While reigning SA Champion trainer Sean Tarry looks unlikely to defend his national title this season in the face of the rampant Snaith challenge, the Gauteng conditioner enjoyed a decent enough time of it at Hollywoodbets Greyville’s showcase day on Saturday.
After winning the Gr2 Hollywoodbets 2200 with his Vodacom Durban July reserve Shango, Tarry was back in the winner’s enclosure a half hour later after the 4yo Nebraas booked his Gold Cup ticket with a flawless endurance display to win the R150 000 DSTV Gr3 Gold Vase.
Lyle Hewitson steers Nebraas to an impressive win (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Moving through his field effortlessly under Lyle Hewitson, the once promising 3yo Nebraas (6-1) stayed on best to register a 1,70 length victory in the 3000m contest, clocking a time of 194,77 secs.
Candice Bass-Robinson’s Holy Warrior (20-1) is still looking for his first stakes strike but did best of the rest, outgunning the winner’s stablemate Before Noon (25-1), who ran third.
In an open betting race, weak favourite Dream Destiny (4-1) failed to confirm his previous run and ran out of the money.
Bred and raced by Al Adiyaat South Africa, the gelded Nebraas is out of the Archipenko mare Noor Dubai.
Nebraas has now won three of his 13 starts for earnings of R279 125.
Watch the replay here:
Nebraas is the 12th stakes winner for Vercingetorix, whose son Great Warrior ran out a convincing winner of the fourth race for Joey Soma at Turffontein on the same afternoon.
A Gr1 winner in both Dubai and South Africa, Vercingetorix has had an excellent season in 2020-2021, with his runners having captured nine black type races thus far.
South Africa’s Leading Second Season Sire and Leading Sire of 3YOs in 2019-2020, Vercingetorix is currently third on the Leading Sires of 2YOs list for 2020-202
