See It Again, a two-time Grade 1 winner trained by Michael Roberts, tops the first Betway Summer Cup Log, which was released on Tuesday.
A total of 42 horses have been entered for the Grade 1 Betway Summer Cup to be run at Turffontein on 29 November, but with the field limited to 20 runners, it still remains to be seen which runners will face the starter and try to grab their share of the R6-million purse on offer.
4Racing, in consultation with the NHA Handicappers, will publish a series of logs leading up to the premier Highveld race, and the determination of the final field is at the discretion of the NHA in consultation with 4Racing.
According to NHA Handicapper Lennon Maharaj, the Summer Cup log functions as the official ranking tool used to determine which horses are most likely to be selected for the Summer Cup, based on their position at the time the log is published.
The Summer Cup is limited to a maximum of 20 runners. The log is published in stages, including the initial and final versions and is compiled by the Racing Operator (4Racing) in consultation with the Handicappers.
It ranks the top 20 horses most likely to make the final field if selection were to take place at the time of publication. These horses are listed in order of preference.
All other entries outside the top 20 are listed in descending Merit Rating order.
It is also important to note that, while it is not stipulated that the winner of races such as the Allied Steelrode Onamission Charity Mile and the Betway Victory Moon Stakes enjoy automatic entry into the Summer Cup, it is unlikely that they would be left out of the final field if entered.
The log rankings are based on a combination of factors, including but not limited to:
Merit ratings
Recent race form
Form over the distance
Performance in key preparatory races
Form in Graded races
The log serves as a strategic guide for owners and trainers, providing a clear indication of where their horse stands in relation to the competition.
Horses outside the top 20 are often required to enter and perform well in major preparatory races such as the Victory Moon Stakes to secure a win or improve their merit rating, thereby increasing their chances of making the final field.
Horses near the bottom of the top 20 must maintain strong performances to solidify their position or avoid poor results that could see them replaced by late improvers.
Publishing the log ensures transparency in the selection process. It builds excitement, encourages speculation, and drives engagement among racing fans and punters, who closely follow the rankings and form of their preferred horses in the lead-up to race day.
The first Summer Cup log, in order position, horse, age and sex, merit rating, nett merit rating, runs, wins, and trainer, is:
1 SEE IT AGAIN (6G) 125 - 125 - 26 - 7 Michael Roberts
2 ROYAL VICTORY (6G) 125 - 125 - 27 - 5 Nathan Kotzen
3 KING PELLES (5G) 122 - 122 - 23 - 7 Gareth van Zyl
4 ATTICUS FINCH (6G) 121 - 121 - 25 - 6 Alec Laird
5 OKAVANGO (4G) 120 - 119 - 10 - 3 Justin Snaith
6 CONFEDERATE (4G) 118 - 117 - 11 - 5 Fabian Habib
7 SON OF RAJ (6G) 119 - 119 - 24 - 6 Tony Peter
8 SPUMANTE DOLCE (4F) 117 - 116 - 8 - 3 Mike/Mathew de Kock
9 FIERY PEGASUS (4F) 119 - 118 - 11 - 5 Joe Soma
10 MADISON VALLEY (5G) 115 - 115 - 21 - 5 Frank Robinson
11 ON MY HONOUR (4G) 116 - 115 - 9 - 3 Glen Kotzen
12 OTTO LUYKEN (6G) 116 - 116 - 27 - 5 James Crawford
13 LEGEND OF ARTHUR (4C) 117 - 116 - 11 - 3 Sean Tarry
14 PARISIAN WALKWAY (4G) 117 - 116 - 12 - 2 Alec Laird
15 THE EQUATOR (IRE) (5H) 116 - 116 - 8 - 2 Tony Peter
16 RULE BY FORCE (6G) 117 - 117 - 13 - 3 Joe Soma
17 WILD INTENT (4G) 116 - 115 - 10 - 2 Lucky Houdalakis
18 SOLAR SAIL (4G) 115 - 114 - 12 - 2 Mark Khan
19 OLIVIA'S WAY (4F) 112 - 111 - 13 - 5 Roy Magner
20 WORLD OF ALICE (4F) 106 - 105 - 13 - 2 Sean Tarry
The other first entries are:
FUTURE PEARL (6G) 114 - 114 - 26 - 6 Sean Tarry
MARAUDING HORDE (5G) 112 - 112 - 18 - 5 Mike/Mathew de Kock
BUSSTOPINHOUNSLOW (4G) 112 - 111 - 16 - 4 Grant Maroun
GREETING MY MASTER (5G) 110 - 110 - 15 - 4 Alec Laird
POETS WARRIOR (6G) 110 - 110 - 14 - 6 Mike Azzie
ARISTOTLE (4G) 109 - 108 - 10 - 2 Alec Laird
HOTARUBI (5G) 106 - 106 - 27 - 3 Sean Tarry
DON'T CRY FOR ME (4G) 104 - 103 - 17 - 3 Sean Tarry
MOCHA BLEND (4F) 104 - 103 - 7 - 2 Frank Robinson
NAVAJO NATION (5G) 104 - 104 - 28 - 3 WO Marwing/WH Marwing
THUNEE PLAYA (5H) 103 - 103 - 22 - 5 Mano Pandaram
COUNT HUHTIKUU (4G) 101 - 100 - 9 - 3 James Crawford
COCOMELON (4F) 100 - 99 - 11 - 1 Sean Tarry
CHESTNUT BOMBER (4G) 97 - 96 - 14 - 2 Johan Janse van Vuuren
THE ULTIMATE KING (4G) 97 - 96 - 8 - 3 Tony Peter
PIONEER SQUARE (4G) 96 - 95 - 9 - 3 Candice Dawson
RIVER ROMEO (6G) 95 - 95 - 20 - 3 Mano Pandaram
INFINITE WONDER (8G) 94 - 94 - 17 - 3 Mano Pandaram
OBSIDIAN (4G) 94 - 93 - 9 - 4 Johan Janse van Vuuren
PUMPKIN PIE (4G) 92 - 91 - 6 - 2 Candice Dawson
DIWALI ROCKET (4G) 89 - 88 - 12 - 2 Mano Pandaram
ENFLAME (4G) 86 - 85 - 7 - 2 Candice Dawson