The pinnacle of the Joburg racing season is undoubtedly the Gauteng Summer Cup. Whilst patrons will be enjoying the day away from the course, there are some sensational races lined up for the day.

To help you through the day, we’ve got an easy to follow race schedule, with blitz previews, betting tips and some great promotions from Bet.co.za. Check our analysis for all 10 races below, and hopefully you’ll come out a winner at the end of the 2020 Gauteng Summer Cup.

Jockey To Follow – Smanga Khumalo

Whilst he’s not booked on too many fancied rides, his form this season at Turffontein cannot be ignored. Of his 40 rides to date, he’s won 1, that’s a whopping 27.5% strike rate. His top 3 strike rate sits at 57.5%. We’ve highlighted some value rides of his in our preview, which will hopefully make for great each way bets.

Trainer To Follow – Mike de Kock

A classy stable finding form is probably the best way to describe the current situation. 8 wins from 36 runners on this track so far, and a 38% top 3 rate. The de Kock runners will all be prepped on the day, so it’s worth looking out for some lurkers in races where his runners may not top the betting boards. Don’t forget, this is home ground advantage for the stable.

 

Race 1 – 1160m Maiden Plate

This sprint for fillies and mares up the straight looks a tricky race, especially now that the carded favourite won recently, and thus has been scratched. With all but one runner being 3 year olds, the decision between following form or looking to breeding will bring a fair few into contention.

TIP: LADY OF THE FLAME – We’re here for a good time, and backing a short priced favourite in race 1 of a feature day just seems a little boring to me. My fancy, with the red hot Smanga Khumalo onboard, has the most exposed form. Albeit just 3 runs, she competed in serious company last time out, where the 1400m was likely too far. Coming back to the shorter trip will suit, and if she can reproduce her debut run, the formlines out of that race make her a certain value play. Try get a little each way action if she’s close to even money a place.

BET: RACE 1

Race 2 – 1160m Maiden Plate

Another sprint, this time a field of colts and geldings. There are a handful of exposed contenders as well as some interesting first timers, which should make this race an open affair. Without knowing what the debutants are about (watch the betting for those), we’re siding with what we know and hoping to catch a winner.

TIP: GODSWOOD – The Paul Peter / Warren Kenndy combination was the highlight of the 2019/20 season, and they remain a force to reckon with. In all this fancy’s 3 runs to date there’s never been much in it, and the step back to the shorter distance should be the right conditions to get him in the winner’s box. Currently trading 3rd favourite at around 7/2, it seems a good bet in what should be a close finish.

BET: RACE 2

Race 3 – 1600m Maiden Plate

This maiden plate over 1600m does not have any stand outs that I would run to put my money on. There are lightly raced runners with solid maiden form to their name, mixed with some 4 year olds trying to break their ducks.

TIP: CASTLE CORNER – Despite the mixed bag of a field, I’m siding with the likely favourite based on exposed form. Stuart Pettigrew has a solid crop at the moment, and with a little more luck, this selection may have already broken through the maidens. After four 2nds in a row, this surely has to be his time. I’ll be including in doubles, but nothing on the head, at what should be 2/1 or less barring some big money moves.

BET: RACE 3

Race 4 – Magnolia Handicap (Grade 3)

The first big race of the day is a Grade 3 fillies and mares sprint over 1160m. Being a handicap, the betting seems to be favouring the progressive youngsters, who have lower ratings and are carrying less than their elders.

TIP: SPRINGS OF CARMEL – I’m going with the younger horse theory, but not opting for the likely starting favourites. As with race 2, the Peter/Kennedy combination has been a cracking one to follow up north, and looking at this fancy, there’s no reason it can’t compete. A Grade 2 winner, getting weight from Ecstatic Green, and at much healthier odds. It’s worth the gamble for me.

BET: RACE 4

Race 5 – Merchants (Grade 3)

The next Grade 3 is also a sprint race, this time in open company, and thus dominated by the boys. The sole filly in the race is actually an interesting betting prospect based on its recent run, but without any sex allowance has it all to do.

