Snap, Crackle and On Top!

The Champion! Variety Club and Anton Marcus power ahead to win the Gr1 mile at Clairwood

The breakfast of champions is not cereal, it’s the opposition.  One of South Africa’s greatest milers in recent memory made a meal of his nine opponents on Saturday to cruise in to win his eighth race on the trot.  Variety Club made the R750 000 Gr1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge all his own as he had the large crowd on their feet at a sunny and packed Clairwood.

Joey Ramsden’s star was backed into prohibitive odds to win this prestigious Gr1 mile and he never gave his backers any cause for concern at any point during another professional exhibition of power galloping.

The race is a traditional July prep and last year’s winner big race winner Pomodoro would have pleased his connections with a superb showing in third.

There was not a lot of interest in, or expectation from any of the other nine well performed sorts and the race went accordingly to plan.

Anton Marcus took his mount out to dictate matters and he slowed things up going into the turn as he was followed by Beach Beauty, Lake Arthur, Pomodoro and Hill Fifty Four.

At the 400m marker Variety Club continued to lead as challenges were launched by Beach Beauty and Pomodoro.

But as we have to expect, he geared up and was just far too strong for them as he gave all the way to the line.

Team Variety! Anton Shepherd, Joey Ramsden, Pippa Mickleburgh and Derek Brugman with young Jack Brugman and their trophy

Variety Club stormed clear to beat Beach Beauty by a length in a time of 94,42 secs.

A great training feat by Joey Ramsden and his longserving KZN assistant, Lorenzo Karriem.

Pomodoro ran a cracker of a July rep by staying on nicely for third, while Whiteline Fever loomed up wide out and ran fourth. He will also come along nicely from this.

Garth Puller’s Ice Machine caught the eye in fifth to run a nice July prep, while Hill Fifty Four never showed finishing just behind him.

Variety Club was bred by Beaumont Stud.

He is by the outstanding  Var out of the one time winning Secret Prospector mare La Massine.

Variety Club has now won  14 races from his 19 starts for 4 places, and took his earnings up to R3 747 141. His victories include four Gr1’s, three Gr2’s and three Gr3’s.

He cost just R475 000 at the very last of the old Equimark Vintage Sales.

The win was enjoyed by a vibrant on course crowd. Veteran commentator Craig ‘Eagle Eye’ Peters reflected back in the final stages replay of the race on his 35 years in the commentary box of calling some great horses. He said Variety Club was one of the most good looking and talented horses he had ever seen.

‘Ms Var’  was also on course!  The super stallion’s home base Avontuur Stud’s General Manager Pippa Mickleburgh flew up to Durban for the race and was all smiles as she was overcome with emotion afterwards.

The Rising Sun’s supremo Vijay Maharaj described the big crowd as ‘our best yet.’

The community newspaper’s CEO has few peers when it comes to setting the bar and rolling up his sleeves, thus getting every ounce of value out of his sponsor rand.

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