Reigning Equus Champion Stayer Nebraas maintained course for a defence of his title and a Marshalls World Of Sport Gold Cup double when he stamped his authority to win the R250 000 The Citizen Gr3 Gold Bowl at Turffontein on Saturday.
Carrying topweight in the 3200m contest, and with the year younger Black Thorn possibly looking to have the advantage at the swing in the weights on their Caradoc Gold Cup meeting, the Sean Tarry-trained Nebraas showed his mettle when challenged late by the 14-10 favourite.
Nebraas (Richard Fourie) outstays them (Pic – JC Photos)
With ice-cool balance and confidence, the red-hot Richard Fourie got Nebraas (5-2) to lift powerfully and hold off the attentions of the tote favourite Black Thorn (14-10) by half length in a time of 207,60 secs.
The third placed African Adventurer was over 9 lengths back in third.
Nebraas, who is by the Gr1 Jebel Hatta winning sire Vercingerix (Silvano), is out of the Archipenko mare Noor Dubai.
Bred and raced by Al Adiyaat SA, Nebraas has won 6 of his 18 starts with 8 places for earnings of R1 004 125.
South Africa’s Champion Sire elect for 2021-2022, Nebraas’ Dad Vercingetorix has now been responsible for 19 stakes winners. This was the second leg of a graded stakes double for the champion son of Silvano after Astrix won the TAB Gr1 Premier’s Champions Challenge earlier in the afternoon.