TIP: EDEN ROC – For us, it’s one of the top two in the betting; Bohica going for 4 in a row versus our selection, a proven champion at the highest level. The big test is the 5kg difference in weights as a result of those achievements. Bohica will likely go off favourite for this reason, and justifiable so. For me, Sean Tarry bringing his finest sprinter to the track on a big day, having won a Grade 1 and two Grade 2s in prior seasons, means more. Currently available at around 9/2, it’s a more appealing betting prospect in my eyes.

BET: RACE 5

Race 6 – Dingaans (Grade 2)

Outside of the main race, this is likely going to be the next biggest attraction on the card. Not because we’re in for a super competitive race, but the standout favourite here has the whole racing fraternity talking. It makes my job of tipping the race a lot easier, granted it wins comfortably.

TIP: MOUNT PLEASANT – This Aussie bred machine is currently rated 127 as a 3 year old, which is mindblowing. Having just won his debut, the next two races are what really put him on the map. Two Grade 2 wins laters, and staring down the hattrick. The fact that this race is off even weights means it only needs to be a shadow of his rating to win. By racing standards this is a sure thing on paper, and we know that means absolutely nothing. It’s either the banker on the day, or the biggest upset you’ll see for a while. I’m going with the former, but these ridiculously short odds, is not a betting prospect for me.

BET: RACE 6

Race 7 – Summer Cup (Grade 1)

The day peaks with the Summer Cup, the biggest race on the Joburg calendar. Being a handicap makes it an interesting betting prospect, and will always favour horses on the up, those with favourable draws, and those that get the luck in running. With a decent field it makes an upset all the more possible.

TIP: PACK LEADER – I’m making use of the reasons mentioned above to brass the favourite, albeit with something not that far down the betting boards. It’s of common opinion that Summer Pudding has it all to do; a horrendous draw and a weakish field means she’ll carry a hefty 59kgs. She’ll be the fan favourite but trading at around 5/2 currently, is not my cup of tea. Pack Leader has had close to perfect prep for this, coming off a long layout to gradually build up race fitness. Having not won beyond 1600m will be his biggest challenge, but with experience in other Grade 1s of similar distance, means this isn’t his first try at it. There’s room for bigger upsets than my selection, but very few with as much big race experience to warrant more confidence.

BET: RACE 7

Race 8 – Ipi Tombe Challenge (Grade 2)

This Grade 2 for fillies and mare has the favourite quite well weighted. The betting suggests this won’t be much more than a formality, although there are some sneaky inclusions that make things trickier.

TIP: WAR OF ATHENA – The betting boards have this a two horse race, and it seems better value to opt for the underdog than hope the topweight runs to form. Queen Supreme got caught out last time over this distance in a weight for age contest that saw her running off level weights with others rated slightly higher than our selection this time around. The 22/10 on offer for our fancy looks the more logical selection, unless you think the favourite will be running her best race. The 9kg weight difference brings our fancy right into the race, and that fact that they’re drawn 1 and 2 means Muzi Yeni can keep her tracking the favourite the whole way. Value beats class for me in this one.

BET: RACE 8

Race 9 – 3200m Handicap

This stayers handicap provides a refreshing change to the prior 8 races over much shorter distances. There’s a lot of collateral form to dissect in this one, and the betting suggests it will be a closely contested affair between a few fancied runners.

TIP: IMPERIAL RUBY – This is a tentative selection in long distance races that are notoriously tricky to predict. For me, Craig Zackey continues to improve as a jockey, and not so long ago I wouldn’t have had him in mind to contest this one. He gets his fourth ride on the selection and has a solid strike rate to date, never finishing outside the top 5, winning once. This gelding’s best run to date came over the same course and distance back in June, and if Zackey can replicate the ride Pierre Strydom gave him, he’s in with a great chance.

BET: RACE 9

Race 10 – 1400m Handicap

The last of the day is traditionally my chance to find a big priced prospect. We’re either climbing out of a 9 race hole, or looking for some cream on top of a successful day’s punting.

TIP: DAN THE LAD – Currently around 10/1, this looks like just the selection we need. Coming off a solid run in better company last time out, a repeat would seemingly earn us some place money. It’s never that easy, but an each way bet here looks a great way to end the day. He boasts a great record over course and distance, and all we need is a hungry Sherman Brown to get a nice break and a little luck in running, and we could be the last ones shouting home a winner on Summer Cup day.

BET: RACE 10