Milnerton trainer Paul Reeves established himself as the kingpin of the Cape raiders by cementing his outstanding Fairview win strike-rate when he produced the Var mare Sea Cat in fine trim
South Africa’s leading source of speed has three juvenile winners from just four runners
The Joey Ramsden trained Var gelding Tar Heel produced an electrifying show of pure pace to streak to an impressive victory in the R150 000 Need For Speed Sprint at Kenilworth on Saturday.
Quick return again for Var buyers as the Avontuur stallion produces filly and colt first-timer to win in Gauteng and Cape
Jockey Andrew Fortune makes most horses look good. Some even make him look good now and again. The latter may have applied at Fairview on Friday when the Var filly Cup Cake got up in a nailbiter…
Trainer Tara Laing has done an outstanding job with the Var flyer Vauclair who racked up his eleventh win when storming home to beat the dual Gr1 winner Copper Parade in the R100 000 Cradock Place Stakes
Since Saturday, Var has been represented by no fewer than seven individual winners, with a number of his offspring looking like horses likely to go on to bigger and better things as the season progresses
The Tara Laing trained Trippi gelding Sir Duke was crowned East Cape Horse Of The Year at a glittering function held at Fairview Racecourse on Saturday evening
“Two months ago I weighed 70kgs sitting on my couch. Look at me now. And Tyson (Bowes) was so nervous before the race. Doesn’t he realise that if ever anybody wanted somebody to ride for their life it would have to be me!” – Andrew Fortune
“We would also like to say well done to Boland Stud where we bought him, Avontuur Stud who stands the stallion Var and the stud manager Pippa Mickleburgh. They have been very kind to us and we would like to share this win with them.”
The stallion parade was followed by a select viewing of some of Oratorio’s first crop of South African sired weanlings. They included siblings to such high class performers as Contador, Schiffer and Varuna, and caught favourable comments from many a knowing judge.
Beyond the pending investigations, things ended well enough for the Bass-Robinson yard when the improving Rainbow Lorikeet stamped her Paddock Stakes prospects with a gutsy victory under a top-notch ride by Aldo Domeyer
