Dennis Drier was disappointed with Punta Arenas run in the Gr 2 Premier Trophy on Saturday but his CTS Million Dollar contender Seventh Plain is doing well and will have his final preparation run in the Listed Sophomore Sprint over 1200m at Kenilworth on January 2.

Punta Arenas failed to quicken from off the pace on Saturday and finished a disappointing 3,4 length fifth in the 1800m event. However, he remains on track for the J&B Met via the Gr 2 Peninsula Handicap over 1800m on January 9. A look back at his record suggests there should not be too much to be concerned about because two seasons ago, when ultimately running a fine 1,95 length third in the Met, his Cape Summer Of Champions Season form read very similarly to what it does so far this season.

In that season he started with a four length seventh in the Green Point Stakes, as opposed to a 5,3 length seventh is this season’s Green Point, and he then went on to finish a 4,3 length eighth in the Premier Trophy, as opposed to his 3,4 length fifth this season. He then went on to finish a much improved 1,75 length third in the Peninsula before his excellent Met run. The seven-year-old gelding blossomed in the Champions Season and progeny of Silvano do tend to get better with age, so his relatively advanced years are of little concern.

Drier admitted Seventh Plain had ultimately needed his run in the R2,5 million Lanzerac Ready To Run Stakes on November 21, his seasonal reappearance. He is clearly better than that effort in which he only just managed to hang on for fourth, 5,75 lengths behind the winner Budapest, for after jumping from a wide draw his usual effortless cruising speed coupled with his tremendous turn of foot were not at their sharpest. However, under Drier’s expert guidance he should be spot on for his chief target, the Million Dollar, over 1400m on January 23.

Drier’s best result so far this Cape Summer Of Champions Season was winning the Gr 2 Cape Merchants with a horse he has always rated, the four-year-old Trippi gelding Triptique, and this horse will now go for the Gr 2 weight for age (with Gr 1 and Gr 2 penalties) Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes over the same course and distance on December 27. The Merchants was a handicap in which the imposing horse only carried 52kg, although he was 1,5kg under sufferance, and he will have it much tougher here, especially as he will carry a Gr 2 penalty. The handicappers raised him from 93 to 101. Triptique might possibly be aimed at the prestigious Gr 1 L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate, as Drier has always believed he would go further, but a decision will only  be made after the Diadem.

Unfortunate news from the yard is that Generalissimo, who was one of the chief sprinters in the stable, will be out for the season.

By David Thiselton