Louis The King Reigns Supreme in Summer Cup
Description:
By Sarah Whitelaw
Louis The King, winner of last season's SASCOC Triple Crown, ran out a popular winner of the Sansui Summer Cup (SAf-I) as the favorite at Turffontein in South Africa Nov. 29.
In winning the 2-million rand ($180,760 in U.S. dollars) showpiece, Louis The King gave Gauteng conditioner Geoff Woodruff consecutive Summer Cup winners.
Remarkably, Woodruff—whose charges Yorker, Master Sabina, and Tellina ran 1-2-3 in the same race in 2013—also saddled the runner-up, Killua Castle, reinforcing Woodruff's dominance in one of South Africa's richest races. He saddled four runners in Saturday's Summer Cup, with Daily News 2000 runner-up Rake's Chestnut tipped as his next best chance at 8-1.
Woodruff had four winners on the 12-race card.
After finishing a flying third in the Emperors Palace Charity Mile (SAf-II) at his penultimate start, Louis The King was confidently tipped by many experts as a likely winner of the Summer Cup. Support for his chances remained firm and Louis The King was eventually dispatched a firm 18-10 favorite for the 2,000-meter race.
Longshot Everest made the early running before Bold Inspiration took over the lead from Everest, Sovereign Mint, and No Worries. Both Louis The King and Killua Castle, dispatched a 66-1 chance, raced well back in the early stages. Louis The King, under the urgings of jockey Piere Strydom, made up ground in the middle stages of the race.
Turning for home at the top of the long Turffontein straight, the filly Jet Belle briefly hit the front from No Worries. However, Louis The King was making steady progress through the field while Killua Castle found openings to hit the front and kick clear.
For a moment, his many fans feared Louis The King (who was carrying 130 pounds to Killua Castle's 124) would not make up the ground, but he showed huge resolution to overhaul his stablemate with 50 meters left to go. The eventual winning margin was a neck, with third placed finisher Judicial another three lengths away.
Last season's Gold Cup (SAf-I) winner and top stayer Wavin' Flag ran a cracker back in fourth place, ahead of Earl Of Derby and No Worries.
Saturday's Summer Cup was also another feather in the cap of top jockey Strydom. The former South African champion had recently recorded the 5,000th win of his illustrious career, and the Summer Cup provided the popular Gauteng rider with another moment in the spotlight.
Victory in Saturday's race pushed Louis The King's career record to seven victories from 11 outings. The colt, one of the most popular racehorses seen in South Africa for many a year, has also amassed a handsome bankroll of 4,802,500 rands ($434,050).
Bred by Western Cape stud farm The Alchemy, Louis The King is a son of Storm Cat horse Black Minnaloushe. He is the only living foal produced by the unplaced Rich Man's Gold mare Pamushana, whose dam Milden Magic won six races including the grade III Poinsettia Stakes.
Saturday was a day to remember for The Alchemy, who also bred Unparalled, winner of the 500,000 rand Dingaans ($45,190).
Louis The King, who clocked a time of 2:06.33, clearly saves his best for Turffontein. The 4-year-old has made seven outings at the Jo'burg track and has won five times—including all three legs of the Triple Crown—and was the site of all three of the colt's career grade I scores.
Louis The King was also a tremendous bargain buy for owner Louis Van Der Vyver, with the colt having earned back his purchase price of 55,000 rands ($4,971) many times over.