Tarry Quartet To Cape
The Equus Horse Of The Year Princess Calla departed for Cape Town yesterday (Tuesday) together with champion stablemate Mrs Geriatrix, Gr 1 winner Thunderstruck and also Tail Of The Comet.
Tarry has a Pinnacle event over 1200m lined up for Princess Calla in November as a pipe opener to her campaign in which the Gr 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes is her chief target.
He said, “It would have been easier for me to have given her a run in a Pinnacle over here (on the Highveld) in November, but I’m just worried about the travel protocols, so rather just get them out.”
Mrs Geriatrix’s chief target is obviously the Gr 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas on December 2. The usual springboard into that event is the Gr 2 Western Cape Fillies Championship over 1400m, to be run on November 11. Mrs Geriatrix is unbeaten in six starts at present and it might be eight by sunset on December 2, as there is yet to be a three-year-old filly emerging who loooks capable of matching her, although the Candice Bass-Robinson-trained Beach Bomb impressed in her last start.
Tail Of The Comet heads the Cape Racing Sales Ready To Run log and will likely start favourite for the 1400m event at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on October 21.
However, Tarry said he had particular respect for Just Be Lekker, whom Tail Of The Comet finished only two lengths in front of when they clashed in the Gr 2 Tabgold Umkhomazi Stakes over 1200m on World Pool Gold Cup day. Just Be Lekker proved to be even better over the 1400m distance category on Saturday when fnishing a fine third in the Gr 2 Betway Jo’Burg Spring Fillies and Mares Challenge over 1450m.
Tarry said he believed Thunderstruck was at his best over sprints, but he added there was “no hard and fast rule” that would dictate his program.
He said he might have needed Saturday’s run when finishing a 6,50 length second to Main Defender in the Gr 2 Jo’Burg Spring Challenge over 1450m, but he added that he had not expected him to be beaten in that manner having been beaten narrowly in Gr 1 sprints in his previous two starts.
David Thistleton