Highlands Stud part of Ridgemont’s G1 winning resident sire Potala Palace is out of a mare who continues to deliver the goods.

Alzao daughter Alignment, who was beaten narrowly when runner up in the 1997 G3 Prestige Stakes at Goodwood, is not only the dam of 2011 G1 Premier’s Champion Stakes winning sire Potala Palace but is also dam of the current favourite, Front And Centre, for Saturday’s G2 Western Cape Fillies Championship.

The latter, an unbeaten daughter of Highlands’ sire Dynasty, has been installed as the 5-2 choice for the Fillies Championship, having won both her only two starts in eye catching fashion.

Front And Centre, who was bred by Highlands, made a smart winning debut when downing impressive subsequent winner Juniper Spring over 1200m and followed that good effort up when outclassing eight rivals in a fillies and mares handicap over 1400m at Durbanville earlier this month.

Her dam Alignment came up with yet another winner when her Silvano daughter Depeche got off the mark at Durbanville on Saturday.
The four-year-old Depeche, like Front And Centre trained by Brett Crawford, prevailed in a tight finish to prevail in the 2000m race by a neck.

She is a full-sister to the smart Streak Of Silver, who has won five times up to 1600 metres.

Potala Palace, who is from the same family as sire greats Sadler’s Wells, Nureyev, and Fairy King –as well as current hot US stallion Blame, has made a pleasing start with his first runners.

At the time of writing, the Singspiel son’s first 3yos include the feature race winner Dalai’s Promise, stakes placed filly Watsonia, and debut winners Basilius and Palace Chapel.