It’s been a while between drinks for Var’s talented son Eden Roc.
A winner of the Gr1 Gold Medallion and Gr2 Golden Horseshoe as a 2yo, the Varsfontein-bred Var colt found his winning turn in style when storming to victory in Saturday’s R175 000 Gr2 Post Merchants at Hollywoodbets Scottsville.
Unbeaten in two starts over the Hollywoodbets Scottsville 1200m, the Sean Tarry-trained Eden Roc (12-1) produced an electrifying finishing burst over the final 200m to beat gallant Gauteng visitor Invidia (11-1) by a half length in a time of 67,13 secs.
Local 3yo Cartel Captain completed the trifecta and rounded off a happy day at the office for the Dennis Drier team.
Stu Randolph gets Eden Roc there with a sustained burst (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
The favourite Ultra Magnus (2-1) finished just out of the money and 4,10 lengths off the winner.
Var’s son Eden Roc is a R340 000 National Yearling Sale purchase, and has won 4 races with 2 places from 12 starts for stakes of R1 104 300.
The Varsfontein Stud product is out of the Gr2 winning Captain Al mare, Townsend – who was bred by Avontuur.
And what a day for Avontuur and their superstar, Var, as well as Varsfontein and their class sire, Master Of My Fate.
The Gr2 Odessa Fillies Championship winner Townsend in action
Eden Roc’s Mom Townsend is the second foal of the Gr3-placed eight-time winner Palace Gossip, her first being Regal Ransom (Caesour), who claimed the Gr1 Champions Challenge. They were the Palace Gossip’s only produce, as she died early.
Hailing from a family imported into SA from Zimbabwe by late Avontuur supremo Tony Taberer, Palace Gossip was a grandaughter of Zimbabwe Oaks winner Island Farewell, who had the distinction of defeating male counterparts in the BP Conservation Guineas. She is a half-sister to Let’s Do It (Who Duzzit), a Gr3-placed winner of seven
The farm and their veteran sire Var, also enjoyed a great day.
He sired Glen Kotzen’s promising 2yo Ashford Castle, an impressive winner of Saturday’s second race, while his Gr3 Kenilworth Fillies Nursery winning daughter Delta Queen ran third in the Gr3 Strelitzia Stakes.
Var was broodmare sire in the victorious Gr3 Godolphin Barb Avontuur-bred exacta.
His daughter, the Gr3 Tommy Hotspur Handicap winner Miss October, produced the winner Tempting Fate (by Varsfontein sire Master Of My Fate), while his daughter Kitco (by Wilgerbosdrift sire Soft Falling Rain), is dam of the runner-up Pray For Rain.
