Moutonshoek Stud’s Dr Bennie van der Merwe has been preaching Galileo’s smart son The United States as a stallion to be reckoned with and the Gr1 Ranvet Stakes winner looks to have another smart emerging classic prospect 3yo on the horizon.
That much was clear when Justin Snaith saddled the top four to finish in Monday’s all-ages R300 000 World Sports Betting Gr3 Variety Club, with the red-hot Richard Fourie producing the Cheveley Stud-bred Without Question for a decisive victory to down a top-class field.
Richard Fourie has Without Question in command (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Fourie is on fire! The Cape-based jockey rode 6 feature winners over three provinces from Saturday to Monday, with his haul including a Gr1, three Gr2’s and two Gr3’s.
Without Question races in the Nic Jonsson silks, and received a hefty 20 pound hike after running third behind See It Again and Charles Dickens in the SplashOut Gr1 Cape Derby at his last start.
With the mile on the short side, the gelding showed that he is above average and stamped himself as a classic prospect, with massive upside.
He stormed up the outside late at odds of 5-2 to beat fellow Hollywoodbets Durban July entrant, the 5yo Hoedspruit (9-2), by 1,25 lengths in a time of 102,38 secs, and book his berth in the Gr1 Daily News 2000 at Hollywoodbets Greyville on 27 May.
The forward galloping Itsrainingwilliam (8-1) was a further 0,30 lengths back in third, with Native Tongue (16-1) completing the Snaith quartet, which paid a not to snuffed at R569-70 on the tote.
Without Question’s beaten rivals included 2022 Variety Club Mile winner Gem King as well as last year’s Gr1 Jonsson Workwear Cape Derby victor Pomp And Power, also a Hollywoodbets Durban July entrant, who found the mile way too short.
The fourth of the 2023 Hollywoodbets Durban July candidates, King Regent was beaten over 7 lengths.
Bred by Cheveley Stud, Without Question has now won three of 11 starts, with his previous efforts including a runner-up finish in the Gr3 Politician Stakes earlier this season.
Without Question, who is out of the Argonaut mare Siena’s Star, was a R300 000 purchase from the 2021 National Yearling Sale. He took his stakes earnings to R536 250 at his third win with 3 places from 11 starts.
Jono Snaith, who seems to have joined The United States fan club, said that when they returned the next year to buy the Futura yearling from the same mare, she was out of reach!
A Galileo own-brother to Gr1 winners Hermosa and Hydrangea, The United States is currently South Africa’s fifth Leading Sire of 3YO’s, by stakes.
Watch the race replay here:
