There is an interesting Pinnacle Stakes at Turffontein on Saturday in that of the 13 runners, all but two of them have been nominated to contest the Grade 1 Betway Summer Cup over 2000m on Saturday 25 November.
The other unusual factor is that despite this being a Stakes race there is no runner with a telling weight advantage. In fact, had this event over 1600m on the Inside track been a handicap there would have been little difference in the weights.
Many of the runners are coming back from a layoff and will be using this as a preparation run in their build up to the R5-million race so their fitness is uncertain.
As we get closer to the time of the race the betting will probably be an indication of their current status and there are also a significant runner who will be making his debut for a new stable.
The two runners who have not been nominated for the Summer Cup are Melech and Duke Of Sussex. The latter is probably the fitter of the pair as he has run twice this season and will must have some sort of chance over this course and distance.
Duke of Sussex is well drawn at No 3 and has an excellent record over this distance.
Melech has only raced six times and is highly regarded by the stable. Roy Magner’s charge has won four of his six starts and is unbeaten in his only run at this course. He is drawn No 7 and has Muzi Yeni in the irons.
Meridius, however, looks to have the class to win a race of this nature. He joined Tony Peter’s yard early in July and in his first run for the stable, came out to win the Listed Darley Arabian Stakes over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on 30 July.
He beat a decent field on that occasion and if able to repeat that performance following a short rest, this race will be tailor made for him. He is drawn wide at No 11 but he does have an excellent finishing kick and hopefully for his connections, there is a decent pace in this race.
Billy Bowlegs was expected to win some of the three-year-old Classics. Last season but he did let his supporters down. He will be having his first run for the Brett Crawford yard and a good build up will see this four-year-old The United States colt start among the favourites for the Sumer Cup.
The one concern is that he could find 1600m on the short side but if he runs fresh, Billy Bowlegs will be a contender with S’manga Khumalo in the irons.
Clive Robinson
