Ridgemont Highlands’ G1 winning sire Potala Palace was the toast of Singapore when his talented son Katak scored at Kranji on Saturday.
The talented Katak kicked off 2022 with his first Singapore victory as he scored a relatively comfortable win over 1400m at Class 2 level.
Always looking very comfortable in second behind pacemaker Nepean, the Potala Palace entire took it up as they turned for home and quickly established an advantage of a length.
Jockey Danny Beasley always looked to have it under control after that, and although market rival Heartening Flyer ran on to get within half a length, Beasley was nursing Katak along over the inadequate trip, and he looked certain to respond to any serious challenge.
Katak, fourth in the Singapore Gold Cup back in November, had caught the eye last year when finishing second in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup.
“He has settled so much better. He wasn’t sweating, he was conserving his energy so well, when he used to use it up a lot before the race last time,” said the South African handler Ricardo Le Grange.
“Mind you, he’s still not fully wound up, and that first race back will bring him on.”
“I will now run him in a Class 1 race over the mile on February 26, and probably look for another race before the Kranji Mile, which is his main target.”
Unbeaten in five starts in South Africa where his wins included triumphs in all of the G3 Kuda Variety Club Mile, G3 Abe Bloomberg Legal Eagle Stakes and G3 99c Pocket Power Stakes, five-year-old Katak was bred by Highlands Farms Stud.
His G1 Premier’s Champion Stakes winning sire Potala Palace, also sire of 2021 G1 South African Fillies Sprint winner Singforafa and a number of other talented sorts, has four lots on the upcoming Cape Premier Yearling Sale – including a colt (Lot 116) out of G2 Golden Slipper winner Princess Sassi, and a colt (Lot 150) whose dam is a half-sister to dual G1 winner Snowdance.
Potala Palace’s Cape Yearling Sale draft includes a half-brother (Lot 13) to G1 Thekwini Stakes runner up Melliflora, a filly (Lot 38) bred on the same cross as Katak, and a colt (Lot 40) whose dam is a half-sister to champion sprinter, and successful sire, Captain Of All.
