Potala Palace - would prefer soft going
Highly rated Potala Palace will put his enormous reputation to the test in the Dingaans over 1600m at Turffontein on Saturday, but he crosses paths with the only horse to have beaten him – Straw Market, writes Matthew Lips.
It promises to be an engrossing contest and may well be the most informative race on the Sansui Summer Cup card, but there is no telling reason why Straw Market cannot get the better of the argument again.
It seems pretty obvious on the face of it that Straw Market has been targeted at this race, He was rested for 18 weeks after posting the last of three comfortable wins in succession over 1400m here in July and resurfaced in the Gr 3 Graham Beck Stakes over 1400m earlier in November. Conceding weight all round, Ormond Ferraris’ colt ran on very strongly from a mile back to be beaten three lengths into fourth behind Astro News over 1400m and is bound to have come on from that run. He now meets his rivals at level weights and has already proven that he stays 1600m, so although he certainly doesn’t face an easy test Straw Market looks to have a decent chance of landing the spoils.
Potala Palace
In fairness, Potala Palace was making his debut when he was beaten 2.25 lengths by Straw Market over 1600m on the Turffontein inner track in April and has won three times from as many starts since. Those include a win at Gr 1 level over 1600m at Greyville in July, where the Singspiel colt made all the running to beat Beacon Flare by one length. Soft going would be a real plus for Mike Azzie’s colt, who has probably sharpened up since narrowly winning a set weights race on his seasonal debut over 1400m earlier this month. However, while Potala Palace is no doubt a smart colt, his form isn’t as stellar (yet) as his reputation and he could really come into his own when tried over longer distances. He has a chance, but he is distinctly vulnerable.
Merhee
Then there is Merhee, who has the potential to be absolutely anything including a future De Kock champion after he slaughtered a field of maidens on his debut over 1160m just eleven days ago. This is obviously a big step up in both class and distance for the Australian-bred son of Elusive Quality, but the half brother to high class Musir is perfectly entitled to be even better over 1600m than in the sprints. It is hard to know what to expect, but it would come as no surprise at all if he proved simply too good for the Dingaans field.
Sean Tarry’s Trio
Pomodoro - the pick of Tarry's horses
Sean Tarry has some nice 3yos in his yard this season and sends out three runners. Baracah looks to have it all to do on his seven lengths defeat behind Astro News in the Graham Beck and may be the weakest of the trio, but he did run on well when 4.35 lengths sixth behind Potala Palace at Greyville in July. Riding plans suggest that the stable elect may be Whiteline Fever, even from the widest draw. This Right Approach colt ran on very strongly from off the pace when beaten one length by Astro News over 1400m last time and is till improving. This stiff mile will suit him right down to the ground and he has plenty of scope to go on to better things. Interestingly, though, stable companion Pomodoro had Whiteline Fever 2.35 lengths behind him in fourth when he won a Listed event over 1600m at Clairwood in October. That was a slow-run race and a greater test of stamina would have suited Whiteline Fever better, but Pomodoro won with considerable authority and can still prove to be the pick of the Tarry horses here. He warrants considerable respect.
Beacon Flare
Beacon Flare was running on when he got to within one length of Potala Palace at Greyville and has been kept to shorter distances in two starts since. He has probably been aimed at the Dingaans, but he hardly set the pulse racing when appearing to have every chance before finishing 6.5 lengths seventh behind Astro News last time and he will need to step up a good deal on that form to pose any threats.
Mushreq
Mushreq may have needed the run after a 15 week absence when he ran on late and finished 1.5 lengths third behind E-Jet in a set weights event over the course-and-distance eleven days ago. It is possible that he didn’t enjoy the softer going when only eighth behind Potala Palace in July and he was only caught in the last stride by ill-fated Fighting Warrior in the Gr 1 Golden Horseshoe over 1400m on Vodacom Durban July day. He can improve. Stable companion Golden Chateau was only starting for the third time when he stayed on and finished a short head behind Mushreq eleven days ago. They meet on the same terms and there could be little to choose between them again, but Golden Chateau beat ordinary maidens when scoring over 1400m second time out and the form of the race won by E-Jet doesn’t really appeal as being up to the standard needed for the Dingaans.
Frontino Gold
Another entry from the De Kock stable is Frontino Gold, who will enjoy going back up in distance after he ran on strongly from a wide draw to be beaten two lengths behind stable companion Red Barrel (an interesting absentee here) in the 1400m Ready To Run Cup. However, the form of that highly restricted sales race looks nowhere close to Gr 2 standard even if Red Barrel himself may be a useful prospect, and Frontino Gold needed four attempts before winning a maiden against very ordinary rivals indeed. Also representing De Kock is Silver Flyer, who has consistent KZN form and who has finished less than three lengths behind the likes of Potala Palace and Pomodoro in previous encounters. He is a nice sort who has shown a good turn of foot, and the slow pace of the Clairwood event won by Pomodoro is unlikely to have suited him either, but exposed form leaves him with a bit to find to win here.
Tandragee
Tandragee has promising KZN form and is going the right way. He easily won a Clairwood 1450m maiden in wet going before giving subsequent winner Rule The Nation 9.5 kgs and a 2.25 lengths beating over 1200m in October. He takes a real step up in class now, but there is every probability that we have not seen the best of him and he does represent the Gavin van Zyl stable which won this race with The Apache a year ago. Others are preferred, but a bold effort from Tandragee would not come as a big surprise.
Mini Black
Mini Black faded to nothing after racing up with the speed before he finished 11.25 lengths behind Astro News over 1400m last month and must have stamina doubts. He had a considerable fitness edge when he won his penultimate race over 1160m against a group of rivals which were returning from lengthy lay-offs and all things considered he makes no appeal. Indian River was returning from a 16 week rest when beaten a long head by Mini Black in that sprint, but subsequently faded after disputing the lead when five lengths sixth behind Astro News in the Graham Beck. He may see out this longer distance if ridden with more restraint, and as a son of Greys Inn he is entitled to appreciate a stiffer test of stamina, but his form leaves Indian River with a lot to find here.
About the pace
Potala Palace has won at Gr 1 level with pillar-to-post tactics and could again attempt to make all the running, but there are others here who have done well racing from or near the front and a reasonable pace at least is (hopefully) on the cards. Straw Market has shown he can race handy, he stays the trip, and he has comfortably beaten Potala Palace before. He is a narrow first choice to win this ahead of the highly unexposed Merhee, with Potala Palace, Pomodoro, Beacon Flare, and Whiteline Fever making most appeal of the balance.
