A couple of weeks ago we made a comment on Var, a son of Forest Wildcat, who retired to stud in South Africa and was making a big impact with his first crop of runners this year at two in that country.
Well this weekend he had the best result possible with a gr. I winner in his first crop! Villandry, a gelding out of the Complete Warrior mare Amazon Lily, burnt the rest of his rivals off with blistering speed to win the Gold Reef Resorts Medallion (gr. I) over 6 furlongs at Scottsville in a swift 1:08.44.
After his success in the Listed Summer Juvenile S. at Kenilworth Jan. 31, Villandry followed up in the Apr. 1 G3 Godolphin Barb S. at Clairwood, but came unstuck when only fourth in the G2 Umkhomazi S. over this track and trip last time May 3. Disputing the early lead with Exclaim ‘n’ Exclude (a son of Australian stallion Exceed and Excel) and the favorite Vacherin (another son of Var), the bay cut loose passing the furlong marker, and ran away to win by a handy two lengths.
Var has now sired 13 winners in his first South African crop and has just passed Captain Al, a son of Al Mufti, as the leading 2yo sire of South Africa on prizemoney.Congrats to agent Robin Bruss who bought Var for Avontuur Stud and the team at Avontuur – a perfect start!
