Eden Roc won the prestigious G1 Gold Medallion sprint last year at Scottsville and returned to the same happy stamping ground to burst past Invidia and win the G2 Merchants.
The son of Var was right at the top of his generation at two and has trained on nicely under Sean Tarry’s guidance, but after a few flops over a mile tarnished his form, it seems sprinting is clearly his game. He earned a fine speed figure of 107 in just getting the better of Invidia (s/s 106) who was being called home the winner through the 200m. Cartel Captain was nearby, scoring 103.
Pretty Young Thing (s/s 98+) proved much the best in the Poinsettia Stakes over 1200m. Though she is probably best over slightly further, Anton Marcus had her just off the front line before this daughter of Jackson quickened clear a long way out to win untroubled. She is trained by Crawford Racing, who have aligned themselves closely with Interbet’s “Sustain the Game” advertising campaign.
Tempting Fate (s/s 95) and Pray for Rain (s/s 94) completed a stable exacta for Dennis Drier in the Godolphin Barb. The winner, by Master of my Fate out of the speedy race-mare Miss October, built on a neat debut win in February at the Cape to garner the G3 honors. Drier has a remarkable record with top notch juveniles in the Gold Medallion which is no doubt where his two charges will aim next.
The G3 Strelitzia Stakes fell to the van Zyl stables’’, Vernichey (s/s 90), by extremely promising sire, Vercingetorix. She prevailed after a tussle with Slalom Queen (s/s 88) with the favourite, Delta Queen (s/s 86) back in third after being outpaced late.
Earlier, Rascallion (s/s 89 +) landed short odds to shed his Maiden in some style. Over 330K was traded on Interbet as punters were convinced his Nursery third on debut close to Erik the Red would prove far too strong for overmatched rivals. That indeed proved the case as this Vercingetorix colt bolted home and he’ll be of interest at his next couple of starts in tougher fields.