PUERTO IMPRESSES AND CHARITY THE WINNER ON CHARITY MILE SATURDAY

Highveld Hero Puerto Manzano Shows Class with Thrilling Allied Steelrode Onamission Charity Mile Win

The 2022 Betway Summer Cup defending champion, Puerto Manzano, displayed incredible heart to win the Allied Steelrode OnAMission Charity Mile in sensational fashion at Turffontein today.

Drawn 16 in a 16-horse Charity Mile field, Gavin Lerena somehow managed to reel in the field to pip Cousin Casey on his impressive Highveld debut, with Sean Tarry’s Bless My Stars coming in third in the day’s thrilling main race.

Puerto Manzano’s win also netted R100 000 for the South African Riding for the Disabled Association (SARDA) charity, in this special race in which each of the 16 runners were paired with a worthy charity doing amazing work in their communities and each charity being guaranteed a minimum R20 000.

A further five charities were also beneficiaries on a day in which horseracing gives back to its community, tangibly touching lives and effecting positive change.

Horseracing operator 4Racing, and global steel manufacturer Allied Steelrode showcased yet another impactful Allied Steelrode OnAMission Charity Mile with a mix of quality horseracing, philanthropy, family, and rugby fun at the Turffontein Racecourse. The day also featured the unveiling of the front parade ring in preparation for the highly anticipated 2023 Betway Summer Cup.

Billed as a match-up between the reigning Summer Cup champion and July winner Winchester Mansion, Johan Janse van Vuuren’s Betway Summer Cup hero emerged victorious, with Winchester Mansion finishing a strong fourth in its prep run for the big R5 million Betway Summer Cup.

Cousin Casey’s fantastic Highveld debut, under a great ride from Grant van Niekerk, won Thusanani Children’s Foundation a whopping R75 000 for the runner-up finish. The third spot was taken by Bless My Stars and Jicama 89, which awarded them R50 000, and in fourth place was Winchester Mansion and TAG Foundation which won R35 000.

All the remaining charities in the field received a total of R20 000 each.

Prior to the very heated Allied Steelrode OnAMission Charity Mile stakes, the Betway sponsored Gr3 Graham Beck Stakes for 3 year-olds saw the winner of the Betway Spring Challenge; Main Defender, go head to head with 2023 Equus Champion 2YO Colt, Sandringham Summit, who had not raced since his Grade 2 Durban Golden Horseshoe win at Greyville on July day.

An expectant crowd lined the rail to see which horse would emerge victorious. In the end Tony Peter’s Main Defender, ridden by star in-form jockey; Kabelo Matsunyane, won a contender for the Highveld’s race of the season by a short head against the exceptional Sandringham Summit, steered by Calvin Habib.  

“This Allied Steelrode OnAMission Charity Mile was simply sensational and a fantastic advert for the Highveld, with hugely competitive racing watched by wonderful crowds. Most importantly was Allied Steelrode and the wonderful support of Arun Chadha, Warne Rippon, and their team who we were able to make valuable input to the lives of the people in South Africa, who solely rely on the phenomenal work of each charity that took part in the race. It was a fantastic build up to our flagship event the Betway Summer Cup taking place at Turffontein on 25 November,” said Fundi Sithebe, 4Racing CEO.

“This win is not only for the centre but for the volunteers, the wonderful children and all those involved in helping us make a difference. It was an absolutely mind-blowing day for the charities, and we are extremely thankful to 4Racing and Allied Steelrode for their generous contribution,” said Steven Lukey of SARDA Centre

The festivities were followed by a screening of the nail-biting Rugby World Cup final between South Africa and New Zealand.

Turffontein's next feature race day is the Gr3 Victory Moon Stakes which takes place on Saturday, 4 November 2023 in the run-up to Gauteng’s richest race, the Gr1 Betway Summer Cup on 25 November 2023 at Turffontein racecourse.