Alec Laird’s 6yo Bezanova may well have forgotten where the winner’s enclosure was after his long drought but came back to his best in style at Turffontein on Sunday with a grinding win in the R400 000 Gr2 Victory Moon Stakes.
A delighted Randall Simons clenches his fist as Bezanova beats Liege and the fast-finishing Bold Rex (Muzi Yeni) in the Victory Moon Stakes (Pic – JC Photos)
The 2014 Charity Mile winner and his connections had the last laugh when the gelding got the better of the younger Liege in the final strides of the rain delayed feature, to register his first win in close on seventeen months of knocking about between KZN and Gauteng.
And his win brought back memories of that lovely story dating back to the National 2yo Sale of 2012 where, after buying him for R150 000, owner Chris Gerber was told by a sales official that things were ‘going so well – there were even clowns paying R150 000 for the Bezrins!’
Close to R2 million in stakes earned later, Gerber doesn’t have any issues with the clown tag!
Alec Laird – has kept Bezanova ticking over in style
And he and trainer Alec Laird must have been motivated by the maxim that horses only lose form – they don’t lose ability.
Between that and the fact that the soldier owes them nothing, they have played the perseverance game through a host of average and frustrating runs – with Bezanova racing off an MR of 96 on Sunday, having achieved a career high of 107 once.
The son of Bezrin also used to be a bit of a Pied Piper back in the day, but has learnt to relax and settle and this did the trick on Sunday as he conserved energy before producing a rousing late winning burst.
The field was reduced to 12 runners after five scratchings and with the going posted as good to soft, the scene was set for a cracker.
With Arctica showing the way from the jump, Randall Simons had Bezanova cruising in midfield.
In the run for home the gutsy chestnut gelding was angled out for a run as Liege challenged Arctica, with Amsterdam and Bankable Teddy also looking dangerous.
Randall Simons – rode a well judged race
An Adriaan and Rika Van Vuuren exacta was on the cards at the 300m marker as Amsterdam challenged stablemate Artica, with Liege unwinding.
S’manga Khumalo looked to have timed things perfectly, as Liege came home powerfully, with Amsterdam and Bankable Teddy petering out.
But despite all the action down the centre, the 9-1 shot Bezanova was the one finishing best as he came home on the wide outside to grab Liege and win by 0,50 lengths in a time of 112,06 secs.
Simons celebrated a feature double on the afternoon and had time to do a quiet ‘pump salute’ two strides before the line.
Liege finished the best of the Summer Cup hopefuls with a decent prep effort, while the 3yo Bold Rex impressed as he ran on stoutly late for third, holding off long-time pacesetter Arctica.
Joey Ramsden’s Argentinian-bred stayer Coltrane, running over a distance short of his best, showed his well-being, finishing powerfully to run fifth and only 3,05 lengths off the winner.
A R150 000 National Two Year Old Sale graduate, Bezanova has won 6 races with 10 places from 34 starts and took his career bank to R1 966 775.
The winner was bred by Clifton Stud and is by Bezrin out of the thrice winning London News mare, Ananova.
Final entries close for the Summer Cup on Monday. Will the Bezanova boys have another bash?
_________
Gr2 Victory Moon Stakes (SAf-Gr2)
Turffontein, South Africa, November 13, R400k, 1800m, turf, soft, 1.52.06
1 – BEZANOVA (SAF), 54.0, ch g 6, Bezrin (USA) – Ananova (SAF) by London News (SAF). Owner Mr M C Gerber; Breeder Clifton Stud; trainer AG Laird; jockey R Simons
2 – Liege (SAF), 57.0, b c 4, Dynasty (SAF) – Lyrical Linda (SAF) by Jallad (USA)
3 – Bold Rex (SAF), 54.0, b g 3, Bold Silvano (SAF) – Rexana (SAF) by National Assembly (CAN)
Margins: 0.50, 1.25, 1.25
