Grande Jete will attempt to become the second Cape-trained horse in three weeks to win a major feature in Gauteng when he lines up for the R2-million grade 1 Summer Cup over 2 000m at Turffontein on Saturday.
Last season’s Cape Derby winner has assumed the mantle of race favourite after the scratching of Badger’s Drift, the horse he pipped in the Kenilworth classic, and a win will certainly not be as big a shock as that of his compatriot Taupo Retreat in the November Handicap earlier this month.
The Eric Sands-trained colt attracted support when running a promising fifth over the November mile, his first race on the Highveld. With the benefit of that run and tackling this more suitable distance Grande Jete looks set for a bold showing in the race he has been aimed at since being forced to sit out the KwaZulu-Natal season through injury.
His preparation appears to have been meticulous, and with Jeff Lloyd at the wheel again from a good draw, the son of Jallad could confirm the whispers that have been circulating ever since his arrival in town.
This is a handicap, however, and there is no shortage of potential upsets. Here’s an evaluation of some of the runners in Africa’s richest race.
Ingleside: Comes off a hat-trick of feature wins but has a near- impossible task with top weight.
Big Brass: Seems to have too much to do with 57,5kg.
Young Rake: Below peak form in his past two runs and would struggle even at best.
Badger’s Coast: Always capable of pulling something special out of the bag and can place.
Celtic Grove: Horse of the Year and very consistent, but has to prove his effectiveness over this stiff 2 000m.
Double Reef: Champion jockey Piere Strydom’s mount. He will be finishing strongly and could run into a place.
Polo Classic: Disappointed at his last start but ran a cracker the time before. He will need some luck from the widest draw but can surprise.
American Badger: Always highly regarded and has come right to win his past three. Seems to be the Alec Laird stable elect and has a definite chance again.
Major Hero: Mike de Kock’s rising star. With Guillermo Figueroa up, he has last year’s winning jockey-trainer team on his side. Probably still improving and must have a big chance.
England Swings: Quite consistent and this Al Mufti gelding should be involved in the finish.
Carolina Cherry: Not De Kock’s main runner but can place.
Princely Affair: Alex Laird second-stringer but can place.
Idle Fancy: Lightly weighted, consistent filly with a nice draw and all the stamina required to run a good race.
Seaboard: Rounds off a De Kock quintet. Ran a very good second to American Badger (at identical weight terms) after a 17-month break. Can improve on that and while this Badger Land entire doesn’t seem to be the stable choice, the form required for a big effort is undeniably there.
In the R250 000 grade 2 Dingaans brilliant Flight Alert should take some beating. He’s already won two features in only four starts.
Turffontein best bets: Coronation Cup (race 3); Third Umpire (race 4); Simply Salmon (race 9) Kenilworth best bets: James Bond (race 3); Western Serenade (race 5)