Kevin Shea gets Via Africa home in a thriller
Var’s brilliant daughter Via Africa had her supporters hearts in their throats in the final strides of the R600 000 Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint run over 1200m at Scottsville on Saturday. After being up with the pace for much of the way the champion 4yo withstood a terrific late challenge from the outsider Fly By Night to register a great double and her third Gr1 win.
What a filly. She has never missed banking a cheque in all of her sixteen starts and her winning ways in her chestnut coat and the signature big white blaze have elevated her to a darling of the racing public.
After going down narrowly to surprise winner Copper Parade in the Computaform Sprint at Turffontein at the end of April, she just missed the rare distinction of winning three Gr1’s in three different provinces, after clinching the Cape Flying Championship at Kenilworth in January.
A popular banker in most exotic bets on the afternoon, Via Africa drifted to 15 to 20 just before the off as Dennis Drier’s Schiffer played up at the start and had the favourite, and others, falling asleep inside the gates.
Unsurprisingly, Schiffer was given her marching orders by the starter.
Via Africa was quickly into her stride from her 1 stallgate and was eased slightly as the speedy Tiger Quest and Varikate took up the cudgels down the inside centre of the track.
Duncan Howells trained the winner
The speed never relented and at the 400m marker Via Africa cruised into command as Grant Van Niekerk got stuck into Fly By Night.
Inside the 200m marker Van Niekerk appeared to realise that victory could be there for the taking and the Bass’ daughter of Jet Master gained on the champion with every stride.
But at the line, Via Africa was a short head to the good and she showed typical courage to hold on well to win in a time of 69,06 secs.
Fly By Night is rated some 10kgs inferior to the winner and jumped at 55 to 1. There appeared to be little stable confidence and she ran a cracker in the circumstances.
Jet Aglow ran on steadily for third, while Varikate ran out of her skin to stay on for fourth.
All Is Secret had no chance with Via Africa and ran a 5,45 length fifth.
A relieved looking winning trainer Duncan Howells conceded afterwards that it had been tough keeping Via Africa ‘on the go’ for two years.
“We have travelled a lot with her and she has shown tremendous courage and ability. It is lovely to see so many people behind her. This is what makes horseracing,” he said.
Kevin Shea was confident that he had won
Jockey Kevin Shea appeared unfazed about the late threat:
“I let her work hard and make it a serious 1200m. She held on well seeing she did so much of the hard work. She is definitely the Darling of Durban and I didn’t think that the second horse had gotten to me.”
Via Africa was bred by Andre Hauptfleisch and is by Var out of the thrice winning Qui Danzig mare, Bump ‘N Grind.
She was Var’s second Gr1 winner as the Avontuur bred Normanz won the Golden Horse Sprint in the very next race.
Via Africa has now won 10 races with 6 places from 16 starts. She took her career stake earnings with this win to R2 431 125.
