The richest race on the African horse racing schedule will be staged at Turffontein this weekend, as the G1 Summer Cup takes place.
A thrilling event is set, with a purse of ZAR6 million established. It is typically one of the standout events on the global racing calendar, and a star-studded event has been set for 2024, with world-renowned jockey Oisin Murphy also set to take his chance in the race.
Race Information & History
The Summer Cup has been a standout race on the South African racing calendar for over 136 years, with the inaugural running of the race being staged in 1887.
Its first renewal was staged in Johannesburg, with the city only formed earlier in the same year. Since 1949, the Summer Cup has been contested over 2,000 metres, marking an increase on the distance that was covered between 1906 and 1948.
Iconic winners of the race have shaped the Group One throughout its history, with 2023 winner Royal Victory looking to make history by becoming a rare back-to-back victor in the race. Master Sabina is the most recent two-time winner of the Summer Cup, landing victories in 2015 and 2016.
Summer Cup 2024 Odds
As you would expect, there is a competitive market at BetXchange for the Summer Cup this year. See It Again has been a prominent selection among experts in the lead up to the race, and is currently a 5/2 chance.
Royal Victory is second favourite at 6/1, with Frances Ethal being the only other runner at a single digit price at 7/1.
Silver Sanctuary, Winchester Mansion, and Main Defender will all be prominent selections on the day at odds of 10/1, 11/1, and 12/1, respectively. Of those at bigger prices, Future Pearl at 20/1 and Pure Predator at 25/1 could come in for support.
Summer Cup 2024 Leading Contenders
See It Again
Michael Roberts-trained See It Again will be a prominent selection this weekend after performing at the highest level throughout this season. Overall, the five-year-old gelding has won seven from 19 career starts, and was only narrowly denied in the July when coming up short to Winchester Mansion.
Still, the runner deserves plenty of credit after winning the G1 Cape Derby and Daily News 2000 in 2023. Ought to be in the mix once again.
Royal Victory
Royal Victory is a very interesting contender for trainer Nathan Kotzen this year. The five-year-old has won five from 21 starts under rules, and comes into this year’s race with very interesting form lines concerning the market leaders.
The 2023 champion was a shock winner of the race last year, and was just over a length behind See It Again in his first prep race. However, he has Group One victories to his name, which ensures that he is well in the mix, including when finishing just under a length clear of Winchester Mansion in the Premier’s Champions Challenge over a mile and two at the course in April.
Main Defender
Lightly raced Main Defender may not be as battle hardened as some of the other contenders this weekend, but the Tony Peter-trained runner is well worth his shop in this company.
The four-year-old has won seven from 13 starts, and has only finished outside of the places on two occasions in his career. Has Group One success to his name over a mile at the course, and made his final start with an eye-catching effort in the G1 Gold Challenge when finishing seventh.
Summer Cup 2024 Prediction
This weekend’s race is all about a first start in South Africa for multiple-time UK Champion Jockey, Oisin Murphy.
He will take the ride on Frances Ethel. The four-year-old has a solid strike rate on track, winning four from eight starts and finishing outside of the first three on just one occasion.
Brett Crawford’s runner also holds an entry for the G1 Cape Town Met, and was very impressive on his penultimate start when finishing second behind Beating Wings.
