The Equator (IRE) failed to make the first four in Saturday’s R6-million Betway Summer Cup at Turffontein, but on a positive note he earned a share of the big stake in fifth place, beaten only 4.90-lengths, and finished well ahead of most other runners who were fancied in the betting market.
The Equator picked up a host of followers in the run-up to the race and, having informed them of his progress every step of the way his owners, Willem Ackerman and Advocate Nigel Riley, issued a post-race statement in the interest of honesty and transparency.
“We made an error in not giving The Equator another run under his belt before the Summer Cup. This became evident when he moved up strongly going through the 600m-mark, travelling like a winner, but then hit a flat spot at about the 200m mark. We made this error due to the amazing ability that he shows in his work, the reason why we incorrectly assessed his fitness levels. We failed to factor in that he only came out of quarantine in February and left Heversham Farm to go into training in April. He needed another race before the Cup!
“We’d like to make a sincere apology to his many fans and supporters. That he kept giving his best despite running on ‘an empty tank’, dispels this week’s allegations of him being a ‘hyped’ horse. He is a top-level performer, as a Northern Hemisphere import really only a four-year-old, and we have decided to keep him in training next year for another crack at the Summer Cup. He will have much more time to properly acclimatise and prepare.
“We thank everyone for their messages of support in the last several weeks. The Equator will be back!”