An opportunity for Excellent Witness to indicate proof of Summer season Cup worthiness

A keenly fought contest is the one positive factor for Saturday’s Pinnacle Stakes race at Turffontein (Race 7 on the cardboard, over 1600m).

Six of the ten runners have been nominated for the Summer season Cup on the finish of November and none of them are, at this stage, certainties to make the ultimate line-up for Joburg’s greatest race. Anticipate fireworks.

Fabina Habib-trained Zeus and Candice Dawson’s Excellent Witness have been named in sixteenth and seventeenth slots on the Summer season Cup “probables” log launched by handicappers this week – the one two of the six hopefuls within the high 20.

They’re quoted at 8-1 and 4-1 respectively within the ante-post betting.

ALSO READ: Examine the blood, however beware the nick, geek

Excellent Witness is second on the boards, under 7-2 shot Outofthedarkness, one other Cup entry who’s among the many “subsequent 10” on the log.

Outofthedarkness was well-backed final time, after a two-month freshener, and completed fourth over 1800m.

This mile appears extra like his model – however whether or not he has the lungs for the 2000m subsequent month is one other matter altogether.

Filly Excellent Witness has been doing very nicely all yr in elite firm and can certainly give supporters a run for his or her cash.

Again within the working

As for Zeus, he’s going to wish the run after placing his toes up for 5 months (well-known final phrases!).

Like him, different Summer season Cap entries in Saturday’s conflict look like utilizing the outing extra to blow away cobwebs after a pleasant trip relatively than for leverage up the massive race log.

The doable exception to that’s Brett Crawford’s Tremendous Silvano, a really constant fellow who likes being partnered by in-form Luyolo Mxothwa and isn’t ignored at 5-1.

Durban July champion Glowing Water and stablemate, and July third, Secure Passage unsurprisingly high the Summer season Cup log, with two different Mike de Kock horses, MK’s Pleasure and Aragosta up their with them.

Sean Tarry’s Triple Tiara winner Rain In Holland retains them firm, as does Saturday’s Spring Problem hero William Robertson.

These six look nailed on for Cup beginning berths, however the remainder of the entry record is poised to develop into a cavalry cost in qualifying races over the subsequent month – beginning on Saturday.

SELECTION

Race 7: 8 Excellent Witness, 3 Tremendous Silvano, 7 Outofthedarkness, 10 Bard Of Avon

Originally published at Irvine News HQ