In the pink for Summer

Mike Moon: We'll be in a pink haze at Turffontein tomorrow - and it won't only be the complimentary liquor to blame.

Patrons at the big Summer Cup meeting have been asked to attire themselves in pink. This is a concern, for I haven't a thing to wear, darling.

Of a certain age, I'm conditioned to panic at the mere thought of pink. My otherwise exquisite wardrobe is devoid of pink, puce, salmon or cerise. I predict a run on pinkish shirts today.

My better half says wearing a pink face after dutifully consuming hospitality hooch doesn't qualify. Yet quite a few florid boat races by early afternoon is a sure bet.

It would fit the theme if the winner of tomorrow's R2-million Grade 1 Sansui Summer Cup could be a horse carrying pink silks.

Last year, Aslan snatched victory with rider resplendent in fuchsia.

The defending champ hasn't matched that performance since, though he obviously likes Turffontein and is having his third run after a rest - a plus factor among students of form. His 20/1 price seems fair value.

The gelding Pierre Jourdan races in white and lilac - close to pink, I contend. Dubbed "The People's Horse" after nearly landing the Triple Crown last year, and priced up at 6/1, he'd get a rosy reception in the winner's circle.

But the intriguing horse of the race is Perana, who races in the colours of Investec boss Bernard Kantor - pink, ultramarine and silver stripes.

At first glance, it's audacious of trainer Mike de Kock to pit a three-year-old against seasoned campaigners.

The last time a three-year-old won this race, at this time of year, was in 1966, when Caradoc carried 45kg. Back then, young horses had handy chances due to the postage stamps they were allocated to carry. Nowadays, the weighting gap is narrower.

However, Perana's 52kg is still a chunky 8kg less than top-weights Pierre Jourdan and Rudra must lug for the 2000m.

De Kock has defied much convention to become the country's most celebrated conditioner, so one is hesitant to bet against him pulling off a feat with Perana.

Also, top jockey Anthony Delpech declared Perana to be the best he'd sat on, after a remarkable win in the Victory Moon Stakes two weeks ago when the colt got into a tangle but regrouped to beat serious opposition. And that's why the son of Rock Of Gibraltar is top of the boards at 5/2.

Many other runners can spoil the carmine confection, such as Mother Russia, Service Ace, Zirconeum and Thandolwami. But, to me, Bulsara looks most likely, with a good preparation, a form trainer in Gavin van Zyl, and a mature look about him.

And Bridget Oppenheimer's yellow and black silks might even nicely offset all that pink.

Selections

Summer Cup (Race 5): 6 Bulsara, 18 Perana, 15 Thandolwami, 3 Mother Russia

The Dingaans (Race 6): 1 Kavanagh, 6 Captain's Key, 4 Galileo's Destiny, 9 The Apache