Cape star combination Grant van Niekerk and Justin Snaith made their solitary runner count on 4Racing Champions Day. The Diadem Stakes winner Rio Querari defied the straight course inside draw myth and powered clear late to win the R750 000 4Racing Gr1 Computaform Sprint.
Responding to a persistent dare and challenge over many months by his senior colleague Mike de Kock, Snaith pitched up in Johannesburg for the 4Racing launch and picked up his first Computaform Sprint winner, in the process seeming impressed by the new management.
Rio Querari storms him under Grant van Niekerk (Pic – JC Photos)
“When I visited here previously, I asked myself why I was doing it. People were arrogant and the vibe was terrible. But today it’s completely different,” he added in an earlier interview – and that’s before he was celebrating his big win.
Generally regarded as the fastest 1000m in the country, the Computaform Sprint has been won by some serious sprinters over the years.
The super consistent 4yo Rio Querari paid for more than the petrol outlay from his SA Champions Season base at Summerveld when banking the first cheque of R450 000 and registering his first Gr1 success.
“He’s the best sprinter I have ridden,” chirped an elated Grant van Niekerk after he had stormed home on the 2-1 shot to hold off Bohica (8-1) by 2,25 lengths in a time of 56,03 secs.
True To Life (2-1) ran on well for third a further half length back and the evergreen Chimichuri Run (20-1) in fourth.
Last year’s winner Rivarine lost valuable ground at the break and was never in it at his title defence.
Bred by Normandy Stud, Rio Querari has now won 6 of 16 starts with 9 places for prize money in excess of R1,5 million.
Rio Querari is by Maine Chance’ Oasis Dream stallion Querari out of the Windrush mare Arctic Breeze. He was a R625 000 purchase from the 2018 CTS Ready To Run Sale.
