Barrack Street can lock up the Protea Stakes
Just one horse has won both the Listed Storm Bird Stakes and the Grade 3 Protea Stakes in the last 10 years, but like Runaway Man in 2010, Barrack Street could be an exception.
As the only two-time winner in the field for the R200,000 Protea Stakes over 1100m tomorrow, the Sean Tarry-trained colt has to give 2kg to those rivals who have exited the maiden ranks and 5kg to the two who have not won yet.
His 60kg impost is heavy, but the Dynasty colt looks well above average and could be hard to beat under Anton Marcus.
In the Storm Bird Stakes, Barrack Street beat Alfolk by 3.50 lengths with Quinlan another 2.25 lengths behind in third. The 2kg turnover should not be enough for them to turn the tables, but both must be considered for same-race exotic bets.
Laurent Du Var was a bit unlucky on debut, when a wellbacked favourite but only second behind still unbeaten Daring Diva. He clipped heels and got cut into that day but trainer Corne Spies gave him a bit of time off to recover and he recouped losses on his comeback, beating So Var by 2.25 lengths over 1000m. That was not the strongest field, but he is still improving.
And Tarry believes Silver God, who finished second in his debut back in December, could give his stablemate cheek with just 55kg.
There is likely to be another short-priced favourite in the R200,000 Pretty Polly Stakes (Grade 3) over 1100m in the form of Kissable.
Ignore her run in the Listed Ruffian Stakes because she got her tongue over the bit and choked up. Trainer Paul Matchett will be using a different bit this time.
She'd won her first two starts by a combined 13.90 lengths and could be hard to peg back.
If she fluffs her lines again then Tarry could capitalise. He has three runners with slight preference for Green Plains and Desert Rhythm. It's hard to judge wh0 the stable might prefer although Green Plains will be ridden by Tarry's first-call jockey S'manga Khumalo.
However, top-notch jockey Anthony Delpech takes the reins on Desert Rhythm and that must confuse the issue.
Green Plains won on debut before a second to Daring Diva over 1000m last month, while Desert Rhythm won a fairly strong race to shed her maiden tag at the third time of asking in a 1200m race at the Vaal last time out.
Outlander did well in the Ruffian Stakes, running on for second to Daring Diva and must have a strong Place chance again.
Mike Azzie-trained Spring Breeze kept galloping gamely when holding on by 0.90 lengths from Code Writer last time. She could also shape, with her confidence on a high after that win. 99 Barrack Street 95 Quinlan 91 Alfolk 83 Laurent Du Var 83 Whorly Whorly 80 Silver God - Boatswain 98 Kissable 88 Outlander 84 Desert Rhythm 84 Green Plains 84 Star Profile 81 Spring Breeze 79 Celestina