A head and an objection separated Vaughan Marshall’s once beaten Captain Al colt One World and his Adam Marcus-trained rival Vardy in the Winter Guineas last month.
The duo could take the edge off the Kenilworth winter chill and add some much needed sparkle to a rather disappointing turnout for the Gr3 Winter Classic when they go head to head again today.
Vardy and One World in a final 200m tussle last time (Pic – Chase Liebenberg Photography)
The animated rivalry between One World and Vardy was played out over the final 200m of the first leg of the Cape Winter Series where One World prevailed by a head after a bumping duel, where both sides played their role in a bit of ‘how’s your father’.
Risking family harmony, trainer Adam Marcus promptly filed an objection against the Klawervlei bred trojan, ridden by his famous Uncle Anton.
For the record, the stipes reported:
From the 200m Vardy(C Zackey), which was hanging, shifted in, and made contact with One World (A Marcus), which became unbalanced, rolled out, and brushed Vardy (C Zackey). Thereafter One World (A Marcus) and Vardy(C Zackey) brushed on a number of occasions in the concluding stages. Trainer A Marcus, trainer of Vardy , declared 2nd place, lodged an Objection against One World being declared the winner on the grounds of interference in the latter stages. The Board, after reviewing the patrol films, and hearing all the evidence presented, was of the opinion that Vardy would not have finished ahead of One World and therefore overruled the Objection and allowed the Judges’ result to stand. The deposit was refunded. Marcus was charged with a contravention of Rule 58.10.2 (read with Guideline C on the use of the crop) in that he struck the horse One World more than three times on consecutive strides in the latter stages. He signed an admission of guilt and was fined R1000.
On Saturday the two meet again on the same weight terms and stand out ahead of their opposition – the only difference being that MJ Byleveld replaces Marcus, who has Gr1 commitments at Scottsville – and they go 200m further.
Only beaten once in eight starts- in the Cape Guineas by De Kock star Soqrat and KRA Guineas winner Twist Of Fate in the Cape Guineas – One World will stay 2000m. That was the opinion of trainer Vaughan Marshall when canvassed on his prospects after his last good win. He is a horse who loves a scrap and having won on him three times previously, MJ Byleveld knows his quirks.
Drawn alongside One World, the lesser experienced Vardy also goes the 1800m for the first time. The son of Var is out of an unraced Jet Master mare who produced winners at 2000m and 2400m and he has shown an ability to settle well and run at them late. He has twice been beaten by One World – prior to the Winter Guineas, they met in the CTS 1600 at level weights on Met day when the deficit was 3,75 lengths in favour of the Marshall runner.
The Winter Guineas battle from another angle (Pic – Chase Liebenberg Photography)
It looks very tough for the rest – barring a mudbath.
Candice Bass-Robinson’s Majestic Mozart ran on best of the rest in the Winter Guineas and, while likely to enjoy a trip he appears to be crying out for, he will have to go some to catch One World or Vardy.
The field:
| 1 | 2 | One World | 60 | 117 | A | M Byleveld | Vaughan Marshall | |
| 2 | 3 | Vardy | 58 | 109 | A | C Zackey | Adam Marcus | |
| 3 | 1 | Majestic Mozart | 58 | 102 | T A | G Cheyne | Candice Bass-Robinson | |
| 4 | 6 | Herodotus | 58 | 101 | A | S Khumalo | Glen Kotzen | |
| 5 | 4 | Clouded Hill | 58 | 86 | A | L Mxothwa | Justin Snaith | |
| 6 | 5 | Rochester | 58 | 74 | A | O Noach | Vaughan Marshall | |
| Same Trainer – Not Coupled on Tote | ||||||||
| (1,6) | ||||||||
Herodotus has been on the fringes of the action in the 3yo features and was beaten just under four lengths in the Winter Guineas. He is likely to improve again the further they go but looks well held.
While he should also prefer this trip after a well beaten 7 lengths behind the winner in the Winter Guineas, Snaith’s Clouded Hill looks like he is boxing for a quartet back-end cheque at best.
Stablemate to the favourite, the powerful galloping Rochester is another who looks well out of his depth and, following the spate of pace debates recently, is a likely pacemaker at best.
The rematch between One World and Vardy, while unlikely to overshadow the Scottsville Gr1 action, looks set to be a highlight of the afternoon. Whoever stays better, surely wins it!
