Jack Milner: Trainer Paul Peter admits to being “quite confident” about the chances of Summer Pudding ahead of Saturday’s 4Racing Premier’s Champions Challenge.
The Grade 1 race over 2000m will be run on the Turffontein’s Standside track.
Summer Pudding will be coming up against two of the country’s best horses in Got The Greenlight and Malmoos in a race many are calling the most iconic seen in South Africa for many years.
In fact, even the bookmakers cannot find a favourite and all three runners are quoted at 2-1 to win this race which forms part of Champions Day.
While the four-year-old Silvano filly has a 4.5kg pull over Malmoos and 5kg over Got The Greenlight, this is the first time any of the three have met and without any collateral form, any of the three could pull this off.
Summer Pudding had her final fast work on Tuesday.
“She looks superb,” said Peter. “She’s looking bright, she’s eating well, so going into the race I am feeling quite confident.”
Peter has 13 runners carded for the meeting and he is expecting a massive run from Smorgasbord in Race 4, the Grade 2 4Racing SA Nursery over 1160m.
This two-year-old son of Twice Over was backed from 5-1 into 8-10 on debut, and despite stumbling at the start, was quickly up with the pace and then went away to win by 3.25 lengths.
“He’s a very smart colt,” said Peter. “He came through that last run well and has come on since then.
“Not only did he stumble come out of the gates, but he was very green but (jockey) Warren (Kennedy) said the colt gave him a good feel.
“I’m just not sure how good the Azzie-trained filly (Sheela) is.”
Sheela was also well supported on debut, got squeezed out at the start, and also went onto win by 3.75 lengths. Also, being a filly, she gets 2.5kg from Smorgasbord.
Netta is another runner from whom Peter is expecting an improved performance. She runs in Race 6, the Grade 2 4Racing Gerald Rosenberg Stakes over 2000m.
“She is better than her last two runs, but she did have excuses,” said Peter. “I believe she is also better than her rating.
“Obviously Running Brave is the horse to beat but I think punters only need those two horses to be well covered in the race.”
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