At odds in the region of 12/1 on the Hong Kong tote, the local public showed no respect for the great two-time South African Horse of the Year. Variety Club stormed home from a wide gate to score by four lengths from the local champion and odds-on favourite, Able Friend.
Local commentators called this the strongest Hong Kong Mile field ever.
Sunday 27 April 2014
Vercingetorix takes 3rd in Hong Kong QE2 Cup Gr1
Having his first start since running second in the Dubai Duty Free, Vercingetorix put up a good performance to run third in the Gr1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup in Hong Kong. He was running on to be beaten only 2 lengths, but never looked like he would get to Designs On Rome and Military Attack.
The latter horse is an Irish bred son of Oratorio who now stands in South Africa.
The latter horse is an Irish bred son of Oratorio who now stands in South Africa.
Saturday 29 March 2014
Big night in Dubai as Variety Club wins!
Six South African bred horses took up places on the Dubai World Cup card and five of them ran into top three finishes. Only Sanshaawes, who caught himself up in the pens before the jump, failed to score, eventually finishing 7th in the World Cup itself.
The big result was Variety Club winning the Gr2 Godolphin Mile with Soft Falling Rain in second place, the wide draw not being enough to stop him.
Star Empire stayed on resolutely in the Gr2 Gold Cup to get up for third.
Shea Shea started favourite but didn't quite manage to defend his title, ending up a close third in the Gr1 Al Quoz Sprint.
Vercingetorix ran a great race in the Gr1 Dubai Duty Free, comfortably beating all but one horse and breaking the race record in the process, but ran into a monster in Just A Way who cleared off by more than six lengths.
In all, this was a performance that South African breeders can be proud of on the richest day of racing worldwide.
The big result was Variety Club winning the Gr2 Godolphin Mile with Soft Falling Rain in second place, the wide draw not being enough to stop him.
Star Empire stayed on resolutely in the Gr2 Gold Cup to get up for third.
Shea Shea started favourite but didn't quite manage to defend his title, ending up a close third in the Gr1 Al Quoz Sprint.
Vercingetorix ran a great race in the Gr1 Dubai Duty Free, comfortably beating all but one horse and breaking the race record in the process, but ran into a monster in Just A Way who cleared off by more than six lengths.
In all, this was a performance that South African breeders can be proud of on the richest day of racing worldwide.
Saturday 8 March 2014
Vercingetorix scores in Gr1 on busy night for SAf-breds!
Vercingetorix retained his unbeaten record, now 6 from 6, when comfortably winning the $300,000 Gr1 Jebel Hatta. He will be headed for the Duty Free on World Cup night in three weeks time.
Shea Shea won the Gr3 Meydan Sprint easily last year when having his second start of the season, following the long quarantine break. This time it was his seasonal debut but off a shorter break following his England campaign. He came through again, though only winning by a head.
Sanshaawes put in a huge run when finishing 2nd by just over a length in the $400,000 Gr1 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3. Surely he's earned his place in the big race now.
Variety Club started a very hot favourite in the Gr3 Burj Nahaar but went down by almost 2 lengths, finishing 2nd. Will he still head for the Godolphin Mile as seemed likely, or perhaps switch back to the turf in the Duty Free?
Shea Shea won the Gr3 Meydan Sprint easily last year when having his second start of the season, following the long quarantine break. This time it was his seasonal debut but off a shorter break following his England campaign. He came through again, though only winning by a head.
Sanshaawes put in a huge run when finishing 2nd by just over a length in the $400,000 Gr1 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3. Surely he's earned his place in the big race now.
Variety Club started a very hot favourite in the Gr3 Burj Nahaar but went down by almost 2 lengths, finishing 2nd. Will he still head for the Godolphin Mile as seemed likely, or perhaps switch back to the turf in the Duty Free?
Saturday 1 March 2014
Star Empire grabs 2nd in the Gr3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy
Having placed 3rd in the same 2810 metre turf event last year, Star Empire ran on well from the back of the 12 horse field to finish a clear, although well beaten, 2nd in the 2014 Nad Al Sheba Trophy.
Expect to see him back for the Gold Cup on World Cup night. His conqueror tonight, Cavalryman, also won the 2013 Gold Cup when Star Empire was 4 lengths back in 5th place.
Expect to see him back for the Gold Cup on World Cup night. His conqueror tonight, Cavalryman, also won the 2013 Gold Cup when Star Empire was 4 lengths back in 5th place.
Thursday 27 February 2014
Mensoora 3rd in the Gr3 UAE Oaks
Mensoora, a daughter of Jet Master, picked up the first GR placing of her short career when finishing a distant third behind the impressive Shamardal filly, Ihtimal. Mensoora previously finished a 3 length 6th in a SAf Gr1 and an 8 length 5th in a UAE Gr2.
The pace looked decidely moderate in the UAE Oaks which didn't help Mensoora as she turned for home in last place, but she managed to pass most of the field down the straight to get that third spot.
The pace looked decidely moderate in the UAE Oaks which didn't help Mensoora as she turned for home in last place, but she managed to pass most of the field down the straight to get that third spot.
Thursday 13 February 2014
Variety Club takes the Gr3 Firebreak Stakes
Twice Horse-of-the-Year Variety Club broke the course record (unofficial) on his Dubai debut when easily accounting for the field in the $200 000 Firebreak Stakes over a mile. This was his first start since 8 June 2013, and his first start on a non-turf surface.
This win take his career record to 15 wins from 20 starts.
This win take his career record to 15 wins from 20 starts.
Thursday 6 February 2014
Surprise 3rd by Zambucca in the Gr2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2
Having only his second start for new trainer Satish Seemar since leaving South Africa, and in his first start on the all-weather surface, Zambucca finished a comfortable third in the Gr2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2, a prep race for the Dubai World Cup.
Zambucca ran a few decent races at the top level in South Africa, notably a 2.25 length 4th in the SA Derby, a 2.50 length 5th in the Summer Cup, and a 1.55 length 5th in the Horse Chestnut Stakes. Overall though, he only managed a single win (Gr2 Victory Moon Stakes) and no other top three places in 10 attempts at GR level in South Africa.
At 106, only two of the 15 opponents he faced tonight were lower rated, so this was a very good effort on Zambucca's part, despite being well beaten by the first two home.
Zambucca ran a few decent races at the top level in South Africa, notably a 2.25 length 4th in the SA Derby, a 2.50 length 5th in the Summer Cup, and a 1.55 length 5th in the Horse Chestnut Stakes. Overall though, he only managed a single win (Gr2 Victory Moon Stakes) and no other top three places in 10 attempts at GR level in South Africa.
At 106, only two of the 15 opponents he faced tonight were lower rated, so this was a very good effort on Zambucca's part, despite being well beaten by the first two home.
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