Highlands Stud’s well performed young stallion Potala Palace, whose relatives have been in the news lately, was responsible for a smart looking debut winner at the Vaal on Thursday.
His 3yo son Desert Oasis, who hails from his sire’s first crop, showed heart when digging down deep to beat 18-10 favourite, and another first-timer by Potala Palace, Russian Prince by 0.4 of a length over 1400m.

It was another nearly three lengths away to third place finisher Tsitsikamma Bush

Trained by Johan Janse Van Vuuren, the gelded Desert Oasis was steered to victory by Hennie Greyling.

Bred by Highlands Stud, Desert Oasis is out of the Rich Man’s Gold mare Water Is Gold.

Thursday’s debut winner was a R120 000 buy from the 2017 KZN Yearling Sale.

Potala Palace, whose half-sister Front And Centre is favourite to win Saturday’s G2 Western Cape Fillies Championship, was a

He is a son of the champion racehorse Singspiel, whose 90 plus stakes winners include the G1 winners/champions Papineau, Moon Ballad, Solo, Confidential Lady, Lahudood, Eastern Anthem and Dar Re Mi.

Singspiel, a half-brother to outstanding sire Rahy and Jet Master’s sire Rakeen, is also enjoying increasing success as a broodmare sire, with his daughters having already produced such G1 winners as Too Darn Hot, Limato, Wuheida, Left Hand, Royal Marine, Suedois, Helmet and Epaulette. The latter is the sire of last season’s Equus Champion Soqrat.

Potala Palace, whose first crop winners include fellow debut scorers Basilius and Palace Chapel, is from the same family as impressive recent Irish winner Rakan –who holds an entry for the 2019 Investec Derby.