BANAADEER (AUS), the short-priced favourite for Saturday’s Gr1 SA Nursery over 1160m at Turffontein, was beaten a comfortable 2.50-lengths into second by the speedy and progressive filly Carry On Alice. This was a surprise to the followers of Mike de Kock’s promising imported colt and the majority of Pick 6 players who had relied on him in the first leg of a Megapool that topped R5,8 million at the start of the race.

To be considered, however, is that despite Banaadeer’s popularity and his flawless form coming into the race, Carry On Alice was clearly well fancied and deemed good enough to beat the colt. Sean Tarry’s filly was in fact the only runner to shorten in the pre-race market, backed from 7s to 7-2, a show of big confidence considering the talent of her rival, who drifted a point before the off.

Banaadeer has improvement in the tank.

That Banaadeer was defeated here by a good sort is not in question, but Mike said that his charge would have gone close to winning had it not been for the setback in his preparation, which was pointed out in his pre-race comments to the media.

Mike said that Banaadeer would be back to fight another day. “We’re not looking for excuses and well done to Sean and his owners for their win, but our colt is better than this. I was concerned that Banaadeer had missed more than a week’s work prior to the Nursery due to a high temperature. He was well for the race, we thought he’d pull through despite his interrupted prep, but as it turned out we were wrong.

“The result proved once again that one can’t go into competitive Gr1 company with doubts, even with a really good horse. When they raced into the last 150m Banaadeer got tired, his stride shortened in the last bit. His interrupted preparation affected his fitness and he couldn’t match the filly for finishing pace. Knowing what he’d been through I’m optimistic about Banaadeer’s future. He ran a good race and will come on for it.”

Banaadeer will be aimed at the Gr1 Tsogo Sun Medallion over 1200m at Scottsville on 24 May, invariably a significant pointer to future top-level results and stallion potential. The race has a formidable roll of honour showing just in recent years names like Kildonan, Cataloochee, JJ The Jet Plane and Warm White Night. “If all goes according to plan in the next few weeks Banaadeer will be sharp and ready for the Medallion, he looks best suited to sprinting at this stage of his career,” Mike said.