Too Fast. Via Africa (Alec Forbes) wins the Gr2 Tony Taberer Southern Cross Stakes
You live your whole life for this moment. Winning part-owner Andre Hauptfleisch’s words echoed the emotion and thrill of a stunning win by his filly Via Afrika in Saturday’s R200 000 Gr2 Tony Taberer Southern Cross Stakes run over 1000m at Kenilworth.
The high drama of the late and contentious withdrawal of the fancied Welwitschia, as well as Justin Snaith’s Varikate just prior to the start, were briefly forgotten in the whirlwind of a win out of the top-drawer by yet another smashingly talented daughter of Var.
The victory by the KwaZulu-Natal raider was also a fairytale comeback by jockey Alec Forbes, who had won this race last year on Val De Ra. The latter was incidentally tested in foal this week to top sire, Oasis Dream.
The field which was reduced to nine as a result of the late scratchings, all got away on terms and it was Victorian Secret who led Torra Bay and Agra early, with Via Afrika edging across from the inside just off them.
At the 500m marker Torra Bay led on the outside with Agra in the middle and Via Afrika on their inside.
In a matter of strides, Via Afrika streaked into a match-winning lead and the race was a procession therafter as she cruised in to win by 1,75 lengths in a winning time of 58,31 secs.
Winning Ways. The post-race party group savour the moment
She beat the pacy Victorian Secret, with Brett Crawford’s consistent Tamburlaine filly Reflective Image a fast finishing third. The rest didn’t count.
A shell-shocked trainer Duncan Howells said afterwards that it was not easy for a yard without the big horses to win the Group races, but praised a great team effort. He paid tribute, amongst others to his son Alex who had travelled with the speed queen, as well as local trainer Eric Sands who had accommodated them.He said that his wife was keeping the Ashburton home fires burning.
Howells also mentioned Julia Pilbeam, who had done an outstanding job pre-training the filly
Jockey Alec Forbes said it was a pleasure to find another good filly to partner, and said, like Val De Ra, the south easterly gale had not bothered his mount. Forbes said that she had confirmed her work of ten days ago and he knew that she was good enough to win it. Forbes added that he had the runners on his outside off the bit at the 400m marker and he never felt that they would catch him.
An ecstatic part-owner Andre Hauptfleisch paid tribute to the Avontuur team led by Pippa Mickleburgh, and called Var ‘unbelievable’.
“I have no doubt that he will continue to rewrite the history books,” said Hauptfleisch.
The major dampner on the race was the late withdrawal of the outstanding Welwitschia.
Trained The Winner. Ashburton-based Duncan Howells
The mare was concussed when rearing in the saddling stalls, when apparently reacting to a blast of music from the on-course jumping castle. The connections were understandably most displeased, and the raceday management (or lack of it) of side-shows on big days will no doubt be brought into the spotlight. This is not the way to entice top yards with valuable horses from other provinces.
Trained by Ashburton-based Hollywood sponsored Duncan Howells, Via Africa was winning her fourth race from 5 starts with 1 place credit. She has now earned R278 625.
Via Africa was bred by the Hollywood bets.net Star Of The Week, Andre Hauptfleisch, who raced her dam, Bump ‘N Grind (by Qui Danzig), who won three races over 1000m.
Like Val De Ra, the world is Via Africa’s oyster.
And alongside Mike De Kock’s Rumya, she must rank as one of our most exciting prospects.
Result:
Southern Cross S. (SAf-G2) (12/8)
Kenilworth, South Africa, December 8, R200.000, 1000m, turf, good, 58.31 (CR
56.67).
VIA AFRICA (SAF), 56.0, b f 3, Var (USA) – Bump ‘n Grind (SAF) by Qui Danzig
(USA). Owner AJ Boshoff & GA Hauptfleisch; breeder GA Hauptfleisch; trainer
DC Howells; jockey A Forbes (R125.000)
Victorian Secret (SAF), 56.0, b f 3, Captain Al (SAF) – Spring Lilac (SAF)
by Joshua Dancer (USA)
Reflective Image (SAF), 60.0, b f 4, Tamburlaine (IRE) – Velvet’s Image
(ZIM) by Goldkeeper (USA)
Margins: 1¾, 1¾, ¾
