David Mollett
21 November 2008
Johannesburg — GAUTENG trainer Brian Wiid would be the first to admit that his stable has few runners in R2m races. So it is no surprise he was elated when Gliding High drew pole position for the Steinhoff International Summer Cup at Turffontein on November 29.
"Some people say the number one draw isn't always beneficial, but I'll take it over some that have drawn 17 or 18 any day of the week," said Wiid.
Gliding High overcame a wide berth to run a cracking race in the recent November Handicap. It confirmed Wiid's opinion that the gelding can hold his own in the top flight.
Wiid runs Sardine Run in one of the International Challenge races on Summer Cup day, and was happy when Piere Strydom was drawn for the ride.
Strydom was also pleased and said: "I know him well, which is a plus factor and should be able to place him where I want from a good draw."
Another small stable -- KwaZulu-Natal trainer Craig Eudey's -- did not fare well in the Cup draw, with Thandolwami set to jump from stall 18. However, Eudey is convinced his runner will be better suited to the 2000m trip than the 1600m of the November Handicap.
Anton Marcus has an outstanding record in feature races and he revealed he had agonised for hours before electing to partner Smart Banker. "I couldn't decide between him and Likeithot and would have preferred to leave the decision until after the draw. Unfortunately, I was pressured to make a decision."
As fate would have it, Marcus drew stall 19 for Smart Banker with Likeithot, now the mount of Willy Figueroa, drawn favourably at stall five.
Turffontein host a nine-race card on Sunday and Wiid could capture the first race with his four-year-old, Humble Pie. The filly has shown improved form in her last two outings.
Anthony Delpech drew a reasonable position on his Cup mount Galant Gagnant, and he will be expecting to capture the ninth race on another inmate of Mike de Kock's stable, Zirconeum. The daughter of Jallad performed well in a number of top juvenile races last season, and should prove too smart for recent course and distance winner, Bedloe's Island.
Another good mount for Delpech could be King's Bench in the seventh. However, the gelding refused to jump in his last intended start at Greyville, so it might prove wise to include all of Cosmic King, Badabingbadaboom and Springbok Summer in exotic bets.
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