In the absence of Muzi Yeni who was out of town winning the final Grade 1 in Singapore racing history a few hours earlier, Rachel Venniker amplified her wide range of skills in the saddle when she travelled to Turffontein on Saturday to steer the lightly raced Back In Business home for Joey Soma in the R550 000 Betway Gr2 Spring Challenge.
Rachel Venniker steers the lightly raced Back In Business home for Joey Soma (Pic – JC Photos)
The winner under Muzi Yeni of the Betway Listed Spring Spree Stakes in August, the Klawervlei-bred 5yo is clearly loaded with ability and made it 6 wins from just 11 starts when he slipped through down the rail to put a 1,50 lengths margin between himself and the late finishing Barbaresco (11-2) who dead-heated with the exciting 3yo Wild At War (66-1).
The winner clocked 86,63 secs for the 1450m and with nominal miles on the clock he is bound to make his presence felt again. It was a second winner on the day for Rachel Venniker, who was aboard Atarime who scored in the third for Paul Matchett.
Summerveld home boys Stuart Ferrie and Sean Veale will be happy with the performance of the consistent Gladatorian (6-1), who paid for the trip, running fourth and a further 1,50 lengths back.
Despite being touted as being ready to win after a ten week break, the 17-10 favourite Main Defender never sparked and ran seventh and some 4,70 lengths behind the winner. This was a disappointing effort from the ever consistent son of Pathfork and will not be the way his connections will have wanted to commence their Betway Summer Cup build-up.
Raced by ANOA (Pty) Ltd, whose nominee is Andria Dannhauser, Back To Business was bred by Klawervlei Stud and is a son of the farm’s Captain Al stallion William Longsword out of the three-time winning Var mare, Enchanting Cathy.
A winner of 6 of his 11 starts with 2 places, Back In Business, a R325 000 National Yearling Sale purchase, was registering his second stakes victory and took his stakes earnings to R725 750.
