Brilliant! Duncan Howells’ speed merchant Via Africa will give Franny a run for her money in the Listed KZN Stakes
The turf speed queens turn out for the R135 000 Listed KZN Stakes to be run over 1000m at Clairwood on Sunday.
We don’t believe in putting all our eggs in one basket on most days, but it is Easter and we are siding with Duncan Howells’ exceptional Var flyer, Via Africa, to narrowly hold Franny.
A quality but small field goes to post for the supporting feature which is bound to attract a sizeable holiday crowd to the Clairwood track on what looks like an interesting ten race programme.
The 3yo Via Africa has her first outing since a terrific effort in the Gr1 Cape Flying Championship at Kenilworth when going down under a length to the star sprinter What A Winter. That race followed her superb win in the Gr2 Southern Cross Stakes six weeks earlier.
Via Africa is a winner of 4 of her 6 starts for a combined winning margin of just under 24 lengths! Franny crosses paths for the first time with the Howells flyer, and is an exceptional 3yo srinting filly herself and a winner of 5 of her 8 starts.
She goes for her fourth win in a row and has become something of a Clairwood 1000m specialist, winning her last two outings at the track with ease. The rest don’t look like having a chance with the top two.
Dennis Drier’s Miss October is a three time winning daughter of Var, who showed some of her old sparkle when running a creditable third to Blueridge Mountain in the Gr2 Sceptre Stakes in mid January.
Vaughan Marshall sends out his first runners of the KZN season and the coupling of Captain’s Lullaby and Countess Of Rhynie may attract the attention of the more optimistic and ambitious Pick Six players.
Captain’s Lullabye has won 3 of her last 4 starts, but is out on the handicap, and probably not in the same league as Via Africa and Franny.
Countess Of Rhynie has won 2 of her 9 outings, but appears to be battling to assert herself, and like her stablemate, is probably shooting for a place cheque at best.
The 2012 King’s Pact Stakes winner Counter Ridge is well held by Franny on their last meeting. The lightly weighted Darwin Cup is a stablemate to Via Africa and has no chance on current form. She may well just be making up the numbers . Via Africa is selected to come out fighting fresh and beat Franny. But it will be a close call.
