While a few performances at Kenilworth on Cape Derby day went straight into the little black book, none was more impressive than Rio Querari in his facile stretch in the R200 000 Khaya Stables Gr2 Diadem Stakes.
Now jointly rated South Africa’s top sprinter alongside his former Equus champion stalblemate Kasimir, who at 6 may be on the downgrade, the 4yo Rio Querari was super impressive when building on his second behind exported star Run Fox Run in the Gr1 Cape Flying Championship at his last start
One of four feature race winners on the day for trainer Justin Snaith, the gelded Rio Querari (14-10) hit the front 200m from home down the inside and coasted in under a hands and heels ride from Grant Van Niekerk, to win by 1,75 lengths in a time of 72,49 secs.
Grant van Niekerk steers Rio Querari to a facile win (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Adam Marcus’ Hello Winter Hello (16-1), the only member of the fairer sex in the line-up, flew late to collar the pacy Cartel Captain (8-1) and earned second cheque.
The winner’s stablemate Kasimir failed to fire and ran out of the money, and 3,50 lengths off the winner.
Bred by Normandy Stud, has now won 5 of 15 starts with 9 places for prize money in excess of R1,1 million.
Rio Querari, who is out of the Windrush mare Arctic Breeze, was a R625 000 purchase from the 2018 CTS Ready To Run Sale.
He is the 23rd stakes winner for his Gr1 winning sire Querari – South Africa’s Leading Sire of 2YO’s in 2018-2019.
One of more than 120 stakes winners sired by champion sprinter Oasis Dream, Querari has 12 lots on offer at the 2021 Cape Premier Yearling Sale, including a half-brother (# 40) to Saturday’s impressive G3 Cape Of Good Hope Nursery winner Cosmic Highway.
