Racegoers were treated to some competitive racing at the Vaal racecourse on a sunny Saturday afternoon, none more so than the R500,000 WSB Non-Black Type Grand Heritage.
Unzen (Denis Schwarz) claims a grand win (Pic – JC Photos)
A large field of 22 runners jumped away from the 1475m start – a South African version of the famous Cambridgeshire Handicap in the UK.
The runners used the whole width of the track, mostly to the middle, outside, but a group of seven kept to their station near the far rail.
Winning jockey Denis Schwarz had little cover and was up with the pace throughout the contest tracking leader Funky Music (Jarryd Penny) and Brave Viking (Chase Maujean) who were always both drawn against the far rail.
Black Egret lead a few in the middle of the course, whilst most of the field favoured the nearside headed by bottom-weight Now I Got You.
Over the final 200m Unzen (10/1) had managed to gain a couple of lengths over the field and the gelded son of Erupt stayed on well to win a good race.
The four-year-old was one and a quarter lengths to the good over Funky Music (40/1).
Chyavana (8/1) finished best of all down the stands rail, a neck behind the runner-up.
Brave Viking (25/1) was narrowly denied third, finishing a short head behind in fourth.
Those who selected low runners in their quartet’s were rewarded, as the dividend returned R33,110.
Unzen won in a time of 86.12 and claimed R312,500 for winning connections – Lieveaux, Nestadt, Thomas, van der Linden and Mrs Thomas.
Bred by the Tawny Syndicate, he fetched R230,000. By Erupt out of the Toreador mare Adella, Unzen takes his career earnings to over R606,000.
Now a three-time winner from twelve starts, he was very tenacious at the finish.
Veteran winning trainer Robbie Sage noted that: “This little horse is all heart. First run over this distance, a lovely ride by Denis Schwarz.”
Enjoy the replay:
