Muzi Yeni on Betway Summer Cup meeting

PLEASE NOTE: MUZI'S YENI'S COLUMN APPEARS EVERY FRIDAY IN THE CITIZEN 

Muzi Yeni

Saturday is Betway Summer Cup day at Turffontein, one of the great days in our racing calendar. The meeting is headlined by the R6-million Grade 1 Betway Summer Cup over 2000m on the Standside track and is supported by five other feature races plus some unbelievable quality supporting minor events.

Overall, this is truly a remarkable day and please come down to the course to support the champions taking part on the day.

A quick mention to the day’s main sponsors Betway, who invest so much into the game and here’s wishing you a phenomenal event.

The field is another quality lineup with several of these horses thriving at the moment.

We have the defending champion Atticus Finch carrying top weight after a super victory in the Allied Steelrode Charity Mile taking on up-and-coming stars like The Equator.

I am fortunate enough to be riding the Grade 3 Victory Moon Stakes winner The Ultimate King and while we will discuss this in detail later, it’s lovely to see the usual raiders taking their places again.

I think it’s going to be a fantastic race and the winner will need to be at his very best to have his name inscribed in the record books.

I have 10 rides on the 11-race card and will be doing everything in my power to get a winner or two on the board. I also hope to guide our followers in the right direction and help them get a share of all the carryovers and huge TAB pools on the day.

We’ll get straight into the card and Race 1 is a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 800m. This is the first baby race of the season which is always exciting but there is no form to go on and punters will need to be guided purely by the betting, as well as the canter past, and make their decisions based on that.

Race 2 is a Conditional Maiden Plate over 1160m and once again keep an eye on the betting and canter past to get an idea of the potential of the unraced horses.

I ride Gaslight Dancer who has some fair form, but I think she’ll find it difficult in this field because there are some quality maidens taking their places.

Tintin is one of the few four-year-olds in the race but he looks well above average he is the horse I think they all have to beat after two really good runs.

Highwayman Harry ran a lovely race, finishing strongly in an event that has worked out nicely and with expected natural improvement, he rates the immediate danger.

Splittheeights looked a really nice horse on debut too, and the form of that race has also been franked, so he is definitely one for the shortlist.

Magic Carpet Ride was just touched off by her stable companion last time out, when clear of the third horse, and a repeat of that will make her very competitive.

Race 3 is a Pinnacle Stakes over 1400m and I ride Minogue who I make one of my better rides on the day after a really impressive latest win.

She is also the joint best-weighted horse in the race and gave me a really good feel. If able to repeat that, she will be a massive runner.

Class-horse William Robertson steps up to 1400m, a distance we know he can get, and his last start showed he is coming back to form, so I make him my main danger.

Cats Pajamas was unlucky not to win last time but he is a classy horse and could enjoy the track, so he is one for the shortlist.

Fiery Pegasus returns from a lengthy break and this is a trip on the short side, so you can expect her to improve from the run. But she is a top-class filly and can go into wider bets.

Race 4 is the Listed Blu Voucher Carry On Alice Stakes over 1160m and I ride Perfect Miracle who was disappointing last time out when running out the money at short odds, but the track was soft and I’ll be hoping she bounces back to best.

Rodeo Drive is the horse I think we all have to beat after an outstanding latest effort. She now drops in trip which I think will suit her based on the running style, and if able to show that same speed, she might prove hard to peg back and could be the best bet on a very tough card.

Almond Sea is a classy filly who had excuses once again in her last start. She is having her third race after a rest and with a trouble-free run is a definite runner.

Three-year-olds Elegantrix and Rachel Wall are both having their third runs after a rest and should come in cherry ripe, so both must be included in all bets.

Chasing Happiness is also having her third run after a rest, so she should have come on from her last start and a decent run can be expected.

Class horses Fatal Flaw and Mia Moo both return from breaks and give weight away and will have to be close to peak fitness to feature, but must go into wider bets.

Race 5 is the Grade 3 New Turf Carriers Merchants over 1160m and I ride Cosmic Star who won a really good race with me last time out. On that performance, he’ll love the step up in trip and I’ll be hoping to run into the money.

I feel we have the three-year-olds to beat, starting with my selection in the race Nyaka Nyaka who is a very good horse and comes in with a very handy weight. If the drop in trip doesn’t have a negative effect, he could prove tough to beat.

African Pride looks a very good sprinter and ran a decent race last time out. He has won over this trip so that shouldn’t be too much of an issue and he is one for the shortlist.

Slinky Mapimpi also comes in with a very low weight and is in good form. I think he has a definite winning chance so he must go into all bets.

Truth won very well last time out, and if he repeats that performance, he is a definite runner.

Charming Cheetah and Fire ‘N Flames both have winning claims and must go into bets.

Race 6 is the Grade 3 Ducat Africa Fillies Mile over 1600m and I ride Pretty Persuasive who I make my best ride on the card and my value bet too.

This is a high-class filly who ran a lovely race last time, out even though things never went according to plan for me. If they go according to plan this time, I think she’ll take all the beating.

Mamlambo was in the same race last time and was also very unlucky. She will enjoy the step up in trip and I rate her my biggest danger.

Littlemissmillion is unbeaten and goes for a hat-trick. Both wins were very impressive, but she returns from a break and will have to be close to peak fitness. If she is, she’ll be right there.

Valentina Balducci won a lovely race last time out and a repeat of that will see her in the money again.

Race 7 is the Grade 2 Jackpot City Dingaans over 1600m and I ride Chronicle King who is a high-class sort who won a lovely race on his seasonal reappearance. While this is a really hot renewal of the race, I’ll be hoping to be right there, so he must go into all bets.

Jan Van Goyen was the Equus Champion Two-Yea- Old colt after a devastating display when winning the Grade 1 on Gold Cup Day, showing his brilliance.

While he returns from a lengthy break, I’d be surprised if he isn’t close to peak fitness and I make him the horse we all have to beat.

Tin Pan Alley won a really good race last time and will be having his third run after a rest, which is extremely beneficial. He is one of the main dangers and must go into all bets.

Trust was ultra-impressive the way he finished off his race last time and stepping up in trip will be a massive help. He must be added to the shortlist.

Race 8 is the headliner on the card, the Grade 1 Betway Summer Cup over 2000m, and I ride The Ultimate King who won the Victory Moon Stakes in impressive fashion, displaying he is a horse on the rise. He must have a definite chance, even though this is his toughest test.

He does have a mind of his own and with the crowd on course, I’ll be hoping he remains calm. I am thrilled with my draw and I’ll be hoping to get the run of the race.

My stable companion, The Equator, has been nothing but impressive in his last two starts. This import is loaded with ability and off his handy weight, and the fact that he will love the trip and conditions, he is the horse we all have to beat.

I also think he could still be well underrated and this Grade 1 Handicap, where the minimum weight is capped at 54kg, suits him perfectly.

Atticus Finch is the defending champion and jumps from the same stall as last year, which is very positive.

He is in the form of his life and the way he won the Charity Mile makes him as one of the shortlist horses and needs to go into all bets.

On My Honour is a lovely horse who is making the trip up from KZN. His prep has gone really well and will be having his third run after a rest so should be cherry ripe for a massive run.

Equus Champion Stayer King Pelles has had the prep of his life with two sensational runs leading into this race over a trip way too short.

He now steps up to the 2000m and I have no doubt he’ll absolutely relish the track. He is a massive runner.

Madison Valley ran well in the race last year and seems to be better now, so he is another to include in all bets.

Race 9 is the Betway Summer Cup Consolation over 2000m and I ride Chestnut Bomber who I make one of the horses to beat.

His last start was a really good effort and he comes in with 52kg and a great draw, so he should have every opportunity to run a massive race.

Field Marshal ran a super race when second in the Victory Moon Stakes. This is a definite drop in class and if able to repeat that run, he is the horse to beat.

Money Heist was fourth in the race and the same applies to him with the drop in class. He jumps from No 1 draw so expect a big run.

Thunee Playa and Don’t Cry For Me both have claims on their best form.

Race 10 is the Racehorse Owners Association over 3200m and I ride Breeze Over who ran a better race over a trip short of his best but will have to be at his best to win because there is some strong opposition.

Shoot The Rapids is having his third run after a rest and will absolutely love the step up in trip. Even though he is drawn wide, he sets the standard on form and is the horse to beat.

Daimyo won a lovely race when stepped up in trip for his new stable. He had always shown to be a good stayer and after two good preps, he dominated them last time out. He steps up in trip and is the main danger.

The Mikado and Corrupt are both still relatively unexposed over this trip, and both can go into wider bets.

Race 11 is a MR 80 SAJA Appie Leg Up Apprentice Handicap over 1600m and I really like the look of Never Never Land.

This unexposed horse will love the step up in trip and could be well underrated at the moment so is the horse they all have to beat.

The Playboy Bomber was unlucky not to win his last start and will be cherry ripe for a massive run so looks the main danger.

Harun Al Rashid is a decent sort who makes the trip up from KZN and off a good draw, he is definitely a runner.

Zip Code has some good form and if able to produce his best form, he’ll be there at the finish.

BEST BET

Race 4 No 7 Rodeo Drive

VALUE BET

Race 6 No 5 Pretty Persuasive

PICK 6

R2520

Leg 1: 7

Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15

Leg 3: 5, 6

Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 11

Leg 5: 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 10, 15

Leg 6: 3, 5, 10