Multiple SA champion trainer Sean Tarry and SA champion jockey Lyle Hewitson made amends for a forgettable Allan Robertson Championship a half hour earlier, when the Var colt Eden Roc burst through late to grab the honours in the Gr1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion.
After an unsuccessful objection in the earlier feature, Tarry and Hewitson bounced back like the professionals they are to seal the big win with the Varsfontein bred son of Var who races in the familiar blue and red Chis van Niekerk silks.
Eden Roc’s victory canter past under Lyle Hewitson (Pic – Candiese Marnewick)
With Lyle Hewitson determined to get over the pain of his narrow miss, he had Eden Roc relaxed a few lengths off the gallop set by the filly Spring Break.
At the 200m Hewitson – riding his fourth Gr1 winner – made his move and Eden Roc grabbed a match winning lead to hold off the late rattle down the wide outside of favourite and SA Nursery winner Frosted Gold by 0,60 lengths in a time of 67,99 secs.
Recent Godolphin Barb fourth-placer Wave was a head away in third, with Got The Greenlight in fourth.
A R340 000 National Yearling Sale purchase, the Varsfontein Sud-bred son of Var (Forest Wildcat) is out of the Captain Al mare, Townsend.
Eden Roc is bred on the same Var/Captain Al cross as the graded stakes winners Ghaalla and William The Silent.
With gross stakes earnings of R540 625, Eden Roc also banked the BSA Added Value Stakes Bonus of R150 000.
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Gr1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion (SAf-Gr1)
Scottsville, South Africa, May 25, R750k, 1200m, turf, good, 1.07.99
1 – EDEN ROC (SAF), 60.0, b c 2, Var (USA) – Townsend (SAF) by Captain Al (SAF). Owner Mr C J H Van Niekerk; Breeder Varsfontein Stud; trainer SG Tarry; jockey L Hewitson
2 – Frosted Gold (NZ), 60.0, gr c 2, All Too Hard (AUS) – Mary D’or (FR) by Verglas (IRE)
3 – Wave (SAF), 60.0, b g 2, Mogok (USA) – Seaview (SAF) by Miesque’s Approval (USA)
Margins: 0.60, 0.10, 0.75
