Tour De Var finds form
THERE is just no stopping the progeny of Var.
Offspring of this champion sire enjoy huge success countrywide and yesterday, on the Fairview Polytrack, it was the turn of Tour De Var (9-1) to win the main event of the day, a Mr 88 Handicap over 1 000m and prize money of R73 000.
Tour De Var was not supported in the betting. He opened at 4-1 and drifted to 9-1 shortly before the off. But in the closing stages the Var factor kicked in and jockey Karl Zechner had him in full stride on the outside of the track.
He got up to beat 11-10 favourite Benedict by 1,75 lengths.
Swift Wonder (5-1) ran third ahead of Tetelestai (13-1).
The second leg of the Pick 6 produced an upset result when 10-1 outsider I Will Be won unexpectedly over 1 300m. The son of Albert Hall was followed home by Black Platinum (20-1), Danzey Green (1101) and Age Of Aquarius (92).
In his last race in February, I Will Be won for the first time and yesterday made it two in a row after a good ride by Gerrit Schlechter for the Des McLachlan yard. I Will Be paid R8,10 a win, while the Trifecta and Quartet weighed in with dividends of R7 908,70 and R61 277,80 respectively.
In Race 5 more Pick 6 and Jackpot tickets were eliminated when 14-1 shot Running Back came home best of all for a comfortable victory over 1 600m. It was a winning debut in Port Elizabeth for the Glen Kotzen runner and the son of Judpot was well ridden by Bryan Claassen.
Running Back paid R13,80 a win and pushed the Pick 6 dividend up from R32,60 to R596,50 after the third leg.
The Yvette Bremner and Gift Funeka combination was the most successful of the day when they won the last three races in great style.
Meanwhile, there is huge excitement in Port Elizabeth for the running of the popular East Cape Derby over 2 400m at Fairview tomorrow.
The Western Cape runners look hard to beat and Kalamain from the Alan Greeff yard will carry Port Elizabeth’s hopes. The last time a PE trainer won the Derby was in 2009 when Mitch Wiese scored with Lizard’s Desire.