Equus Horse Of The Year Summer Pudding showed what she was made of against the boys in the Gr1 World Sports Betting Summer Cup this afternoon, defeating a courageous run from the aptly named twice Gr2 winning Running Brave (Brave Tin Soldier) by two lengths – leaving over a 7 length gap between herself and the third placed Tree Tumbo.
Interestingly, three fillies placed in the top four with Dance Class, closely bred along the lines of previous Summer Cup winner Dancewiththedevil, finishing fourth for owner breeder and trainer, St John Gray.
An ecstatic Warren Kennedy saluted as he crossed the line, having ridden a superb race aboard the unbeaten daughter of Silvano who overcame her biggest test to date and put to bed any doubts over her ability from a wide draw against the colts and geldings. Warren has been aboard Summer Pudding for 7 of her 9 wins, only missing on one occasion forced by Covid19 interprovincial movement laws.
Bred in partnership by between Mauritzfontein and Wilgerbosdrift, the Mauritzfontein owned daughter of Cherry On The Cake gave trainer Paul Peter his third Gr1 (his previous two Gr1’s all Summer Pudding!) on a superb day that also saw the conditioner saddle the first two past the post in the Gr2 World Sports Betting Dingaans with Narrow Creek bred Catch Twentytwo (Elusive Fort) and recent Ready To Run Cup winner, MK’s Pride (Willow Magic).
Summer Pudding, being labelled as South Africa’s answer to the mighty unbeaten mares Black Caviar and Winx, will head down to the Cape for a bash at the Gr1 Met, where she will be taken care of by Eric Sands – the latter who has trained Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein stars Golden Ducat and Rainbow Bridge to multiple Gr1 wins.
The country will wait with baited breath as the star mare will be looking to retain 10 wins unbeaten.
Summer Pudding was not sold at sales after injuring herself as a baby which also nearly saw her nearly not see a racetrack at all.
She is an outstanding physical specimen with powerful hindquarters, an athletic walk and a superb temperament, with a very intelligent and kind disposition who has earned R2 089 500 in stakes.
Bloodstock South Africa sold her What A Winter half-brother at the National Yearling Sale in 2020 for R600 000 to Suzette Viljoen, and is in training with Lezeanne Forbes.
Congratulations to Jessica and Steven Jell, Paul Peter and his team and to jockey Warren Kennedy on an outstanding achievement!
File image: Candiese Lenferna
Relive the race:
Summer Pudding – 2020 World Sports Betting Gauteng Summer Cup
Uploaded by Racing Today on 2020-11-28.
