HABIB WINS SECOND SUMMER CUP

Atticus Finch gives ex-Kranji-based jockey and trainer Laird double in SA's richest race

- Michael Lee

South African jockey Calvin Habib could barely conceal his excitement after he bagged his second Summer Cup win aboard $113 outsider Atticus Finch on Nov 30.

It was only back in 2021 that the maiden win in the Turffontein feature race over 2,000m came with Flying Carpet for his former boss Sean Tarry.

As in any other sport, the first time always holds special memories, but the 27-year-old hoop was clearly not blase at the encore three years later.

The total purse for the Betway Summer Cup has trebled to 6 million rand (S$444,000), but Habib said money was not everything.

He just could not split the two, with each win triggering its own flow of emotions.

"At the first win, it was during Covid-19, the prize money was not as much. It was still 2 million rand, but that was not the main thing to me," he said.

"It was special because not only it was the first win, but my wife Shandre was also involved as she was assisting Sean at the yard at the time.

"This time, I rated Atticus Finch a good chance after his run last year. He was one of the leading horses in the betting, but was unlucky in the run.

"He got interfered with and still ran close-up (ninth to the winner Royal Victory). (Trainer) Alec (Laird) and I always thought this was a race he could win.