Mother Nature again played her power game with Vaal racing on Saturday, with storms delaying racing for over an hour and a half.
Paul Peter and Gavin Lerena eventually opened the day’s feature billing when the handsome grey Master Archie stormed clear to win the R125 000 World Sports Betting Sophomore Sprint.
Winning the fourth of five starts since relocating from the Cape, Master Archie appeared to enjoy the sticky underfoot conditions and was always within striking distance in the 1000m feature.
Gavin Lerena takes it easy as Master Archie glides clear (Pic – JC Photos)
Clocking a flat 56 secs, Master Archie (4-1), who races in a partnership of Sean Hanna and Vasan Harry, bounced clear at the 300m to put 4,75 lengths between hiself and the fast-finishing Gr1 winner Under Your Spell (5-2) who carried joint topweight and finished with enthusiasm after her nine week break to make up many lengths over the final 200m.
Bella Chica (8-1) rounded a 1-3 for the fairer sex, when she grabbed third, ahead of quartet kicker Bronco Blitz (25-1).
Bred by the partnership of Harry, Hanna and Azzie, Master Archie is by Ridgemont Highlands’ exciting sire Rafeef (Redoute’s Choice) out of the eight-time winning Var mare, La Volta.
A winner of 4 races with 2 places from 8 starts, Master Archie took his stakes tally to R234 625.
The long-awaited Vaal Pick 6 started with a jolt when Ryan Munger booted the 25-1 shot Golden Aspen home for the in-form Corne Spies yard.
