#kznbred Purple Pitcher Aims At Triple Crown

 

Turffontein trainer Robyn Klaasen said the most likely route for her Gr 2 Jonsson Workwear Dingaans winner Purple Pitcher (New Predator) would be the WSB Triple crown series, although she has not ruled out a trip to Cape Town (where the big race options for him would be the Gr 1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate, the Gr 1 WSB Met and/or the Gr 1 Cape Derby.

She said about the Bush Hill Stud-bred Mr “Stincky” Pooe-owned colt, “The goal was always the Triple Crown, so probably not looking elsewhere for now, but things can change we never know.”

She said Purple Pitcher had come out of his Dingaans win well and he would probably have a preparation run in one of the minor three-year-old features before tackling the Gr 2 WSB Gauteng Guineas on February 3.

Robyn admitted she believed Purple Pitcher “was beat” by Gimmeanotherchance in the Dingaans as they neared the line.

He had chased the latter for the length of the straight and made steady inroads, but still had two lengths to make up with just 50 metres to go.

Kabelo Matsunyane then changed whip hands and the colt changed legs and took off to get up by a quarter of a length.

Robyn said, “He looks like a very nice horse and I’m very lucky to have him. I think he will be better over further. As could be seen in the Dingaans he only got going in the last couple of hundred metres.”

She felt the Guineas would actually be the hardest leg for him.

“If he can win the Guineas, I don’t see much who can beat him in the next two.”

Sandringham Summit (a half brother to the KZN Breeders Club owned stallion EDEN ROC) will be the obvious danger in the Gr 1 WSB SA Classic over 1800m, but Robyn believes Purple Pitcher is better suited to the Turffontein Standside track than the latter is.

Purple Pitcher is a half-brother to the Crusade sprinter-to-1400m horse Miss Daisy, but there is stamina further down the pedigree. He is from the family of Met winner Alastor as well as Cape Derby winner Eyes Wide Open.

-turf talk.co.za