Fast/ Via Africa (Alec Forbes) streaks clear to win the Listed KZN Stakes
Var’s speedy daughter Via Africa opened her season campaign with an enjoyable grass gallop when beating four rivals to win the R135 000 Listed KwaZulu Natal Stakes run over 1000m at Clairwood on Sunday.
Starting at 1 to 6 after the scratching of the top class Franny, the Southern Cross Stakes winner Via Africa led early from Counter Ridge and Miss October, with the Marshall stablemates Captain’s Lullaby and Countess Of Rhynie further back.
Inside the 400m marker Via Africa hugged the outside rail and stretched clear impressively, with only Miss October chasing. Via Africa won unextended by two lengths in a time of 55,66 secs.
Celebrating his birthday, jockey Alec Forbes was given an armchair ride in his third successive win in this feature.
Forbes said that Via Africa had given him a good feel, and indicated that she would still improve as her fitness was worked on.
Trainer Duncan Howells said that he knew that his charge was not at her best and that she would come on many lengths.
Howells bemoaned the fact that there were no races for Via Africa against her own sex and age group and said that he would be obliged to travel to Gauteng for the Computaform Sprint. He said that based on Via Africa’s race times, that she would more than hold her own.
Bred by part owner Andre Hauptfleisch, she is by super sire Var out of the thrice winning Qui Danzig mare, Bump ‘N Grind.
Via Africa has now won 5 races for 2 places from 7 starts.
She took her earnings to R483 000.
Such a pity about the small field though!
