Centre Pivot looks well placed in Summer Cup

The 2016 Summer Cup will be held on December 26th.

A 2000m gallop, the Summer Cup is run under open handicap conditions for horses aged three years and older. There is $125,000 in prize money on offer for the top-class field of local, and sometimes interstate, stayers the race attracts.

Godolphin owned Malice will start favourite in the race, the 6yr gelding by Darley’s Teofilo.

Malice just won the ATC Cup over 2000m and looks set to win the Summer Cup.

Centre Pivot looks the danger, he was not disgraced running 4th in the Villiers against much better horses, the son of Winstar Farms More Than Ready. The distance will suit him. Centre Pivot is owned by Segenhoe Thoroughbreds Australia (Mgr: K W Maloney) & G Harvey

Malice is trying to make it 2 in a row after a respectable victory in the ATC Cup over 2000m at Rosehill. Red Excitement a Canterbury winner three runs back and placed in two subsequent runs at Rosehill but not in this class, it is a big step up and he looks a place chance at best. Centre Pivot keeps improving, each of his three runs this time in culminating in a Villiers fourth last start. Centre Pivot won at 2000m and should be right there at the finish.

The Summer Cup was first held in 1890 when Stockwell claimed victory and was run over 13 furlongs (around 2600m).

In 1953 the race distance was shortened to 12 furlongs and then in 1972 the length was converted to the metric measurement of 2400m.

Originally a Principal race, the Summer Cup was elevated to its current Group 3 status in 1979.

There have been quite a few notable Summer Cup winners, including Rising Prince (1984), Super Impose (1988), Catalan Prince (1995), This Manshood (2004) and I’m Imposing (2013).