GALLERY: Summer Cup turns on the heat in Jobrug
The 20-year-old apprentice Denis Schwarz clocked in his first Grade 1 success. He kept his cool and brought Zillzaal in for a momentous win.
AFTER almost a two-hour delay, the 2019 Grade 1 Bidvest-sponsored Gauteng Chris Gerber Summer Cup came to life as both jockeys and their mounts turned on the heat to treat the racing fans to an exciting event.
The Summer Cup was held at Turffontein racecourse on November 30 with more than 20 000 spectators enjoying the Joburg heat at this popular event on the racing calendar. The event was delayed for almost two hours as the grooms went on to strike due to a dispute, but were soon rapped over the knuckles by the officials.
The 20-year-old apprentice Denis Schwarz clocked in his first Grade 1 success. He kept his cool and brought Zillzaal in for a momentous win.
Trainers Sean Tarry and Mike de Kock dominated the 2019 Summer Cup as anticipated, with Tarry taking the big victory at this year’s event. He won the event in 2017 with Liege, and last year with Tilbury Fort.
Schwarz had a difficult draw at 15, but managed to bring the gelding to the front of the field after having a bit of a tussle with Queen Supreme and Atyaab. At the 300m, Zillzaal lost pace and looked to fade on the inside rail, having his stablemate, Al Mutawakel, go ahead with favourite, Soqrat.
But jockey Schwarz was not going to allow that to happen, and so pulled Zillzaal at 50m in front and held the field to finish in 0.40 lengths ahead in a time of 123.96 secs in front of Soqrat.
Soqrat finished second for trainer De Kock. Al Mutawakel finished third for Al Adiyaat South Africa, with De Kock’s Queen Supreme, in fourth.
“When I saw the draw, I was a little taken aback and thought about it, but realised that it was an honour to have had a ride in a great race like this. To win it is absolutely fantastic,” said Schwarz.
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