A chance for Perfect Witness to show evidence of Summer Cup worthiness

By Mike Moon

A keenly fought contest is the only sure thing for Saturday’s Pinnacle Stakes race at Turffontein (Race 7 on the card, over 1600m).

Six of the 10 runners have been nominated for the Summer Cup at the end of November and none of them are, at this stage, certainties to make the final line-up for Joburg’s biggest race. Expect fireworks.

Fabina Habib-trained Zeus and Candice Dawson’s Perfect Witness were named in 16th and 17th slots on the Summer Cup “probables” log released by handicappers this week – the only two of the six hopefuls in the top 20.

They are quoted at 8-1 and 4-1 respectively in the ante-post betting.

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Perfect Witness is second on the boards, below 7-2 shot Outofthedarkness, another Cup entry who is among the “next 10” on the log.

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

This mile looks more like his style – but whether he has the lungs for the 2000m next month is another matter altogether.

Filly Perfect Witness has been doing very well all year in elite company and will surely give supporters a run for their money.

Back in the running

As for Zeus, he is going to need the run after putting his feet up for five months (famous last words!).

Like him, other Summer Cap entries in Saturday’s clash appear to be using the outing more to blow away cobwebs after a nice vacation rather than for leverage up the big race log.

The possible exception to that is Brett Crawford’s Super Silvano, a very consistent fellow who likes being partnered by in-form Luyolo Mxothwa and is not ignored at 5-1.

Durban July champion Sparkling Water and stablemate, and July third, Safe Passage unsurprisingly top the Summer Cup log, with two other Mike de Kock horses, MK’s Pride and Aragosta up their with them.

Sean Tarry’s Triple Tiara winner Rain In Holland keeps them company, as does Saturday’s Spring Challenge hero William Robertson.

Those six look nailed on for Cup starting berths, but the rest of the entry list is poised to become a cavalry charge in qualifying races over the next month – starting on Saturday.