Hermoso Mundo and Abashiri drew at Nos 18 and 19 for the R2-million Gauteng Sansui Summer Cup, to be run over 2000m at Turffontein on Saturday next week.

NOVEMBER 15, 2017
They opened at 7-1 in the betting when the field was announced on Tuesday, but both drifted after the ballot, with the Mike and Adam Azzie-trained Abashiri now on offer at 15-2 with Betting World and Weiho Marwing’s charge Hermoso Mundo now second favourite at 8-1. The wide draw will probably not be as crucial to Weichong Marwing and Hermoso Mundo, who likes to come from nearer the back than the front.

Said Weichong Marwing after the draw: “No 18 draw is not a disaster for Hermoso Mundo because he’s going to come from behind anyway. The long straight will suit him.”

Marwing has two other horses in the race, Mac de Lago, the outsider at 66-1 and drawn at No 7 (also saddle-cloth number 7), and Let It Rain (40-1), who pulled No 15 stall. Mac de Lago will be ridden by Marco van Rensburg, who said: “Seven is my lucky number – I’m very happy with the draw.”

Two other horses are at 8-1, Pagoda and Mike de Kock-trained Orchid Island, who drew at No 10, so jockey Anthony Delpech should not have too many problems positioning her in her preferred mid-field slot.

Geoff Woodruff’s best-fancied runner Pagoda will jump from No 11 stall, with Master Switch (14-1) out wide at No 16 and the trainer’s other runner Banner Hill (14-1) pulling No 13 stall – the same as his saddlecloth number.

Trainer Johan Janse van Rensburg will be happy with how his horses fared at the draw function. Crowd Pleaser (17-2) drew at No 6, in-form Girl On The Run (16-1) drew at No 5 and New Predator (25-1) drew at No 9. However Brazuca (10-1), the mount of Gavin Lerena and arguably the stable elect, drew at No 14. If he goes to the front, as he did when beating Abashiri last time, the wide draw might have little impact on his performance, though.

The trainer said: “My only problem with Crowd Pleaser is the long Turffontein straight. They have the chance to run him down. Brazuca is very well. He loves the course and will have no problem with the distance. Girl On The Run won a good race last time and will be even better over this distance.”
Sean Tarry-trained duo French Navy and Social Order are 12-1 chances with Betting World following the draw function. Both drew double-digit stalls, No 17 and 12 respectively, while his less-fancied runners Liege (13-1) and Tilbury Fort (22-1) drew stalls No 2 and 4.

Wind Chill, who will bounce from pole position, has come in for some support in the betting, shortening from 18-1 to 16-1, while Joe Soma’s other runner, Master Sabina – the horse bidding for his third win in Johannesburg’s premier race – is on offer at 20-1 and will start from No 8 draw.

Gabby Soma said of Master Sabina: “We had a problem with him shortly after he arrived so we have not been able to give him a prep run. It’s not ideal but we did have a full gallop with five other horses and he did very well.”
Coral Fever, from the Robbie Sage yard, is also a 16-1 chance in the early betting. He will start from the widest stall of all.

The remaining horse is a horse who hails from the in-form stable of Paul Peter, Fort Ember. She drew at No 3 and has the form to be competitive in this type of field, so her 40-1 odds might be generous. 

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