Tevez holds off Daring Dave down the inside and makes it a double in the Merchants (Bay Media)
Dashing good looks and outstanding ability are a winning combination in most sporting disciplines and the Caesour gelding Tevez has both in abundance. The Avontuur bred 5yo took the R400 000 Gr2 Cape Merchants at Kenilworth on Sunday for the second year running on a red letter day for the Mike Bass yard.
Mike Bass saddled first, third and fourth finishers in a race that will go down as a triumph on a memorable birthday celebration for his wife, Carol.
The lightly raced Tevez is not a big fellow but he is the epitome of equine athleticism and he loves the Kenilworth 1200m track.
With a South Easterly wind buffeting the runners from the inside and head-on, Aldo Domeyer had Tevez covered up cosily about eighth lengths behind with horses around him as Blarney Bay and Happy Forever led the charge.
At the 300m Tevez started making inroads and despite running into a minor traffic issue, he glided past the leaders and swept into the lead at the 200m.
Tevez bounced clear and went on to hold the consistent Daring Dave to 0,75 lengths in a time of 72,24 secs.
Aldo Domeyer rode the winner
Daring Dave, recently labelled by Justin Snaith as his ‘sprinter for the season’, is a genuine sort and a model of consistency. He stayed on really well in his first dip in deep waters.
The Trippi mare Hammie’s Hooker returned from her 19 week break to finish a short head further back in third, with another Bass-trained Trippi, Lanner Falcom running a cracker in fourth.
The handsome Tevez is one of Avontuur GM Pippa Mickleburgh’s favourites and he hails from one of the champion farm’s famous modern families. Pippa named Tevez in honour of one of her favourite footballers, and he has matured magnificently from a gorgeous and strong-bodied athletic foal.
Tevez, who races for the power trio of Bryn Ressell, Marsh Shirtliff and Markus Jooste, was a R700 000 National Yearling Sale graduate and he took his earnings to R769 625 with his fourth win (and a remarkable 12 place cheques) from his 22 starts.
He is by Varsfontein stallion Caesour out of the prolific winner producer, the four-time winning Elliodor mare, Minelli.
That’s a name we will all recognise as the dam of the brilliant sprinter, now broodmare, Val De Ra. She also produced the nine-time winner Mastery (by Dominion Royale) who was trained in his career by Stan Elley.
Avontuur General Manager Pippa Mickleburgh named Tevez in honour of one of her favourite footballers, and added that it was most appropriate as he had been a gorgeous and strong-bodied athletic foal, who had devloped beautifully.
