SANSUI Summer Cup, proudly hosted by Gauteng, delights race-goers and takes its place among SA’s top races
JOHANNESBURG, 30 November 2013: The R2-million SANSUI Summer Cup 2013, proudly hosted by Gauteng, was bigger, brighter and more glamorous than ever before, delighting race-goers at Turffontein Racecourse this Saturday with Joburg’s greatest race, top horses, some of South Africa’s leading celebrities, huge betting pools, between-races entertainment and many chances to win big.
Turffontein Racecourse was abuzz with nearly 20 000 race day revellers, everyone who’s anyone from Gauteng, and across South Africa, came out to play at this year’s SANSUI Summer Cup.
Making a dazzling entrance, the first-ever Face of SANSUI Summer Cup, elegant media personality, Azania Mosaka, arrived by helicopter in a striking royal blue dress from leading designer JJ Schoeman. Mosaka was a statuesque vision in the exquisite gown which featured a strapless bodice entrusted with sequins, crystals and beads atop an on-trend flowing flirt-skirt in pure silk chiffon which, when caught by the breeze, revealed the dramatic undertone of ocean blue-green.
Azania opened an exhilarating day at the races and the who’s who of thoroughbred horseracing, fashion, society and celebrity turned up in style at Turffontein Racecourse to experience the thrill of thundering horses and the best Joburg has to offer in entertainment and hospitality.
There weren’t only horses racing at Turffontein this Saturday. Celebrities at this star-studded event didn’t only look good, but they also did good, by battling it out in the SANSUI-Phumelela Gaming Charity Dash over 100m. Azania exchanged her gorgeous gown for running shoes to compete against a formidable line-up and raise funds for The Rainbows and Smiles Foundation.
She faced off against media personalities Gerry Elsdon, Bonang Mathebe, Nicole Da Silva, Khanyi Mbau, Miss Earth SA 2012 Tamerin Jardin, Generations actor Thato Molamu, isiBaya
star Jessica Nkosi, social butterfly Jen Su and motorsport star Gennaro Bonafede. Adding their voices to support our charity were Thembi Seete and Jacques Terblanche. Lerato Sengadi, Jacinda Louw-Schutte, Nic Bester, Somizi Mhlongo, Shashi Naidoo, Adriaan Bergh and Mika Stefano also competed. Thuli Sithole, also a past winner of the Miss SA title, did her bit too. Alex Caige also joined in, showing his support for a worthy cause. And the winner of the race was Gennaro Bonafede.
Winning celeb Bonafede handed over a cheque of R120,000 to nominated charity, The Rainbows and Smiles Foundation, which provides emotional, social and financial support to families of children with life-threatening diseases, and in particular cancer.
SANSUI Summer Cup’s reputation for attracting some of South Africa’s most colourful personalities was more apt than ever this year, with its fashion theme “Colour to Conquer”, with prizes being awarded for Best-Dressed Woman, Best Dressed Man and Best-Dressed Couple, most striking hat and man of the ‘mo’-ment, who won the prize for Best Mo in support of Movember which raises awareness of prostate and testicular cancer.
Taking the day’s chic urban groove to new levels, the MTV Base Sound Experience made it’s race day debut. The thrilling day-long extravaganza of fashion and live entertainment had race-goers partying late into the night with the mellow sounds of Muzart, Donald and Zakes Bantwini and the hot deck action of DJs Speedsta, Capital, Major League, Sphectacula, Naves, Vigilante, Tbo Touch and Mo Flava.
David Sussman, CEO of JD Group, licence holders for the SANSUI brand in South Africa, enthused: “This is our fifth year of sponsorship of the spectacular SANSUI Summer Cup and, for race-goers and partners alike, Joburg’s premier equestrian and fashion affair has been a successful day.”
Rian du Plessis, CEO of Phumelela Gaming welcomed all visitors to Turffontein and observed: “The SANSUI Summer Cup was a resounding success. We are achieving our goals and it is fantastic to see that Gauteng is accepting this event as their own”.
The SANSUI Summer Cup is the power, the pace and the pulse of an esteemed legacy of thoroughbred horseracing in Johannesburg which began in 1887. Whether race-goers came to place bets, parade or party, there was entertainment aplenty with the sights and sounds of Joburg’s most fashionable horse racing event. Among the thousands of visitor to the spectacular SANSUI Summer Cup in 2013 was Gauteng MEC for Economic Development, Erick Xayiya.
Clyde Basel, Marketing Executive of Phumelela Gaming said: “The SANSUI Summer Cup has grown in size and stature to become Gauteng’s answer to South Africa’s most stylish race days”. “I am extremely proud of what has been achieved and a great level of gratitude must be extended to the entire team, we have made steady progress and I am already looking forward to next year” continued Basel.
The winner of this year’s SANSUI Summer Cup race main race was Yorker ridden by Anton Marcus and trained by Geoff Woodruff.
The success of the day can be translated into numbers with SAFTOTE turnovers up 12% year on year from R28.2 million to R31.6 million and on course turnover reaching a shade short of R4 million.
For more information please visit
www.sansuisummercup.co.za
Follow SANSUI Summer Cup: @sansuisummercup or
www.facebook.com/sansuisummercup
For Media enquiries please contact:
Lesley-Ann Erasmus
Email: lesley-ann@lapr.co.za
Mobile: 082 496 8683
Or
Tamsin Schepers Email: tamsin@matchworld.co.za
Telephone : 011-305 9840
