2023 Betway Summer Cup - First Entries

A total of 40 entries, headed by defending champion Puerto Manzano (ARG) and Hollywoodbets Durban July champion Winchester Mansion, were received on Wednesday for the R5 million Gr1 Betway Summer Cup

The 2023 Betway Summer Cup is the flagship of the Highveld season and is set to take place at Turffontein Racecourse on Saturday, 25 November 2023.

Defending champion Puerto Manzano (ARG) heads the line-up. The 6yo son of Seek Again made his seasonal debut in the Betway Get Way More Pinnacle Stakes at Turffontein on 16 September, conceding a welterweight 12kgs to finish 2.25lengths second under regular big race rider, Gavin Lerena. Puerto Manzano (ARG) is trained by Johan Janse van Vuuren and races in the well-known silks of Messrs J F & L M F Wernars & Mrs T J Wernars.

He is joined by Hollywoodbets Durban July hero, Winchester Mansion, owned and bred by Drakenstein Stud and trained by Brett Crawford.

Other Gr1 winners include Anfields Rocket (WSB SA Classic, 2023), Bless My Stars (Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic, 2023), Safe Passage (Daily News 2000, 2022), Aragosta (SA Derby, 2022), Son Of Raj (SA Derby 2023) and Cousin Casey (Premiers Champion Stakes, 2022).

Of particular interest is Cousin Casey. The son of Vercingetorix was named Champion Two-Year-Old Colt in 2022 and has recently joined the Sean Tarry string at Randjesfontein. Tarry has nominated five runners and could have a strong hand with the likes of Cousin Casey, Bless My Stars, Litigation, Nebraas and talented stayer Future Pearl.

Mike de Kock has nine Summer Cup titles to his name, but has not won the race since Flirtation’s victory in 2010. He fields seven entries – Safe Passage, Aragosta, Dave The King, East Coast, Shoemaker, Union Square and up-and-coming Trois Trois Quatre. Safe Passage may have been a touch unlucky in last year’s race when finishing a 0.50-length second to Puerto Manzano. If he regains his best form, the Silvano gelding will be a massive runner.

First Entries: 11:00 Wednesday, 27 September

Second Entries: 11:00 Tuesday, 31 October 2023

Final Entries: 9:00 Monday, 13 November 2023

Weights:  Monday, 13 November 2023

Declarations:  11 Wednesday, 15 November 2023

Barrier Draws will be conducted at a Betway event on 15 November 2023.

R5 000 000 2000m (Standside Track)

BETWAY SUMMER CUP (Grade 1)

First Entries:

ANFIELDS ROCKET (G J Maroun)
ARAGOSTA (M F De Kock)
ARUMUGAM (W H Marwing)
ATTICUS FINCH (A G Laird)
BILLY BOWLEGS (B Crawford)
BINGWA (J J van Vuuren)
BLESS MY STARS (S G Tarry)
BRAVE VIKING (J A Soma)
COUSIN CASEY (S G Tarry)
CRIMSON KING (B Crawford)
DAVE THE KING (M F De Kock)
EAST COAST (M F De Kock)
ELECTRIC GOLD (A P Peter)
EYE OF THE PROPHET (P F Matchett)
FLYING BULL (A P Peter)
FUTURE PEARL (S G Tarry)
HOEDSPRUIT (K Mitchley)
INFINITE WONDER (P F Matchett)
LADY OF POWER (M/A Azzie)
LITIGATION (S G Tarry)
MERIDIUS (A P Peter)
NEBRAAS (S G Tarry)
PUERTO MANZANO (J J van Vuuren)
RIVER ROMEO (P F Matchett)
ROYAL GUIDE (A G Laird)
RULE BY FORCE (J A Soma)
RUNAWAY SONG (D Kannemeyer)
SAFE PASSAGE (M F De Kock)
SAVANNAH STORM (P/J Vermeulen)
SAY YES (A P Peter)
SECOND BASE (R Klaasen)
SHOEMAKER (M F De Kock)
SOLAR POWER (B Crawford)
SON OF RAJ (W H Marwing)
STAR COIN (A G Laird)
STREET ART (A P Peter)
TROIS TROIS QUATRE (M F De Kock)
UNION SQUARE (M F De Kock)
WINCHESTER MANSION (B Crawford)
ZEUS (F P Habib)

Betway ante post betting is now open.

ENDS