Unbeaten. Vercingetorix makes it a winning international debut
On a Dubai World Cup Carnival night that featured three Group 3 contests, dual South African Horse of the Year, Variety Club emerged as a serious Dubai World Cup day contender.
With just seven weeks until the world’s richest day of racing, trainers are beginning to lay down markers as to the likely port of call for their charges on Saturday March 29.
Variety Club
South African jockey, Anton Marcus was last seen in Dubai when he won the 2008 Dubai Duty Free on Jay Peg and he also made his second visit count last Thursday night, when partnering Variety Club to an impressive victory in the Group 3 US$200,000 Firebreak Stakes over 1600m of the all-weather track for trainer, Joey Ramsden. Marcus can fully expect to be in action on another Dubai World Cup night following the eye-catching performance of his mount.
“This is great for me and South African racing and it’s a relief as well,” he said. “He is a superstar at home and well done to the connections for bringing him here. There was a vision for this horse and it’s fantastic that the first leg of this plan has come to fruition. Hopefully he will turn out to be a serious Dubai World Cup horse – though we could always go back to turf if need be. He is versatile, classy and has a big heart.”
Trainer Joey Ramsden, saddling his first UAE runner, was present to greet his winner who quickened away from his field early in the straight and was in control from a long way out – posting a fast time in the process. Had it not been for the race being hand time, Variety Club may have broken the course record!
Bred by the Beaumont Stud, Variety Club (who has won no fewer than six Equus awards) has now won 15 of his 20 outings, and looks a leading contender for big race honours come Dubai World Cup night at the end of March. His 11 stakes victories include four at Gr1 level – and this tally looks likely to rise in the not too distant future.
One of 18 stakes winners for former G1 Prix de L’Abbaye winner Var, Variety Club is one of 8 winners produced by the winning Secret Prospector mare, La Massine.
Sanshaawes
The opening all-weather handicap, over the same 2000m as the Dubai World Cup, was won smoothly by the Mike De Kock-trained Sanshaawes, opening his local account at the second attempt. Having his first race on the all-weather, he travelled well under Christophe Soumillon and the pair hit the front 300m out, running on far too strongly for their 13 rivals. Soumillon explained: “We knew that if he handled the surface as well as he does in training he would be hard to beat and he has really enjoyed it. “Hopefully he can go on from this.”
The Oldlands Stud bred Sanshaawes has now won or placed in eight of his 14 outings to date, and hopefully can build on this initial success. A R30 000 buy at the 2011 Cape Regional Yearling Sale, Sanshaawes is owned by Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum.
Third in the 2013 Gr1 Investec Cape Derby (to L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate hero Capetown Noir), Sanshaawes is one of five black type performers produced in sire Ashaawes’ small first crop. A half-brother to 6 winners, Sanshaawes’ dam, Vicario, is an unplaced own sister to J&B Met winner Angus.
Vercingetorix
Trainer and jockey completed a handicap double with Vercingetorix maintaining his unbeaten record in the 1800m turf handicap. Soumillon was happy to bide his time in mid division, before making smooth progress 600m out taking his mount to the front almost 400m out. They ran on strongly to make it five wins from five starts and Soumillon said: “He is a lazy work horse so I was not really sure what to expect on this his local debut. I was impressed with him and I would guess he will be a Dubai Duty Free contender.”
The 4yo colt impressed winning jockey Christophe Soumillon, who believes Vercingetorix could be a big runner in the $5 000 000 Dubai Duty Free at the end of March. The undefeated champion had scored wins in KZN’s top 3yo races last year – winning both the Gr1 Daily News 2000 and Gr2 KRA Guineas at the expense of multiple Gr1 winner, Capetown Noir
Owned by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, Vercingetorix was a R1.4 million buy at the 2011 Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale. One of 13 Gr1 winners for 2012-2013 Champion South African Sire Silvano, Vercingetorix is out of the stakes placed mare, National Vixen (by National Assembly).
