Danie Toerien
The draw for this year’s Grade 1 Betway Summer Cup elicited the customary cheers and jeers, with trainer Tony Peter smiling widest after The Ultimate King was drawn in pole position.
Sean Tarry, on the other hand, was left puckered after Legend Of Arthur was alloted the proverbial parking lot for a starting gate, drawing the dreaded 20.
The R6-million race will be contested over 2000m at Turffontein on Saturday 29 November and after the draw, held at Katy's Palace in Kramerville on Wednesday 19 November, it will come as no surprise should early favourite The Equator, also from the Peter yard, shorten to close on even money after drawing gate 3.
Peter's third string in his bow, Son Of Raj, drew gate 4, giving his three runners the perfect opportunity to hog the rail early on, settle handy, or even perhaps set the pace.
Defending champion and top-weight Atticus Finch, trained by Alec Laird, drew gate 2, the same gate from which he won this event last year.
Royal Victory, who won this race in 2023 for trainer Nathan Kotzen from gate 13, drew gate 14 this time round, so should have no problem replicating his run from two years back.
The final field for the R6-million Grade 1 Betway Summer Cup, in order number, draw, horse, weight, jockey, and trainer, is:
1 - 2 ATTICUS FINCH 60.0 - Calvin Habib, Alec Laird
2 - 14 ROYAL VICTORY 59.0 - Chad Little, Nathan Kotzen
3 - 11 KING PELLES 57.5 - S'manga Khumalo, Gareth van Zyl
4 - 4 SON OF RAJ 55.5 - Kabelo Matsunyane, Tony Peter
5 - 3 THE EQUATOR (IRE) 55.0 - Gavin Lerena, Tony Peter
6 - 20 LEGEND OF ARTHUR 54.5 - Malesela Katjedi, Sean Tarry
7 - 18 MADISON VALLEY 54.5 - Craig Zackey, Frank Robinson
8 - 8 OTTO LUYKEN 54.5 - JP v'd Merwe, James Crawford
9 - 12 MY BEST SHOT 54.0 - Richard Fourie, Alan Greeff
10 - 5 ON MY HONOUR 54.0 - Serino Moodley, Glen Kotzen
11 - 10 SPUMANTE DOLCE 54.0 - Callan Murray, Mike/Mathew de Kock
12 - 16 PARISIAN WALKWAY 54.0 - Philasande Mxoli, Alec Laird
13 - 7 BUSSTOPINHOUNSLOW 54.0 - Rachel Venniker, Grant Maroun
14 - 9 OLIVIA'S WAY 54.0 - Grant van Niekerk, Roy Magner
15 - 1 THE ULTIMATE KING 54.0 - Muzi Yeni, Tony Peter
16 - 15 WILD INTENT 54.0 - Marco van Rensburg, Lucky Houdalakis
17 - 17 ANFIELDS ROCKET 54.0 - Sean Veale, Grant Maroun
18 - 19 SOLAR SAIL 54.0 - Jarryd Penny, Mark Khan
19 - 13 MOCHA BLEND 54.0 - Tristan Godden, Frank Robinson
20 - 6 NAVAJO NATION 54.0 - James Lihaba, Warrick/Weiho Marwing