Danie Toerien
After his resounding win in the Grade 2 Allied Steelrode - Onamission Charity Mile at Turffontein on Saturday, Atticus Finch now tops the log for the Betway Summer Cup over 2000m at Turffontein on Saturday 29 November.
He moves into top spot at the expense of See It Again, who was scratched at the starting stalls in what was supposed to be his comeback run in a Conditions Plate over 1400m towards the end of October at Hollwyoodbets Greyville.
See it Again will, however, get his first run of the season on Friday afternoon at Greyville in a Conditions Plate over 1600m, where he will come up against champion stayer King Pelles, and 2023 Summer Cup winner Royal Victory, in a small field of just seven.
Trainer Michael Roberts made no secret of his disappointment and anger after the scratching of See It Again last month, but he is confident that the Twice Over gelding will be ready for action on Friday.
He confirmed that See It Again is doing well and he is expecting a performance worthy of a Summer Cup slot come Friday.
According to Roberts, his plan is to send See It Again up to the Highveld for the Summer Cup just a few days before the race - probably on the Thursday or Friday before the event - depending on the weather.
It is also interesting to note that three supplementary entries are included in the top-20 on the Summer Cup.
Eastern Cape raider My Best Shot, trained by Alan Greeff, finds himself on position 16 on the log after his runner-up finish in the Listed Betway Algoa Cup over 2000m on Friday. This four-year-old Fire Away gelding boasts 11 wins from 20 runs and will be making his first trip up country.
In recent years Greeff has had great success with his raiders, and My Best Shot looks a horse not to be underestimated.
Frank Robinson's Shoot The Rapids is a rather surprise supplementary entry. He did finish just 1.50-lengths behind Pioneer Square in his comeback run in the Non-Black Type Michaelmas Handicap over 1900m recently, so it seems that connections are confident of his ability.
Anfields Rocket, who finished fifth in the Charity Mile, beaten 5 lengths by Atticus Finch, is the other supplementary entry who bounced straight into the top-20 on the Summer Cup log. He last tasted success in the Grade 1 SA Classic in March 2023, but with a merit rating of 109, he could find himself carrying a light weight in the R6-million race.
The Summer Cup log rankings are based on a combination of factors, including but not limited to merit ratings, recent form, form over the distance, performance in preparatory races, results in graded races.
The second Summer Cup log, in order position, horse, age and sex, merit rating, and trainer, is:
1 ATTICUS FINCH - 6G - 127 - Alec Laird
2 SEE IT AGAIN - 6G - 125 - Michael Roberts
3 ROYAL VICTORY - 6G - 125 - Nathan Kotzen
4 KING PELLES - 5G - 122 - Gareth van Zyl
5 SON OF RAJ - 6G - 119 - Tony Peter
6 MADISON VALLEY - 5G - 116 - Frank Robinson
7 ON MY HONOUR - 4G - 116 - Glen Kotzen
8 OTTO LUYKEN - 6G - 116 - James Crawford
9 THE EQUATOR (IRE) - 5H - 117 - Tony Peter
10 LEGEND OF ARTHUR - 4C - 117 - Sean Tarry
11 SPUMANTE DOLCE - 4F - 117 - Mike/Mathew de Kock
12 PARISIAN WALKWAY - 4G - 115 - Alec Laird
13 WILD INTENT - 4G - 116 - Lucky Houdalakis
14 OLIVIA'S WAY - 4F - 112 - Roy Magner
15 SOLAR SAIL - 4G - 115 - Mark Khan
16 (Supp) MY BEST SHOT - 4G - 116 - Alan Greeff
17 (Supp) SHOOT THE RAPIDS - 5G - 112 - Frank Robinson
18 (Supp) ANFIELDS ROCKET - 6G - 109 - Grant Maroun
19 BUSSTOPINHOUNSLOW - 4G - 112 - Grant Maroun
20 WORLD OF ALICE - 4F - 106 - Sean Tarry
Next in MR order:
FUTURE PEARL - 6G - 114 - Sean Tarry
MARAUDING HORDE - 5G - 112 - Mike/Mathew de Kock
THUNEE PLAYA - 5H - 107 - Mano Pandaram
HOTARUBI - 5G - 104 - Sean Tarry
DON'T CRY FOR ME - 4G - 104 - Sean Tarry
MOCHA BLEND - 4F - 104 - Frank Robinson
NAVAJO NATION - 5G - 104 - WO/WH Marwing
THE ULTIMATE KING - 4G - 103 - Tony Peter
CHESTNUT BOMBER - 4G - 97 - Johan Janse van Vuuren
(Supp) MASTERSHIP - 5G - 96 - Dianne Stenger
PIONEER SQUARE - 4G - 96 - Candice Dawson
COCOMELON - 4F - 95 - Sean Tarry
RIVER ROMEO - 6G - 95 - Mano Pandaram
OBSIDIAN - 4G - 94 - Johan Janse van Vuuren
INFINITE WONDER - 8G - 91 - Mano Pandaram
DIWALI ROCKET - 4G - 89 - Mano Pandaram
Scratched:
OKAVANGO - Justin Snaith
FIERY PEGASUS - Joe Soma
CONFEDERATE - Fabian Habib
RULE BY FORCE - Joe Soma
POETS WARRIOR - Mike Azzie
GREETING MY MASTER - Alec Laird
ARISTOTLE - Alec Laird
COUNT HUHTIKUU - James Crawford
PUMPKIN PIE - Candice Dawson
ENFLAME - Candice Dawson