Ridgemont Highlands’ G1 winning sire Potala Palace was back in the news on Saturday, when his lightning fast daughter Singforafa captured the Listed Gardenia Stakes (1000m) at Turffontein.

Under jockey Craig Zackey, the four-year-old blitzed out and was always up with the speed. The Corne Spies trained Singforafa stayed on strongly in the closing stages, and just held off a strong late challenge from G3 Gauteng Tourism Authority Magnolia Handicap victress True To Life to claim the 2020 Gardenia Stakes by a neck, with last season’s G1 Allan Robertson Championship winner Vernichey claiming third spot.

Singforafa, who carried 61.5kgs when claiming Saturday’s feature, had finished first past the post in last year’s Gardenia Stakes but was subsequently disqualified and demoted to second.

Bred by Mr Swart, Singforafa took her tally of wins to five from 18 starts, with the speedy filly having also claimed the 2019 G3 Strelitzia Stakes

Her G1 Premier’s Champion Stakes winning sire Potala Palace has made a striking impression with his first two full crops to race also yielding unbeaten Winter Series winner Katak, with the latter set to further his career in Singapore.

A son of Singspiel, Potala Palace hails from a truly exceptional family which is also responsible for outstanding stallions Sadler’s Wells, Nureyev, Stormy Atlantic, Northern Meteor and Reform.