The brilliant Via Africa in action (Hamish Niven Photography)
South African champion Via Africa, a daughter of the recently pensioned Var, looks to have produced a top-class colt, and potentially exciting stallion prospect, in the form of In The Congo.
The latter, a three-year-old son of Snitzel, downed a top-class field when he captured Saturday’s Gr3 ATC San Domenico Stakes over 1100m at Kembla.
Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, In the Congo made all under jockeyTim Clark to score by neck win over fast finishers Paulele and Captivant. In the process, the Snitzel colt accounted for a field which included last season’s Gr1 Longines Golden Slipper winner Stay Inside.
An A$350 000 yearling buy, In the Congo has won or been second in each of his four starts to date, and he may be aimed at the Gr1 Coolmore Stud Stakes later in the season.
Bred by Nordic Racing and Breeding, In the Congo is the second foal and second winner from Via Africa, the Equus Champion Sprinter in South Africa for 2013/2014.
Via Africa, who was bred by Andre Hauptfleisch has made a sensational start to her stud career and also ranks as the dam of the smart Hong Kong galloper Pleasant Endeavor.
One of more than 100 black type horses sired by Var (also broodmare sire of Equus Champion and Gr1 winner Tempting Fate), Via Africa won ten of just 16 starts in South Africa, with her victories headed by the 2014 Gr1 Cape Flying Championship, and back to back wins in the Gr1 South African Fillies Sprint.
