloping sort of horse. He's as honest as the day is long. They passed me in the straight and he just fought back resolutely. It's lovely to have a horse like this under you.”

Coetzee also paid tribute to trainer Sean Tarry's handling of the winner and the manner in which he had placed him for this race.

The winning conditioner said, “ I thought the handicapper snatched away my chances of winning this race when they eliminated him from the November [Charity Mile] as his whole preparation was planned around that race. We only really finished off [his preparations] in the last few days. It's a great relief and very rewarding.”

Asked about future plans for Aslan, Tarry revealed that his charge was physically somewhat weak and indicated that he would be approaching his future targets cautiously. “We'll probably focus on the winter season now.”

It's certainly been a remarkable progression for Aslan who followed up his maiden win six months ago with two further wins before staying on for third in the KZN Derby at the end of last season. He had disappointed last time out in the Victory Moon Stakes and looked to have a bit to do here but Tarry has had this race in mind throughout and had him tuned to perfection.

Magical came desperately close and would have taken the honours in another stride. The race panned out exactly as jockey Piere Strydom had warned, with his mount sluggish in the early stages and having plenty of work to do turning for home. He finished better than anything else in the race but it wasn't to be his day.

Meet At Malamala was another who had been below par in the Victory Moon but the de Kock factor was always going to make him a big runner here and he showed his ability with a storming late run, only just failing to give his trainer a ninth Summer Cup win.

Captain Scott is very genuine and he showed his usual courage, fighting all the way to the line and only just running out of steam in the dying strides. He is holding form well now and he should continue to pay his way in the big races as the season progresses.

Oracy was the obvious disappointment of the race as he tasted defeat for the first time in his career. It's not the end of the road by any means, though: he quickened up in the manner of a really good horse when asked but the weight was always going to be a big factor and one has to believe that it took its toll in the last furlong. Indeed, not for the first time, the race was dominated by the most handily-weighted runners and this is likely to continue to be the trend as long as the race remains a handicap.

Aslan (SAF) is a 4-y-o gelding by Silvano (GER) out of Cry For The Lion (SAF) by Elliodor (FR). He is owned by Brooklyn Bullet Trust (Nom: A J Joseph) & L M Leisher and was bred by Glenellen Stud.