The Varsfontein policy of bringing them to sale to sell produced a thrill for the connections of the speedy Captain Al filly All At Once, who scored a heartstopping win by the proverbial whisker in the R150 000 Listed Swallow Stakes at Turffontein on Saturday.
Varsfontein’s team of Amanda and Carl de Vos with Susan Rowett
“She hails from Varsfontein’s well established Alexandra Bi family. I remember she was quite small and immature at the sale. That’s why she went quite cheaply. But good luck to the connections for their foresight. And it just goes to show that Varsfontein horses go to sale to sell – no nonsense,” added veteran stud manager Carl de Vos.
The Irish bred Darshaan mare Alexandra Bi, a two-time winner in Italy, was acquired by the Kalmanson family at Newmarket and has produced a host of outstanding performers.
Another smart member of this good family won earlier in the day. She is the Alec Laird trained Judpot 4yo Tamarina, a daughter of Albizia (Fort Wood), who registered her third win from 5 starts in the Varsfontein silk.
But back to the exciting feature and Carl de Vos was responding to the Sporting Post’s enquiries after the Varsfontein bred All At One had rallied under Craig Zackey in a thrilling climax to the Listed Swallow Stakes to get the verdict over the Gr1 winner, Mighty High – who was giving the eventual winner 6kgs.
Craig Zackey gets the best out of All At Once as Mighty High battles on (Pic – JC Photos)
Craig Zackey rode a particularly confident race, taking All At Once out to lead.
When Gavin Lerena breezed up on the outside on Mighty High, it looked to be race over.
But Zackey and the gutsy speedster were not going down out a fight and All At Once came right back at Mighty High to gain the verdict after a glance at the photo by a short head.
The winner, who drifted to 3-1, clocked 67,23 secs for the 1160m.
The top two had the race to themselves with third placed Blonde Vision 5,25 lengths away.
An R80 000 buy from the 2017 National 2yo Sale by Stone Hill Stud, All At Once has won 3 of her 4 starts – only beaten once, and then by the classy male Mardi Gras.
She has earned R238 512 and looks to have a decent future.
