Flying Filly. The brilliant Avontuur bred daughter of Var, Schiffer, should fight out the finish of the Southern Cross Stakes
Avontuur’s super stallion Var appears to have a vice grip on the R200 000 Gr2 Tony Taberer Southern Cross Stakes to be run over 1000m at Kenilworth on Saturday. His daughters Via Africa and Schiffer are top class and look difficult to beat.
The race, which has attracted a field of nine speedsters, is named in honour of the man who had the foresight and the dream to establish what has become one of South Africa’s leading brands in fine wines and fast horses.
Proud History
Avontuur was established in the 1980’s and stallion Dominion Royale quickly established himself as the backbone of the fast growing stud. The late Avontuur supremo, a tobacco merchant and international businessman, died in April 2007 after a long battle with cancer.
Taberer had diverse business interests and also owned Leopard Rock, which boasted a magnificent 18-hole championship golf course and a guest wing with casino which he bought in the late 1980’s. He was also the owner of the Dimon tobacco company, formerly Tabex.
Duelling Daughters
Taberer sadly never saw the impact of the brilliant Var on the South African horseracing industry, but two of the son of Forest Wildcat’s brilliant band of daughters look set to fight out the race in what is bound to be an emotional occasion for all involved. The level weight for age terms of the race will certainly favour the superb Duncan Howells trained Via Africa, who fluffed her lines over the course and distance at her Cape season debut last time.
On soft going, the Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint winner staggered late in the race and was nabbed in the dying strides by the consistent Fairyinthewoods and the flying Captain’s Lullaby. There are quarters that blame Piere Strydom for the defeat, but standing back and not talking from the pocket, it is difficult to understand where our champion jockey went wrong.
Drier Duo
Visiting KZN trainer Dennis Drier saddles a coupling of Schiffer and Torra Bay. Schiffer is yet another high class daughter of Var. A winner of 3 of her 4 starts, her only defeat came in the Gr1 Golden Slipper at Greyville over 1400m on July Day last year. She ran third there behind the still undefeated subsequent Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas winner, Rumya.
Schiffer has shown blistering speed and ability and won her last outing on 1 September. She was scratched from an engagement three weeks ago and therein lies the rub. How fit is she and is she over the ill effects of her foot abscess? We can rest assured that she will only run if she is 100 percent ready and the duel between her and Via Africa could be the highlight of a blue chip afternoon of great racing.
Her older stablemate Torra Bay is a very consistent Australian bred daughter of Cape Cross. A winner of 5 of her 14 races, she will be ridden by Glen Hatt and must be a serious challenger to pick up the scraps left by the top two.
Fitness
Gavin Van Zyl sends out the Trippi filly Franny, who will have to improve on her opening Cape run if she is to have any chance here. Franny is no slouch and has won 5 of her 9 starts, but showed a lack of fitness when dropping out to run 5,75 lengths behind Fairyinthewoods. Franny has gone up 2,5kgs in the weights and will have to strip tighter if she is to trouble Via Africa.
Singing
Ossie Noach rode a cracker to get Captain’s Lullaby past Via Africa in her last start, when she was pipped by the storming Fairyinthewoods. A multiple course and distance winner is held by Via Africa on a previous start and has to overcome a 3kg reversal here on better ground. Noach is out of favour as stable jockey Byleveld gets the ride.
Consistent
Darryl Hodgson saddles Fairyinthewoods and Gouldikova. The Count Dubois filly Fairyinthewoods goes for a remarkable sixth win in a row, and was only beaten when making her debut. The 4yo won the Olympic Duel Stakes in that purple patch and just continues to up her game as the tests are put in front of her.
She pulled off something of a giant killing act when swooping late to nab Via Africa and beat her just under a half length at her last start. She may well surprise us all again. Gouldikova is a two time winner, but looks badly in on the wfa terms of this race, and would be a shock winner.
Snaith Strike
Justin Snaith saddles two speed fillies in Agra and Victorian Secret. Piere Strydom takes the ride on Agra, who was beaten two lengths last time by Via Africa. It is difficult seeing her reversing that as she has to find 3kgs here. The daughter of Trippi is very fast though, and very capable of running a place.
Victorian Secret finished behind Agra in the race won by Fairyinwoods and she is 5kgs worse off with Via Africa and 3kgs with Agra. It is worth noting that Victorian Secret ran a very smart level weights second to the champion Princess Victoria in the Gr3 Victress Stakes in August.
Flying Fun
The two Var flyers should provide plenty of fun and games in a straight shootout. Via Africa has fitness on her side and will prefer the firmer going after running out of fuel last time. Schiffer has done little wrong, and while fitness is a consideration after a 13 week break, she hails from a top yard that knows how to keep fast fillies on the boil. There should be little in it!
