South Africa is not officially on the list of countries represented in tonight's Singapore Airlines International Cup, but a closer look at leading home hopes Palace Line and Hoeberg reveals a strong Protean connection. For not only were the pair formerly trained in South Africa, they will be ridden by South Africans, both will also run in the colours of owners with strong South African links and one is trained by a South African. The chain is broken only by Laurie Laxon, the New Zealander who trains Hoeberg.
Both horses have performed well this year in international company at home and in Dubai - and it is that prospect which has fostered the South African influx to Singapore. Palace Line's trainer Patrick Shaw, in his first season in Singapore after more than a decade of success in his native country, said: 'I came here for the opportunity to race internationally. We were closed in at home because of the horse sickness, which prevented horses leaving until quite recently, but Singapore is a nice base to travel anywhere - Australia, Dubai, Hong Kong, Japan. I came and looked at the place and I was very impressed with the facilities here and the whole set-up. It's ideal for what I want to do.'
Palace Line, who numbered two Group Ones among six wins from seven starts in South Africa, was purchased by British-based banker Bernard Kantor, a long-time patron of Shaw's stable in South Africa, and shipped to Singapore last autumn. The Australian-bred three-year-old was quick to make his mark in his new country, winning the 1,800-metre Singapore Classic to prove his worth against international horses - albeit of a lower standard than those he faces this time - and Shaw's first overseas foray to Dubai saw the son of Palace Music run a creditable sixth in the UAE Derby on dirt.
Shaw is optimistic about Palace Line's chance tonight, saying the Dubai run can be ignored. 'It was his first run on dirt and I was worried about the kickback, so I told the jockey to be up there,' he said. 'It was the wrong move because all the placed horses came from behind. I blame no-one but myself for the defeat, it was my fault, but I think it will be a different story back on turf. Touch wood, Palace Line is very well and back to his proper weight after the trip to Dubai and I think he's ready to do himself justice this time.'
Victory for Palace Line would complete a rare long-range international double for Kantor, whose British-trained horse Dupont won the Italian 2,000 Guineas in Rome last week. The owner has nine horses with Shaw in Singapore, having been a backer of the trainer in South Africa for seven years prior to his move, and the South African connection is completed by Johnny Geroudis, now stable jockey for Shaw.
Hoeberg, meanwhile, will be ridden by Kevin Shea, the second-leading jockey in South Africa who has jetted in for the big-race mission. The filly, winner of nine of her 11 starts in South Africa including three Group Ones, runs for South African owner Laurie Jaffee in the colours made famous in Hong Kong by 1997 Queen Elizabeth II Cup winner London News.