Duncan Howells champion Via Africa goes for a dream double in the SA Fillies Sprint
The champion is back on her home ground. Var’s brilliant daughter Via Africa returns to Scottsville on Saturday to defend her Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint crown. They will have to go to stop her from clocking up her third Gr1 win and she appears to have plenty in her favour after a narrow defeat in the recent Gr1 Computaform Sprint.
Along with Majmu who runs in the Allan Robertson Championship earlier on, Via Africa looks in all respects to be a popular exotic banker bet on the big day. Comfortably ensconced at the top of our ratings and having beaten most of those she meets again, the message is clear:’get past Via Africa and you win.’
The 2014 Gr1 Cape Flying Championship winner overcame health issues that plagued her for a major part of the Summer Of Champions down south, to win a cracker, beating the boom colt Red Ray in the Cape’s premier sprint at end January.
Double Deal
She won her prep outing at Scottsville at the end of March before travelling to Gauteng for Champions Day. She did just about everything right in a powerful line up there but just found the PE Challenger Copper Parade and Piere Strydom on a high. Via Africa went down three quarters of a length. Definitely not disgraced!
She returns to the scene of her brilliant triumph of last year to attempt to win the prestigious sprint for the second year running.
She looks ready to score. Interestingly, her victory in this race last year was her first try over 1200m. Saturday will be her second. That is no cause for concern. Her new regular pilot Kevin Shea quipped after a recent win that the mature Via Africa was no longer a blitz bomb of pure speed.
She now has the ability to settle and cruise with horses around her. That makes her even more lethal. She is also drawn 1, which should again prove an inestimable advantage.
No Secret
[20/05/2014 08:48:14 AM | Edited 08:48:36 AM] Lance Benson: The Vaughan Marshall trained All Is Secret is set to play the bridesmaid again
Her next start was not her best. She ran 6,60 lengths behind Jet Belle in the Gr3 Poinsettia Stakes (a race she won last year). She showed her usual good pace but faded and may have been struck down by the second run after a rest bogey. She could find Via Africa too good again.
Geoff Woodruff brings the revitalised Miss October back to KZN for another tilt at this race. The mare has matured beautifully and has proven competitive in Gauteng. She is held though by Via Africa on both her run in the recent Computaform Sprint and her effort in this race last year.
Drier Duo
Dennis Drier’s pair of Jet Aglow and Schiffer are both first class. Jet Aglow was prominent for a long way in the Gr1 Empress Club Stakes at her first outing in Gauteng last month. She is a supremely consistent and versatile filly and her defeat of Hammie’s Hooker in the Victress Stakes in December 2013 was underscored by the Bass fillies’ brilliant effort at Scottsville on Sunday.
Schiffer ruined her chances at the gate in the Computaform Sprint when slow away. She is superfast and high class and if things go her way, she could well come up and give them a fright.
Strike Smartly
Champion jockey Piere Strydom will be a welcome visitor to Scottsville and he partners the only 3yo I the field in Tiger Quest. The Australian bred daughter of Where’s That Tiger ran a cracking half length second to Honorine in the Gr1 Camellia Stakes last month, but meets the De Kock runner on 1,5kgs worse terms. The Tarry pair of Jackodore and She’s A Stunner can only be considered as outside hopefuls at best.
Roy Magner’s game mare Kinematic Countess ran fourth in the Gr2 Camellia Stakes when just three lengths behind Honorine. She meets De Kock’s filly on 2kgs better better terms and has a wide draw to contend with.
Bernard Fayd’herbe takes the ride again aboard Honorine, who scored a terrific win in the Gr2 Camellia Stakes last month. That win came out of the blue after an extended form slump and it will be interesting to see whether she can maintain that form.
Snaith Duo
Justin Snaith’s pair of Jet Supreme and Varikate will have their supporters, despite the likelihood of both starting at double figure odds. Jet Supreme showed up nicely in the Poinsettia Stakes before staying on for fourth and justa length behind Jet Belle. At her only previous start at Scotsville, she won the Gr3 Umzimkhulu Stakes (over 1400m) and could be in the fight for place cash here.
Stable jockey Richard Fourie has opted to ride Varikate. One of four Var progeny in the field, she made a winning debut in KZN three weeks ago when beating the speedy Pej over 1000m at Greyville. While stakes placed in the Olympic Duel Stakes in the Cape season, she will need to improve to take on the top three.
Marginals
The Mike Bass yard struck form with a nice double at Clairwood on Sunday. They saddle Jet Master’s daughter Fly By Night, who will need to pull her act together. She has not won in ages and looks out of her depth here.
Reflective Image is drawn on the wrong side of the track and ran a poor race in the Poinsettia Stakes. While she hails from a form yard, it is difficult making a case for her. The Australian bred Choir Maiden is fast but looks outclassed in this league.
Former Gr2 SA Fillies Nursery winner King’s Temptress is battling and has only ever won one further race after her stunning ‘Kimberley strike’ at Turffontein two seasons ago. Disappointing is not strong enough a word.
Top Class
While there are some very decent sprinters in the field, it is difficult opposing Via Africa.She has been supremely consistent and honest and Kevin Shea has her down to a fine art. All Is Secret will be snapping at her heels and is solid back up if the Howells’ filly fluffs her lines.
