Maine Chance stallion Vercingetorix is on the up and produced the top two home in Friday’s R150 000 Listed East Cape Nursery at Fairview to register his maiden stakes strike in style.
A son of the leading farm’s multiple champion sire Silvano, Vercingetorix was in demand at the National Yearling Sale this week with his daughter (#138), a half-sister to 3 stakes winners including Gr1 Summer Cup winner Liege out of Gr1 Garden Province Stakes winner Lyrical Linda, topping the charts when bought by Form Bloodstock for R1 million – R100 000 below his Cape Premier Yearling Sale peak earlier this year.
Vercingetorix 1-2! Greg Cheyne gets Viking Moon home to beat Muzi Yeni and Hooves Of Troy (Pic – Pauline Herman Photography)
Breeder Syd Birch said that the cross that produced Viking Moon – with the Untouchable mare Touch The Moon – had been one of their preferred choices.
“We settled on Vercingetorix as a few sires were unavailable. It’s certainly worked out well though and I believe Viking Moon will be even better as a 3yo,” reflected the veteran breeder, who said that he was worried early on when the Alan Greeff runner was bullying jockey Greg Cheyne.
He explained that Jurgen van Heerden and Frans van der Bergh owned the mare and did a deal to buy the youngster privately. He confirmed that Touch The Moon was currently in foal to Red Ray.
With the racing switched from the turf to the poly, the original nine horse field was cut from 9 to 7 runners, with Fillies Nursery winner Captain Anne Bonny and recent debut winner Gold Dragon, deciding not to take their chances on the all weather.
Alan Greeff – 4 winners on the day
After fighting with his rider early on, Viking Moon relaxed as Charles Ndlovu – riding stablemate Pierina – took the initiative and provided the cover the favourite needed.
With Gavin Smith’s Hooves Of Troy (another Vercingetorix colt) challenging, Viking Moon had too much in hand and strode out to win by a half length in a time of 71,35 secs.
Stablemate to the winner, Foreign Source ran into some traffic late and stayed on for third a further 1,50 lengths back, with Brandina in fourth.
Unbeaten in four starts in South Africa, and also victorious in Dubai’s Gr1 Jebel Hatta, Vercingetorix is right up there with our leading first crop sires this term.
Bred by Birch Bros, Viking Moon has won 3 from 3 for stakes of R187 500.
This was one of four winners for champion combination Alan Greeff and Greg Cheyne on the afternoon.
