Stride to Win! Hennie Greyling drives Nice Stride up to win the Var Gold Rush Sprint
The R150 000 Var Gold Rush Sprint produced an exciting finish as it always does, with Leon Erasmus’ Nice Stride winning fluently to stamp himself a sprinter with a bright future. Hennie Greyling rode the consistent son of Imperial Stride at Turffontein on Saturday.
The 1100m non black type race is the second leg of the unique Var Speed Series, and the race attracted a smart field of 3yo sprinters. Winning trainer Leon Erasmus saddled five of the ten runners.
After his good recent form, which included a flying second behind Fantastic Mr Fox in the Secretariat Stakes, Roy Magner’s Cookie Monster was installed favourite, with Louis Goosen’s De Var Hyt also attracting plenty of interest.
The field bounced smartly and there was predictably no dithering or hanging around as Strongmind led De Var Hyt and Nice Stride through the early stages.
Going through the 400m, Strongmind continued to gallop as De Var Hyt and Nice Stride commenced their respective challenges.
Nice Stride always appeared to be going well though, and he surged ahead inside the 200m at 9 to 1 to get the better of a short tussle with Strongmind to win going away by 0,75 lengths in a time of 63,40 secs.
The favourite Cookie Monster ran on very well for third, and this was obviously too short for him at this level.
The Erasmus lightweight stable jockey Hennie Greyling (Sherman Brown is the senior man) said that he enjoyed riding Nice Stride, who always gave him a nice feeling. He said that the pacy Strongmind had given him a comfortable lead, and his mount had run on well when asked.
Trainer Leon Erasmus, who had saddled half the field, said that Nice Stride was a very smart horse and in a reference to his other four runners, said that he was just disappointed that he had to have a losing owner.
It was a nice afternoon for Erasmus, who earlier trained Jimmi Choo to win the Listed Storm Bird Stakes.
Errol Ninow of the Var Syndicate handed over the trophies and thanked the trainers and owners involved for supporting the unique series.
This is the third year that the speed series has been run.
It commences in January with the Need For Speed Sprint at Kenilworth, followed by this event and the final leg is the Durban Dash in KZN in June.
The series is wholly funded by the Var Syndicate, who take home less dividends as they reinvest their success back into racing
Syndicate Manager Pippa Mickleburgh said that they are very keen to keep it going and to try and get it considered for Listed status. She also said that a partner sponsor would be welcome to increase the stakes.
Nice Stride was bred by P Du Toit and is out of the twice winning Fort Wood mare, Woodntitbenice.
An astute R50 000 buy at the National Two Year Old Sale, he took his career earnings to R255 825 with this third win from13 starts, with 6 places.
