Adam Marcus is still in discussion with the owners about the future of his Gr3 Winter Classic winner Vardy.
Marcus believes the Var gelding is not quite ready for the Vodacom Durban July yet.
He said, “As a still immature three-year-old I think we could be dealing with a very special four-year-old if we nurture him into the Cape Summer season.”
Greg Blank and Adam Marcus lead Vardy (Craig Zackey) in after his facile Winter Classic victory (Pic – Chase Liebenberg Photography)
Vardy reversed the Winter Guineas form by beating the highly regarded Vaughan Marshall-trained One World in Saturday’s Winter Classic and he did it by a comfortable 2,25 lengths.
The strength of the form was shown by the gulf back to third-placed Majestic Mozart.
This horse was beaten 2,85 lengths in the Winter Guineas and by 8,50 lengths in the Winter Classic.
Marcus was confident Vardy would improve from his Winter Guineas run, where he did not settle well.
The problem is his “severe parrot mouth and very soft palate” and Marcus looks to have solved it with a plastic bit used in dressage competition, which he imported from Italy.
Saturday was the first time he had raced with the bit.
Second declarations for the July are due on Monday 3 June.
Final supplementary entries can be made up to 18 June.
- www.goldcircle.co.za
