Avontuur’s super stallion Var has five of the thirteen runners carded on the Turffontein juvenile double feature bill on Saturday. He holds a very strong hand in the R150 000 Listed Ruffian Stakes with a smashing trio of daughters – but an Australian bred galloper could blow them all away.
Easy debut winner Intriguing Lady – we will find out how good she is on Saturday
The New Approach filly Intriguing Lady made a smashing debut at Scottsville shortly after the New Year celebrations, when streaking home to clock 46,01 secs for the 800m and win by 4,75 lengths easing up.
Despite then regular De Kock jockey Anthony Delpech riding one of the raced runners for another yard, Intriguing Lady was backed to 18-10 and won like a professional under Brian Nyawo. There is admittedly little concrete evidence of any substance in those behind her.
The De Kock team have commendably stayed loyal to Nyawo, who will no doubt feel some pressure. The young man only has a win strike rate of 2% with his 3 winners this season, but in fairness, he is usually riding the slow coaches.
Exquisite Touch – looked special on debut
Topping the Var charts and offering the most opposition will be Sean Tarry’s debut winner Exquisite Touch, one of only two course and distance victresses in the field.
The Waterford Stud-bred flyer was easy to back at 5-1 on her first racecourse visit earlier this month, but cruised home to beat Fursa (who she meets again here) by over 3 lengths.
The second of the Var girls is Hamunaptra, named after a fictional Egyptian city, who made heavy weather of her 800m debut, when scraping home after drifting out from the red into 3-1.
She did beat the boys and dug deep when asked – so could improve further with the experience under the belt.
None of those behind her have raced again.
Star Burst Galaxy is the third of the Vars and after winning on an objection over the course and distance on debut, she was comprehensively outplayed by 4,50 lengths by Exquisite Touch next time out.
Star Burst Galaxy enjoys a 3kg pull at the weights but the Tarry galloper would have improved further with her first run experience and may be equal to the test.
The Australian bred Fursa is a daughter of Hard Spun and the second of the De Kock runners.
Callan Murray – in top form
Promising jockey Callan Murray, who rode a hat-trick on Guineas Day, takes the mount on the twice second-placed maiden.
Heavily supported on debut, Fursa enjoys a 3kg pull with Exquisite Touch, who beat her just over 3 lengths last time and she is another who looks to improve with the racing experience.
Corne Spies is always a serious factor in the baby races and he saddles a pair of once-raced maidens.
Corne Spies – master with the 2yo’s
Promise Bay started 25-1 on debut when beaten 5,40 lengths by Arissa and may be looking for more ground to show her best ability.
New freelancer Anthony Delpech rides Seattle Singer, who won her debut start – only to be demoted in the Stipes’ boardroom after shifting out on to Star Burst Galaxy.
The rematch here could create a needle sub-plot and with a 3kgs pull in her favour, Corne Spies will fancy his charge’s chances – with the Delpech factor thrown into the cocktail!
It is difficult comparing the interprovincial form and the scope for improvement, but there should be sweet little to choose between Intriguing Lady and Exquisite Touch.
Seattle Singer could be the joker in the pack!
