Persian Rug finally realising her potential

Mike de Kock has always believed Persian Rug was looking for a bit of ground and now, as a four-year-old, this daughter of Ideal World is proving him right.

It has taken until 2017 for her to finally win a race over 2000m when she cruised to victory on the Greyville Polytrack in January, beating Killer Woman by 2.25 lengths.

Not only has she won a race, but her good form over the distance has continued. She cast a shoe and hurt herself in her next start over the same course and distance but then ran a 2000m race on the Greyville turf track where she was a fast-finishing runner-up behind Celtic Captain in the umThombothi Stakes (Non-Black Type).

She took on the colts on that occasion and the winner, who beat her 0.50 lengths, went off as the 8-10 favourite.

Persian Rug returns to Scottsville today where she will race against her own sex in Race 4 a FM 94 Handicap, this time over 1950m.

One has to go back almost two years to find the only time she raced at this course but it proved to be a winning visit in which she beat Lauderdale by 1.75 lengths over 1400m.

The runner-up then reversed the form in their next meeting which was in the Grade 1 Thekwini Stakes over 1600m at Greyville, beating De Kock’s charge by 0.50 lengths although Persian Rug had a wide draw.

Anthony Delpech could have taken either of Dean Kannemeyer’s runners but he has selected to ride Persian Rug.

Princess Varunya was also a promising three-year-old and trainer Kom Naidoo brought her to Turffontein last year to contest the Triple Tiara. Her best run was a 2.05-length fourth behind Juxtapose in the Grade 1 SA Fillies Classic and she has not won a race since.

She has been getting better and with a small merit rating drop and an apprentice allowance of 1.5kg, the Australian-bred daughter of High Chaparral looks the main threat to Persian Rug.

For more news your way, follow The Citizen on Facebook and Twitter.