IRISH Flame (photo), winner of the Grade 1 SA Derby and Daily News 2000, is among the 61 nominations for the R2-million Sansui Summer Cup to be run over 2000m at Turffontein on Saturday 1 December.

After finishing a one-length second behind stable companion Bold Silvano in the 2010 Vodacom Durban July, Irish Flame was named South Africa’s Horse of the Year.

He later went to compete internationally in both Dubai and the United Kingdom and his only victory while aboard came in a Conditions Stakes over 2200m at Kempton Park in England. After running unplaced in the Grade 3 Dubai Gold Cup over 3200m at Meydan on Dubai World Cup night, the decision was taken to return him to South Africa.

Irish Flame is one of 20 runners entered from the De Kock yard. Other prominent performers include last year’s runner-up Ilsanpietro, SA Oaks winner Ilha Bela, Dingaans champion Silver Flyer and Perana, who has not been seen out for a while.

Gary Alexander has nominated 2010 Grade 1 SA Classic winner Pierre Jourdan who has not raced since finishing unplaced in this year’s Durban July. Also among his entries is the runner considered to be his new stable star, Meissa.  

Sean Tarry has not entered Vodacom Durban July champion Pomodoro but he has put in Heavy Metal, Whiteline Fever and former Grade 1 Champion Challenge winner Regal Ransom.

English Garden has performed well on the Highveld and Mike Bass could be having another try with this five-year-old son of Camden Park.

Another Cape trainer, Justin Snaith, has also entered three runners – Indian Hawk, Jet Explorer and Why Worry. Snaith has had some success on the Highveld with Dancer’s Daughter and Gimmethegreenlight.

Also among the entries is Smanjemanje, who was narrowly touched off by Pomodoro in this year’s Durban July. 

Second entries close at 11am on Monday 5 November after which the weights will be announced. Final entries must be in by 9am on Monday 19 November with declarations closing at 11am that day. The draw and final field will be announced on Tuesday 20 November.

Nominations for the R2-million Sansui Summer Cup (Grade 1) to be run over 2000m at Turffontein on Saturday 1 December. 

APPROACHABLE (G V Woodruff); ASTRO NEWS (B O Wiid); ATLANTIC OAK (M F De Kock); BERRY BLAZE (M F De Kock); BROOKS-CLUB (M G Azzie); CANTERBURY TALE (M F De Kock); CAPTAIN’S WILD (M F De Kock); CHECCETTI (M F De Kock); CHESALON (M G Azzie); DESERT RAPTOR (A G Laird); DUN CARRER (H/F Brown/Robinson); DUNRAVEN (M F De Kock); EMPENOSO HENN (M F De Kock); ENGLISH GARDEN (M W Bass); GALANTHUS (T Zackey); GALILEO’S DESTINY (M F De Kock); GLORIOUS JET (S J Gray); GOLDEN CREST (G V Woodruff); HALVE THE DEFICIT (S G Tarry); HAWK’S EYE (M F De Kock); HEAVY METAL (S G Tarry); HOUSE OF WAX (G V Woodruff); ILHA BELA (M F De Kock); ILSANPIETRO (M F De Kock); INDIAN HAWK (J S Snaith); IRISH FLAME (M F De Kock); JET EXPLORER (J S Snaith); KALAMI (R R Sage); KATY’S LANE (T Zackey); KNOCK ON WOOD (O A Ferraris); MAIN DANE (M F De Kock); MEADOW MAGIC (M F De Kock); MEISSA (G M Alexander); MILLENNIUM WIND (C E Erasmus); MUJAARIB (M F De Kock); PERANA (M F De Kock); PESSOA (A G Laird); PIERRE JOURDAN (G M Alexander); POTALA PALACE (M G Azzie); REGAL RANSOM (S G Tarry); ROMAN WALL (S G Tarry); ROYAL BENCHER (A G Laird); S’IL VOUS PLAIT (O A Ferraris); SAGE THRONE (C Scott); SEAL (G H Van Zyl); SELBORNE SUPREMACY (S G Tarry); SHOGUNNAR (G H Van Zyl); SILENT PARTNER (M F De Kock); SILVER FLYER (M F De Kock); SMANJEMANJE (T Zackey); SOLO TRAVELLER (M F De Kock); SOUL MASTER (G V Woodruff); SPITFIRE RUN (D Little); STRAW MARKET (O A Ferraris); SUPER TROUPER (S J Gray); VETTEL (M F De Kock); WAGNER (J A Soma); WHITELINE FEVER (S G Tarry); WHY WORRY (J S Snaith); YER-MAAN (S J Gray); ZAMBUCCA (S Mohideen).