Summer Cup Hot! Hot! Hot!

De Kock bids for ninth win in Summer Cup

Preview: South Africa, Saturday

Turffontein: Sansui Summer Cup (Grade 1) 1m2f, turf 2.40pm GMT

MIKE DE KOCK relies on Meet At Malamala in his bid to win the Sansui Summer Cup for the ninth time in his 20-year training career at Turffontein on Saturday.

The four-year-old, part-owned by Lady Chryss O'Reilly, has bottom weight in this 1m2f Grade 1 handicap. He has won three times but apparently is capable of a fair bit more than he has shown in public.


Rider Anthony Delpech said: "He shows very good work at home but he hasn't yet produced it at the races. We expected a lot from him last time and he let us down.

"I'm going to ride him differently. I'm going to give him a chance, settle him and hopefully he will finish the race better. He's definitely going to get the trip."

Champion trainer Charles Laird has by far the biggest hand with five of the 16 runners, most notably ante-post favourite Oracy, who is unbeaten in five starts including the Dingaans on this day 12 months ago.

Four of the Laird quintet are in the top five in the handicap including Oracy who is the choice of stable jockey Anton Marcus.

According to the bookmakers, the favourite has most to fear from the Ormond Ferraris-trained Magical. Rider Pierre Strydom shares the layers' opinion but points out the problems he faces.

Strydom said: "Unfortunately Magical is drawn wide and he has no early gate speed. When you jump him out he is unable to keep up for the first ten to 20 metres.

"But this race is right up his alley and he is going to be making up the leeway in the long straight. If he can beat Oracy, he will just about win."

Good morning all - what is the weather like in jhb?

Al, Bright sunny, perfect day for racing.

Great news - Putting my head on the block and will say that the other KZN trainer will probably win the race. Meet At Malamala was my original first choice so will go for that one. Still think that Cape Town can run a place

Have a quetion for the boys - Can Jonny Geroudis rie 54KG (Captain Scott)? Always thought that he was limited to certain rides by his weight.

He rode at 54kg earlier in the week..

Thanks Hibs - My comment though has to do with what he has historically ridden at. The question raises 2 eyebrows.

1. Julie Alexander interviewed Johnny Geroudis and MJ Oodendaal on her program. They went to great pains to talk about making weights and I recall Jonny talking about riding as a heavy weight jockey.

2. Do the weight limits which were applied to Andrew Fortune only apply to Andrew Fortune?

Dont get me wrong, I am a Geroudis / Alec Laird fan, I am just quetioning the situation. Please stop me if I am barking up the wrong tree.

Fair point Al, I don't understand this restriction on weight crap, it should be the same RULE across the board or rather impose a fine if the jockey does not make the weight?

Gee wizz...Tommy...if they keep on scratching more horses in the last we might end up only having one runner in the race...big help for us... 5 scratchings now...

I'll be be very honest when i say my trainer worked my filly with Spring Clover all week and the trainer says she kept with her, we had serious coughing problems and except for 2nd run after rest and treatment for coughing we hope she re-produces her debut run and that will surely put her in the frame...I know the one to beat is Royal Prognosis but i hope for very improved run...

Don't leave Chosen out in all bets...backt to sprint trip and good going...nice swinger with favourate...

Also like a bit of Western Walk...

Respect Rudi Rocks...

Happy Punting....

Problem with this Rad is that after all the deductions our early bets will end up 5/10

Gav van Zyl confirmed my place prospects on Cape Town - USO

Break a leg, Al. But Cape Town is not for me.

All the best with your filly in the last Rad; will include in JP - if I have any funds left by then

I think one should take note of what Darryl Maree pointed out this morning on USO - Regal Ransom is exceptionally well weighted in the 8th - sure to go close; don't ignore Trojan for the places - has had 5 wins over this trip, but may struggle to give RR 5,5 kg's.

Very nice racing today imo - break a leg everyone