Via Africa looks set to confirm her status as South Africa’s leading sprinter
There are six progeny of Avontuur’s super sire amongst the thirteen speedsters that line up in Saturday’s R1 million Gr1 Computaform Sprint to be run over the Turffontein 1000m. While a recordbreaking Var quartet finish is on the cards, the weight for age race is very competitive and there are many with chances.
The brilliant What A Winter won the race last year in his final season before retiring to Drakenstein Stud. He staved off a challenge from KZN raider Via Africa, who returns this year for another bite at the cherry.
African Dream
The sensational white faced Via Africa is in the form of her life and showed her wellbeing with a smooth win in the Listed KZN Stakes run over the 1000m at Scottsville at the end of last month.
She has had an impeccable record in the ensuing year, despite a minor health hiccough in the Cape during December, and looks much stronger as a 4yo.
Her current pilot Kevin Shea observed after her last win that she has lost her raw tearaway speed and her new style of settling in her races stands her in good stead. This will give him plenty of options in a race she looks destined to win.
Happy Days
Anton Marcus will ride Contador , so Joey Ramsden flies Bernard Fayd’herbe in to ride the smart Happy Forever. The recent Gr2 Senor Santa Handicap winner has flourished in the care of Joey Soma and slammed the capable Here Comes Billy last time.
Dennis Drier’s lightly raced Var filly Schiffer was an emphatic winner of the 600m Easter Dash and we believe that it serves no purpose reviewing her current MR of 98. She is patently far better than that and if she turns up sound, will be a major factor.
Miss Var
The multiple course and distance winner Miss October disappointed last time but has done well with Geoff Woodruff and could run into the places. Ormond Ferraris’ Sharp Design is the jointly highest rated runner in the race and is lethal over the 1000m trip. He returned to winning ways last time under Weichong Marwing and looks set to improve on his eighth placed finish last year.
Superman
Striker’s mount Copper Parade is always value for a place
Charles Laird’s Gr1 winner Contador has won three on the trot and appears to have recaptured his best 2yo form that saw him capture the Gr1 Golden Horseshoe. Anton Marcus partners the high quality Var speedster who has won 8 of his 17 starts.
Piere Strydom is an interesting engagement on the PE visitor Copper Parade. Striker has not ridden the son of Lecture since the race after his sensational (boardroom) win in the 2010 Gr1 Golden Horseshoe.
Copper Parade won the Listed Golden Loom Handicap over Saturday’s course and distance in November last year and has maintained his form. Strydom looks the right man to get the best out of him.
Zaki Trio
The well related Jade Bay is very fast
Dominic Zaki saddles a trio of runners including the Lebelo Sprint winner, Jade Bay. The son of Jallad is a half brother to Highlands stallion Jackson, but a very speedy sort.
He appears held by Sharp Design on their last meeting and is very capable of turning the tables. S’manga Khumalo replaces regular man, Gavin Lerena. Deliver The Power returns from a 21 week rest and could need the outing after losing form last year. The third of the Zaki runners is Valberg, who returns from a six month break and may need the run.
He ran fourth in this race last year and is capable if he turns up sound and fit. Paul Peter’s Dupont gelding Magico has shown encouraging signs of a form return recently, and he meets on 1, 5kgs worse terms than when beaten narrowly over the course and distance at their last meeting.
Whatever
A legendary trainer of yesteryear, the amiable Pat Lunn travels up from KZN with the consistent Mogok gelding Mr Whatever. Robbie Fradd rides the 4yo who did not run a bad race when close up fourth behind Jade Bay in the Lebelo Sprint over the course and distance in January. David Nieuwenhuizen Virgo’s Babe won the SA Fillies Nursery last season and has edged back to her better form with placed efforts against her own sex in recent months.
She was prominent in the Sycamore Sprint when staying on for third just over a half length behind Kinematic Countess and will have earned her chance to have a bash at this big prize.
Flashes Of Glory
This race will prove to be a spectacle of speed and beyond the Derby,surely the race of the day. In speed contests, glory and ignominy can sway on a split second hesitation or decision to go in rather than out. Via Africa is the choice to confirm her status as South Africa’s top sprinter.
