Ideal World prospers
THE top class Mauritzfontein Studbased stallion Ideal World scored a one-two in the classic pointer, the Grade 3 Graham Beck Stakes over 1 400m at Turffontein Standside on Saturday, and it looks just a matter of time before he has his second Grade 1 winner.
Louis Goosen was confident of winning the Graham Beck with Zen Arcade and the gelding finished strongly under Gunther Wrogemann to beat the Mike Azzie-trained colt Ideal Secret by 0,7 lengths with Prince Of Kahal third.
The time of 84,55 seconds was slower than Big Bear’s 84,08 seconds in the earlier Emperor’s Palace Ready To Run Cup.
Big Bear
The latter race looked stronger on paper, considering the next five horses behind Big Bear were rated 106, 90, 107, 96 and 94, while Zen Arcade beat 87, 90, 81, 86 and 88 rated horses.
However, the ratings are still sorting themselves out at this time of the season as is proven by S’Manga Khumalo choosing 85 merit rated Big Bear ahead of 107 merit rated Wonderwall.
It will be interesting to see how the handicapper rates the two respective races.
Zen Arcade franked the form of the unbeaten Alec Laird-trained Trippi colt Broadway Trip.
Zen Arcade was the 2,25 length runner up to Broadway Trip in the BSA August Million over 1 400m at Scottsville, although in his defense he had to give Broadway Trip 2kg despite it being his debut because he was a more expensive purchase than Broadway Trip.
Zen Arcade has won all three of his subsequent starts.
Progeny
The progeny of Ideal World tend to improve continuously with age and this increasingly popular sire tends to impart stamina on top of speed.
Zen Arcade’s dam is a threetime winning sprinter by Var, but she is in turn out of champion Older Female Stayer Monyela, who is by Fort Wood.
On running style Zen Arcade looks likely to stay at least a mile and is an exciting prospect.
The three-year-old male crop is shaping up to be a good one at this early stage.
Ideal World’s only Grade 1 winner to date has been the brilliant three-time Grade 1-winning filly Smart Call from his first crop. He was unlucky not to win the Grade 1 Thekwini with Persian Rug two years ago and has also produced the champion stayer Hermoso Mundo.