Woodruff Dominates Summer Cup
Description:
Trainer Geoff Woodruff made it three in a row when he won the Gauteng Sansui Summer Cup (SAf-I) with Master Sabina Nov. 28 at Turffontein in South Africa.
Woodruff, who had previously scored with Yorker (2013) and Louis The King (2014), enjoyed a 1-2 finish this year as Deo Juvente checked in second the R2 million (US$138,819) contest. Remarkably, the stable has now saddled the first two past the post in the Summer Cup for the past three years.
The 2015 Summer Cup always had an open look to it, with topweight and dual group I winner French Navy eventually starting the 6-1 favorite. There was plenty of late support for 2013 Summer Cup runner up Master Sabina, who left the starting gate a 13-2 shot, while the likes of Mac De Lago, Durban July (gr. I) winner Power King, and former Irish group III winner Flying The Flag also had their share of supporters.
There was a slight delay to the start of the 2,000-meter (about 1 1/4-mile) race when the eventual winner needed his tongue tie to be fitted.
The 20-horse field eventually broke well, with The Captain's Tune making the pace in the early stages, with Ahlaam and Diesel Jet racing just off him. The pacemaker, however, was pulled out of the race at the 1,400-meter mark, when a stampede of horses hit the front.
With 600 meters left to run, the race looked an open affair with most of the fancied contenders in with a chance. Stablemates Master Sabina, who was partnered by last season's champion jockey Gavin Lerena, and Deo Juvente hit the front with 300 meters to run, with the favorite French Navy also putting in a strong claim.
With the line coming fast, it was the 6-year-old Master Sabina who prevailed by a neck from group II Victory Moon Stakes winner Deo Juvente. French Navy was a half-length away in third. Outsider Judicial, who ran third in the same race last year, put up a game performance to finish fourth.
The winner, who was making just his second start since a year layoff, clocked a final time of 2:02.55.
Arguably, the unlucky horse in the race was fifth-place finisher Mac De Lago, who was cramped for galloping room and failed to find a clear run in the closing stages. However, the drama was not finished as jockey Sean Cormack, rider of Deo Juvente, lodged an objection against his stablemate shortly after the winning post. The objection was eventually overruled.
Bred and owned by Michael de Broglio, Master Sabina's win in Saturday's race pushed his earnings to more than R2.3 million in prize money. Now an eight-time winner from 20 outings, Master Sabina is the 22nd top-level winner for the ill-fated seven-time South African champion sire Jet Master.
South Africa's group I winner was produced by the top-flight race mare Sabina Park, winner of the 2004 SA Oaks (SAf-II).