How good is Perana?  The Australian bred three year-old is one of the hottest prospects in South Africa and his moment of truth arrives in the G1 Summer Cup at Turffontein on Saturday.

The Rock Of Gibraltar colt will be making just his fifth racecourse appearance in the Summer Cup (2000m) but trainer Mike de Kock has been glowing in his praise of the Aussie import.

Perana (3c Rock Of Gibraltar – Scribbling by Palace Music) is coming off a remarkable victory in the G2 Victory Moon Stakes (1800m) a fortnight ago.  He set the pace and was doing everything right until the 500m marker where he ducked sharply to his left and almost came a cropper.

Jockey Anthony Delpech performed an acrobatic trick or two just to stay in the saddle and then sent Perana on his way to make up at least four lengths on stablemate Mother Russia.

Perana recovered in time to defeat the mare by a half-length running away.  Delpech dismounted and told de Kock he had never sat aboard such a talented colt.

Perana was a $200,000 buy for South African owners Larry Nestadt and Bernard Kantor at the 2009 Inglis Easter yearling sale.  He is from an unraced half-sister to Champion South African filly Tracy’s Element (Last Tycoon) who is the dam of Australian Horse of the Year Typhoon Tracy (Red Ransom).

Besides Perana and Mother Russia, De Kock will also send out Flirtation (Silvano), Alderry (Al Mufti), Rudra (Parade Leader) and Zirconeum (Jallad) in the Summer Cup.

Anzac imports Galileo’s Destiny (G2 Investec Dingaans) and Exclaim’n’exclude (G2 Hertz Merchants) are also winning chances in the other features on the Summer Cup card.

Galileo’s Destiny (Galileo) was runner-up to Dingaans favourite Kavanagh in the G3 Graham Beck Stakes earlier this month.  He beat highly touted Castlethorpe (Not A Single Doubt) prior to that run at Clairwood and riding plans imply he is the stable elect among the trio of Charles Laird-trained starters.

Laird will also saddle up Exclaim’n’exclude in the Merchants.  He showed real potential when cruising home in his first two starts in restricted company before finishing second in the Listed Golden Loom Handicap.

Post times on Saturday night – Sunday morning
Merchants – 1.05 am (AEST)
Summer Cup – 1.45 am (AEST)
Dingaans – 2.20 am (AEST)