RED Barrel scorched the track in his second run following a long layoff at the Vaal on Tuesday, quickening from well off the pace to win a Graduation Plate over 1200m by 2.50-lengths from Playingtheenemy.

The five-year-old by Right Approach had some ten lengths to make up going through the 400m-mark, but when jockey Robbie Fradd shook him up he closed swiftly on the leaders, taking command 100m out to win going away.

“He likes to chase horses down and once he got through, he finished off strong,” said Fradd, who’d positioned Red Barrel behind horses on the inside running rail and found a clear passage at the business end of the race.

‘The track was quick today and he took to it well, but once the rains come I think he will thrive,” added Fradd.

Red Barrel had only raced seven times due to unsoundness and injury, but he’s maturing well and owners Markus and Ingrid Jooste are having their patience rewarded. The former Emperors Cup winner was a leading light of his generation as a younger horse and the time to fulfill his promise is not over yet.