The Var Star. Bois De Var loves the course and distance and will give Sedge a run for his money in Friday’s Listed East Cape Sprint
The fast set go to post for Friday’s R130 000 Listed East Cape Sprint at Fairview. Gavin Smith’s smart 3yo Sedge is improving all the time and goes for his hat-trick of wins.
The local leading conditioner has already sent out close on 800 runners this sea-son, for a win strike strike rate of 8%, and while that is hardly vintage stuff by his own high standards,the yard has picked up momentum in recent weeks. Smith sends out a powerful coupling, with the older Never Forever a capable back-up for the Silvano gelding.
Rejuvenated
Sedge has been a breath of fresh air since reverting to sprinting after fading badly in the Racing Association Stakes over a mile in November. Besides two smart feature wins over 1400m, his 4 other victories have all been over the sprints and he looks well at home.
At face value Justin Snaith’s Bois De Var, could be the likely winner. Rejuvenated since relocating to the Eastern Cape, he is now showing the form that Glen Kotzen promised he would deliver earlier in his career.
His most recent run over this track and trip when going down a length to Sedge when giving the ‘youngster’ 7,5kgs suggests strongly that at these weights terms, with only a 2,5kg pull, Sedge would have to have improved further – which is not impossible.
One is inclined to give Bois De Var the benefit of the doubt, based on his maturity and experience, as well as suitability for Friday’s course and distance.
Impressive
But Sedge has also been most impressive over the sprints. The match between the two adds up to a mouthwatering race within a race, but it doesn’t end there. There are those that may fancy Never Forever as their first choice.
The former Dennis Drier inmate has reeled off five wins in PE and although he has always shown a preference for the minimum distance, his rivals could find that allowing him to dictate matters up front, may lead to their undoing.
Never Forever is as plucky as they come, and is known to thrive on a challenge. An added bonus for his followers will be that Fransie Herholdt has won a race on him.
Disappointing
Copper Parade has had a mostly disappointing career. He started out with Joe Ramsden, who publicly voiced his sentiment regarding his ability earlier in his career, when he matched strides with the best of his generation and seemed a bright prospect indeed.
He could recapture some of that missing sparkle at any time. Our suggestion is to include Yvette Bremner’s gelding to avoid further tears.
The enigmatic and troubled Snaith stalwart Icemberg has fairly good form and regularly finds the frame but we cannot see him troubling our top three selections. Icemberg is however a classy sort on his day and will have his supporters.
Var Again
Var’s second representative, the seasoned Villandry, has it all to do, and may have been flattered by his good last run, when almost catching Sedge napping. He is a kilo worse off with Sedge here, and appears unlikely over the extra 200m of Friday’s race.
Jacques Strydom’s Act of Supremancy has pulled off the odd shock, and is a dangerous late dasher. He could quite well finish closer than expected though as he is likely to relish the solid pace anticipated here and could be included by more optimistic pick six players hoping for a shock to boost their return.
Frosty Magic is the third of the Bremmer trio, and may well be the joker in the pack. He is a lightly raced gelding who has his second run after a break. On the positive side he showed some enthusiasm last time out, when running on strongly and may well do likewise for Barend Vlooh, who rides him again.
No Confidence
The 5yo mare Jolly Poppins has relocated from the Louis Goosen yard in Gauteng and appears to have lost form after a poor run on the Vaal sand on Valentine’s Day.
The fact that she was not striding out, does not inspire any additional confidence. This is a highly competitive feature. Our selection is Bois De Var narrowly ahead of Sedge. With Copper Parade the Trifecta kicker.
