Caroline Simpson - Bloodstock South Africa
(Photo : Summerhill Stud)

READY TO RUN GALLOPS PANEL

Several of our panelists have already achieved some “home-run” scores in the horses they’ve picked from past Emperors Palace Ready To Run gallops, while others are still getting out of their blocks to a degree. In one remarkable year, Graeme Hawkins picked six top performers out of seven, while Mike de Kock, in successive years, chose Galant Gagnant, Imbongi and Art Of War (all three now successful international performers), while in the current crop, he’s represented by one of the early favourites for the R1,5million Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup, Havasha, and another promising entry in Fisani.

Sean Tarry has the multiple Gr.1 performer, Fork Lightening to his credit (at R65 000 something of a bargain), while Michael Azzie has picked from the sale the unbeaten Champion Two Year Old, Imperial Despatch, the Golden Slipper (Gr.1) winner, Dignify, and the Thekwini Stakes (Gr.1) heroine, Bridal Paths.

Quite clearly, the panellists know their stuff, and there has to be a dividend of sorts in having their fancies on your shortlist.

Later this week, we’ll be tabling the picks of those closest to these horses, their riders and their grooms, who have an enviable record in pointing out the obvious” ones.