The biggest winning bet in South Africa's history was landed at Turffontein. And it wasn't in a horse race. The vacant Boer farm Turffontein was where Colonel Ignatius Ferreira parked his ox wagon in September 1886 and started digging - after hearing rumours of wanderers stumbling upon gold nuggets in the area. Within days Ferreira was extracting high-grade ore from the ground where the Joburg Magistrate's Court now stands.The long story is in history books, but if you sit in the grandstand at Turffontein Racecourse today and gaze upon the odd city that grew from Ferreira's Camp it's impossible not to reflect on a remarkable tale of great prosperity and ruin, pain and anguish, war and peace, daring and gambling - crazy chances taken by the stream of dreamers, schemers, bandits and brigands who passed by this way over the years.One nugget still shining in the old town is a horse race, the Sansui Summer Cup, which traces back to the first race meeting held by those miners - within months of Ignatius's first swing of the pickaxe.It'll be run again tomorrow.Like sommer still finding gold in the veld, it's not so easy to win the Summer Cup these days. So, Geoff Woodruff is a lucky man; he's won the last two runnings and aims for an historic third strike.The personable Randjesfontein trainer comes with a belt of ammo, and he's going to need it, what with a band of fired-up rivals with gold on the brain, not to mention R2-million in prize money.Woodruff saddles three in the 20-horse field and all rate a chance. Master Sabina, who is flying on the gallops, and Deo Juvente, who won a recent feature on this track, are both at 9/1. One is inclined towards the former. He starts in gate No 7, as opposed to the latter's 18, and the stable's regular rider Gavin Lerena is likely to have had first choice.The third of the Woodruff trio, The Captain's Tune, is fabulous value at 40/1, pole position and no wagon to pull.Ranged against the Woodruff hat-trick are several high-class individuals, notably Durban July winner Power King. He was underestimated before that race and, though second favourite here, has again not found much punter interest at 6/1.Counting against Power King is that it's his first trip up-country, that he must lug 59.5kg and that his single prep outing has been a sprint.Ruling favourite French Navy is a tempting 4/1. The four-year-old from Sean Tarry's stable has a singular turn of foot - as demonstrated up this very stretch of turf - and will surely have a say in the finish. Negatives are the 60kg up-top and the second-race-after-a-rest syndrome.The most intriguing runner is Irish import Flying The Flag. A son of the great Gallileo, he's had one local outing and could be the sort of surprise that trainer Mike de Kock is wont to spring.One more to put in all exotics is Cape Town raider St Tropez.Summer Cup day is a lot more than a two-minute gallop. Apart from other features on the 12-race card, there's also music from the likes of Mi Casa and Cassper Nyovest and a whole fashion thing - based on the colour pink and the theme "More Jozi".What would Ignatius say?..