The white streak of lightning La Volta lit the night sky at Turffontein last Tuesday evening, when she skated clear to win the R150 000 Listed Bauhinia Handicap in fine style over the 1000m strip.
We surmised in our preview of this event that an on song La Volta is very fast and just about unstoppable. Mike Azzie had her tuned to the moment and in fine fettle, and it was left to ace pilot Robbie Fradd to control the cruising speed and enjoy the ride.
With the scratching of a few of the highly rated opposition, the field scaled down to 12 runners, but La Volta was out and gone before they knew it. She led all the way, and it was only Kum Naidoo’s talented Genuine Leather, who was returning from a ten month break, who managed to have a minor shout late. She ran a cracking second.
Going off a popular 18 to 10 favourite, La Volta maintained her speed all the way to the line to win by 1,50 lengths in a time of 56.74 secs. Owners Vasan Harry and Sean Hanna were on hand to lead their four-year-old filly in.
La Volta was bred by Avontuur Thoroughbred Farm and is by Var out of the beautiful six time winning Goldmark mare, Sarabande. La Volta has now won 7 races and run 10 places from her 22 career starts.
She cost R350 000 at the National Yearling Sale and took her earnings to R534 150. A 1000m specialist if ever we have seen one, it would be interesting to watch her try her luck at Greyville over 1000m in the season. No doubt the Azz Man is considering all the options. She should add plenty to that stake haul before hopefully returning as a prized broodmare to the Avontuur paddocks in the years ahead.