Summer Cup Defending Champ Headlines Field

The defending champion of the Summer Cup (sponsored by Betway for the second year in a row), Puerto Manzano, headlines the big race.he drew 16 at the draw event in Johannesburg this evening. 

The race has attracted a full field of 20 runners but only two out of province raiders. Royal Victory and Winchester Mansion have come to take on the best of Joburg. Winchester Mansion himself is Joburg based these days which leaves Royal Victory as the only real raider.

The July winner has copped a major penulty for that July win and moved up from a 112 to 121 leaving him with a lot to do to win this contest. His prep run with the big weight in the Charity Mile was excellent so he is not without a chance in this open handicap.

The R5m purse has the Prizemoney paying all the way down to 10th position with R50k going to placed horses 6th to 10th, whilst the winner gets R2.875m as opossed to R2.95m Winchester Mansion got for the July win. That event was also R5m in total prizemoney. The race organisers paid to 5th only.

Son Of Raj, Bless My Stars, Billy Bowlegs, Second Base, Safe Passage and Puerto Manzano meet again here after their respective July efforts. That event had an average merit rating of 119, a tough contest by ratings. The Summer Cup has an average rating of 114.65.

Others in the final field include Gr 1 winners Cousin Casey,  Anfields Rocket, Safe Passage and Aragosta,, Gr2 winner Bingwa and Lady Of Power. Atticus Finch, the recent Gr3 Victory Moon winner is in and so is Meridus, Electric Gold, Lady Of Power, Zeus and last year's runner, Second Base carries 56kgs as opposed to last year's 55.5kgs.

1 16 Puerto Manzano (ARG) 60 125 BA Gavin Lerena J A Janse van Vuuren
2 12 Cousin Casey 58.5 123 BA Grant van Niekerk Sean Tarry
3 11 Winchester Mansion 58 121 CA Kabelo Matsunyane Brett Crawford
4 10 Anfields Rocket 57 120 A Raymond Danielson Grant Maroun
5 2 Bless My Stars 56.5 119 A Richard Fourie Sean Tarry
6 3 Bingwa 56.5 118 BAe Serino Moodley J A Janse van Vuuren
7 9 Safe Passage 56 117 BA Luyolo Mxothwa Mike de Kock
8 7 Second Base 56 117 BA Kaidan Brewer Robyn Klaasen
9 13 Billy Bowlegs 55.5 117 A S’manga Khumalo Brett Crawford
10 19 Son Of Raj 54.5 115 BA Athandiwe Mgudlwa Weiho Marwing
11 1 Aragosta 54.5 114 A Jarryd Penny Mike de Kock
12 18 Shoemaker 54 112 A Diego De Gouveia Mike de Kock
13 6 Atticus Finch 54 111 A Calvin Habib Alec Laird
14 14 Royal Victory 54 111 A Muzi Yeni Nathan Kotzen
15 4 Zeus 54 111 A Denis Schwarz Fabian Habib
16 8 East Coast 54 110 A Juan Paul v’d Merwe Mike de Kock
17 17 Litigation 54 110 TCA Craig Zackey Sean Tarry
18 20 Meridius 54 110 A Philasande Mxoli Tony Peter
19 15 Lady Of Power 54 107 BA Chase Maujean M G Azzie/A A Azzie
20 5 Electric Gold 54 105 BA Jason Gates Tony Peter