WSB Summer Cup Tips & Preview - Who will win the Turffontein showpiece?

As several trainers have mentioned in the build-up to this year's Summer Cup, the fact that the weights for Saturday's contest are so condensed has to favour the classiest horses at the top of the scales. 

I don't really fancy Malmoos' chances after watching his last run and reading Mike De Kock's quotes earlier in the week. I've backed Got The Greenlight in two Durban July's, but I'm not going to side with him here, as WAR OF ATHENA is clearly the one to beat.

Paul Matchett's filly has won seven of her last eight starts, going down by a short-head in the Province Stakes, where she was bumped by the fading pacemaker and forced to make her challenge down the inside. War Of Athena won the South African Oaks over course-and-distance here last April, comfortably beating Sparkling Water without ever coming off the bridle.

Muzi Yeni's mount gave away stacks of weight to the field on her reappearance over seven furlongs in the Pinnacle Stakes. Despite the scales tipping against her and that trip looking on the sharp side, War Of Athena ran out a convincing winner.

Matchett's four-year-old gets plenty of weight from both Malmoos and Got The Greenlight. She's sure to come on for that return run and this step back up in trip will definitely suit. War Of Atena has won eight of her last nine starts around Turffontein and she's been drawn perfectly in stall five. Take whatever price you can get!

The top three in the betting aside, the other runners all sit on appealing prices, so a second each-way bet seems like a sensible idea. Bingwa comfortably beat seven rivals who reoppose in the Onamission Mile last time out and that performance has to be respected. Second Base was narrowly beaten by Got the Greenlight in last year's Premier Champions Challenge, and he too will likely garner some each-way support.

One who I think has been overlooked is Sean Tarry's filly SEEHAAM. With Lyle Hewitson in the saddle, Seehaam bolted up in the Listed Jacaranda Handicap here at Turffontein last season, beating Sparkling Water by five lengths when only getting a pound from her rival at the weights.

Seehaam then found herself a little outclassed in high-profile level-weighted races on her final two starts of last season. Tarry's filly shaped well on her reappearance over seven furlongs at Vaal, and gave a good account of herself again when fifth behind Bingwa in the Onamission Mile. I'm hopeful this step back up in trip will see Seeham to best effect, and she appeals greatly each-way at her current price.