The World Sports Betting East Cape Poly Challenge bonus of R250 000 is unlikely to be won in 2021 after the impressive young out-and-out sprinter Viking Moon cruised to victory in the R80 000 opening leg over 1200m at Fairview on Friday.
Starting a well-supported odds-on favourite, the good looking Viking Moon showed his class on his return from a 15 week break to make it four wins on the trot, and his 7th victory in fifteen starts.
He is unlikely to go all the way to the mile of the third leg.
Greg Cheyne has Viking Moon in control (Pic – Pauline Herman)
Greg Cheyne settled the headstrong gelding two lengths off the leader The Highway Man and launched his attack from the box seat 350m from home.
The Birch Bros bred galloper strode away to beat surprise package Wolfgang (16-1) by three quarters of a length in a time of 69,58 secs
“He pegged his ears back and he was always going to run them off their feet late,” said a pleased Greg Cheyne, who rode three winners on the afternoon.
Juan Nel has made an impact this term and the former Mike de Kock assistant saddled both the runner-up and the third placed What A Winner (10-1).
The winner races in the silks of Frans van den Berg and took his stakes earnings to R357 000.
Breeder Syd Birch told the Sporting Post at an earlier win that the cross with the Silvano stallion Vercingetorix that produced Viking Moon – with the Untouchable mare Touch The Moon – had been one of their preferred choices.
The second leg is the R80 000 WSB East Cape Poly Challenge 1400 (Non-Black Type) to be run over 1400m at Fairview on Friday 9 April.
The challenge is wrapped up over a mile at Fairview with the running of the R80 000 WSB East Cape Poly Challenge 1600 (Non-Black Type).
A bonus of R250 000 will be paid to the connections of the horse that wins all three legs of the challenge.
A consolation bonus of R50 000 will be paid in this challenge to the highest points scorer, if no horses wins all three legs.
To qualify, a horse must participate in all 3 legs and win at least 1 leg.
Points allocation for Consolation: 1st 10, 2nd 6, 3rd 4, 4th 3, 5th 2 and 6th 1.
