Betway Summer Cup (Group 1)

MOCHA Blend pulled off one of the biggest shocks in the near 140-year history of the Betway Summer Cup when coming home at 100/1 in the Turffontein Group 1 last Saturday.

But this 20-runner handicap turned into a rough race and a furlong and a half from home. On My Honour and Solar Sail both fell, the latter coming back with a cut on his near fore.

Their jockeys, Serino Moodley and Jarryd Penny, were both ambulanced to hospital. The former was reported to have fractured a neck vertebra while Penny broke a rib and punctured his liver.

The winner was the 50th success for rider Tristan Godden, 29, who said: “This my first Group 1 and the feeling is surreal. It is an honour and a privilege to do it in these famous colours [the black and yellow of Mauritzfontein].

“I know a lot of people didn’t think she was even good enough to be here but her last run was a cracker and I had a lot of faith in her. She fought all the way to the line.”

The winner is trained by Frank Robinson, who said: “I have rated this filly so much but I have often been disappointed with her. I decided to stick to my guns and now this is the biggest race I have ever won as a trainer.”

Mocha Blend, a four-year-old filly by Ideal World out of a Silvano mare, was bred by the Wilgerbosdrift-Mauritzfontein Stud partnership of Mary Slack (“I always thought she was quite good but I didn’t see her winning this!”) and her daughter Jessica Jell.

Olivia’s Way (40/1) was beaten only half a length, with 8/1 shot The Ultimate King a length and a half further back third.

Public apology

The Equator, a five-year-old entire by Galileo and bred by Coolmore, started 7/2 favourite and finished a creditable fifth. But his owners, Willem Ackerman and Nigel Riley, took the unusual step of issuing a public apology for the horse not finishing closer!

They said: “We made an error in not giving The Equator another run before the Summer Cup. We made this error due to the amazing ability that he shows in his work. We failed to factor in that he only came out of quarantine in February and only left Heversham Farm to go into training in April. He needed another race before the Cup.”

Trust, a colt by the Australian-bred Heavenly Blue out of a Frankel mare, took the Jackpot City Dingaans (a notable Guineas trial), leading just inside the last half furlong and scoring by three quarters of a length from Jan van Goyen, who is out of an Oratorio mare.

“I had a lot of faith in this horse and today he answered all the right questions,” enthused rider Serene Moodley.

Trainer Candice Dawson sounded every bit as bullish, saying: “He has done everything right although he is still a bit soft - so I’m sure he is going to get better and better.”

Cape Town

Kenilworth today sees the first Cape Town classic of the season, the World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas, and the Alan Greeff-trained Golden Palm has 5lb in hand on official ratings. Not surprisingly, she is hot favourite at 11/10.