SAP And Phumelela Celebrate success of Supreme Cup

The Vaal racecourse was abuzz with atmosphere today and Mike Azzie and JP van der Merwe were the toast of the festive crowd as they scored a meeting treble and this included the big one, the Gr 2 R1 million Supreme Cup over 1450m sponsored by SAP. The victorious horse was the four-year-old Judpot gelding Deputy Jud.
The crowd were in their element due to the racing, the fine fare, including another well received prawn festival, live entertainment and a craft market, and it was capped by a thrilling R20,000 Grooms race before everybody settled down to watch the Boks playing Samoa in the Rugby World Cup rugby on the big screens.
It was a fitting way in which to welcome aboard the top enterprise software company SAP as a sponsor of South African racing.
Deputy Jud had only ever started once previously on the Vaal sand, winning his maiden easily over 1600m last November.
Mike Azzie’s son and assistant Adam confirmed afterwards that the yard had deliberately kept him away from the sand since then then in order to have him well weighted for the Supreme Cup, knowing that he was very good on this surface.
Furthermore, he had improved since being gelded after a tough three-year-old campaign and duly started joint second favourite at 6/1, despite many believing the 1450m trip would be too short for him.
Van der Merwe had the big chestnut perfectly poised just behind the early leader in the straight, Ultimate Dollar, after jumping well from a favourable low draw.
It was clear from a long way out Deputy Jud was travelling better than any other horse in the race.
He powered through to win by 2,25 lengths from the gallant topweight Uncle Tommy, who finished runner up for the second year in succession, having finished third the year before. Ultimate Dollar stayed on for third ahead of the favourite Toro Rosso, who exerted a lot of energy early on in finding a handy position from a wide draw. Solar Triptych was back in fifth place.
The victory was a well deserved one for owners Adriaan and Rika van Vuuren, who have a huge amount of money invested in the Sport Of Kings.
Deputy Jud was bred by Mr and Mrs J Erasmus.
Azzie and Van der Merwe’s other two winners included the Listed Britehouse Supreme Fillies and Mares Stakes over 1450m with the Ideal World filly Peep Show.
Later, the Listed Hampton Handicap over 1000m was won in incredible fashion by the Louis Goosen-trained Doing It For Dan, whose chances seemed to be gone when he lost a few lengths at the start. He was ridden by Anthony Delpech and provided the stallion Windrush with his third winner of the meeting.
Later the Listed Banyana Handicap over 1000m was won by the flying Dominic Zaki-trained four-year-old Judpot filly Little Genie, who has now won four in a row and was ridden once again by Craig Zackey.
The Grooms’ Race over a mile on the grass track was eagerly anticipated and the weeks of hard training paid dividends for Crispen Mereki who emerged victrious by an overwhelming winning margin. Whilst writing this piece the festive fans are watching the rugby on the big screen.

And by which standard do these people measure success

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Sylvester wrote: And by which standard do these people measure success

If it was really a success they wouldn't have sent out such a shoddy release. :whistle:

When someone talks drivel it's one thing. But when it's put into writing it's even harder to take seriously. Very poor standard to be honest.

How many of the proposed estimated pools were met and passed? Imo, being a big feature day, success cannot be achieved if these are not even passed... Yes its an estimate, but that is the level you are aiming to achieve. Should you not reach these targets, is it really a success?

Why not count the people on course, tell us those figures. Where there more people than previous years? What were on course turnover figures? On course bookmakers?

Pool estimates weren't met, and to me that doesn't mean ultimate failure. But who makes these estimates? Maybe they over estimating? Maybe they were fair estimates and the day was a failure?

A lack of transparency and the constant lack of straight thinking means racing is going nowhere. Every feature day is followed by a hapless article like this one with no evidence of a truly successful day. Yet they try make it seem like they have achieved something phenomenal that we should all be so sad we missed. Be proactive and get people to the course, let them decide if the day was as great as this pre-generated article says.

TSants18 wrote: Why not count the people on course, tell us those figures. Where there more people than previous years? What were on course turnover figures? On course bookmakers?

Pool estimates weren't met, and to me that doesn't mean ultimate failure. But who makes these estimates? Maybe they over estimating? Maybe they were fair estimates and the day was a failure?

A lack of transparency and the constant lack of straight thinking means racing is going nowhere. Every feature day is followed by a hapless article like this one with no evidence of a truly successful day. Yet they try make it seem like they have achieved something phenomenal that we should all be so sad we missed. Be proactive and get people to the course, let them decide if the day was as great as this pre-generated article says.

I sent phum a message asking them about pool sizes etc and they said

" Total tote Turnover up 15% year on year"

mickeyblue wrote:

Sylvester wrote: And by which standard do these people measure success

If it was really a success they wouldn't have sent out such a shoddy release. :whistle:

When someone talks drivel it's one thing. But when it's put into writing it's even harder to take seriously. Very poor standard to be honest.

A vaal trainer and regular has just messaged me saying it was the best Vaal feature meeting he had attended !!!

He did mention he was still heart broken about the track closing

You also need to remember the sponsors, maybe Goose can comment for SAP, but i know world sports betting are happy at the 3 month campaign that Phum ran..

And i know that the horse funds are delighted

would be nice if all the presenters could pronounce SAP AS SAaaaaaaap as the company is known and not SAP as in South African Police

Watching in it looked like a fantastic atmosphere I must admit and had I been in the country I would have been there. But would just be nice to confirm that with statistics and facts. That's the most upsetting, the lack of professionalism. Thanks for the feedback Bob, but sounds like the good old standard line from them.