Summer Pudding proved to good in the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks over 2450m on Saturday to claim the SA Triple Tiara.

Well ridden by Gavin Lerena, the daughter of Silvano hit the front some 300m from home and then went on to beat Pomander by 1.25 lengths with Ballet Shoes another 0.50 lengths back in third, and Marygold in fourth.

Summer Pudding is owned by Mauritzfontein (Pty) Ltd (Nominee: Jessica Jell), was bred by Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein and is trained by Paul Peter.

In addition to the prize money, owners will collect the R1-million bonus for winning the Triple Tiara. The last claimer of the bonus was Cherry On The Top, who also ran in these colours and in human terms, is the aunt of Summer Pudding.

Remarkably, Summer Pudding was allowed to drift from11-20 to 12-10, mainly due to the money for Victoria Paige, but there was late support and she eventually went off at 17-20.

She was drawn wide and for a while Lerena kept her on the outside of the field in the back straight. “I had to play it by ear,” said the jockey. “There were a lot of bad horses I could have got stuck behind and they’re not making up a lot of ground today.

“So I had her nice and relaxed down the back stretch, even though I was three wide. I was just waiting for the gap to come so I could get in.”

With around 500m left to run Lerena appeared to be at work on her and not getting much of a reaction. “She did hit a bit of a flat spot,” admitted Lerena. “She does tend to do that in her races, but thank goodness she picks it up when it matters.

“She’s just magnificent,” he added. “She’s got such a beautiful action. You don’t feel like you’re touching the ground. She also must have a huge pair of lungs. She couldn’t blow out a candle after the race.

“The race worked out perfectly for me. She was able to use her action and she ‘s a superstar.”

Peter described the filly as “Ferraris fit”, talking about Ormond Ferraris, who won the SA Oaks 10 times as a trainer. “When the race was postponed Mr Ferraris said to me, ‘I’ve had experience with this. I know how to keep them on the boil and I know how to keep them fit’.

“Thank you Mr Ferraris, for your advice, for coming to the stable on the mornings despite the coronavirus. He’s a master and we love him.”

Peter admitted he did get tense at the 500m mark when she came under pressure. “I’m normally quite relaxed, but today was the limit.”

Despite not being able to come to the course, Peter said he had received a call from Jessica Slack and they were already celebrating the victory. At this stage no discussions have been held over what is next for the filly. “We decide to let her win this race and then we would decide.,” said Peter.

He added that they might bring her back for a victory parade once the crowds are allowed back on course. “She loves people, and Gavin said she was looking for the crowd but she didn’t see any one so maybe when racing resumes with the public here, we will just canter her down so the pubic can see her.”

Tabonline