Alistair Gordon believes there is not much between the classy 96 merit rated Captain Al gelding My Pal Al and the recently gelded son of Fort Wood, Marshall That, both of whom are running in the Gr 3 Byerley Turk over 1400m at Greyville on Sunday.

My Pal Al (Nkosi Hlophe)

He also has another runner in the race, the consistent Tiger Ridge gelding Scarrabeast.

Gordon said, “My Pal Al has got a bad draw but you have to take your chances and he is fit and well and I hope he will be competitive. There are horses which bring good Johannesburg and Cape Town form while he has just been running on the Greyville poly, so this is a big step up, it’s a different kettle of fish. Marshall That (also drawn wide) has come on a lot since gelding and there is not a lot between him and My Pal Al.  It will be tough for Scarrabeast and I expect the other two to beat him, but there aren’t many 1400m features and he has the draw in his favour. I think a mile would be the maximum for both My Pal Al and Marshall That, so we will see how they go on Sunday and take it from there.”

The tall and rangy My Pal Al is certainly an eye catching horse with plenty of speed, class and scope and on paper Marshall That will have a tough task getting close to him.

Gordon said a line could be drawn through My Pal Al’s unplaced run in the Gr 2 Investec Dingaans over 1600m last November as he was still too immature and the ground had been very soft that day. He benefitted from the break he was given after that race and has won both of his starts since.

By David Thiselton