It has already been a season to remember for Varsfontein, but to have four lined up in the big race is not a feat which happens very often. Master of My Fate, Master Sabina, Do You Remember and Yorker were all from the same crop born on Varsfontein in 2009. Whether these paddock companions remember each other is another question.
Yorker was the first to leave the farm and was sold at the inaugural Cape Premier Yearling Sale in January 2011. Master Of My Fate, owned by Varsfontein, was sent on his way in April and did us proud when topping the 2011 National Yearling Sale when the hammer fell to Mr Papageorgiou for R3 million. Master Sabina and Do You Remember are both owned by client Michael De Broglio. He was planning on selling them initially but decided to keep them both to race, a decision which turns out to be a very good one indeed. In 2009 De Broglio bred three foals, and to have two of them progress to racing and winning at top class level is a success beyond many breeders’ wildest dreams.
The talk around the Met is buzzing, everyone with their own opinions and hopes. Our eyes will be pinned on our four “Varsfontein breds” all of which are drawn on the inside half of the field. Master Of My Fate is the current favourite alongside Jackson and Capetown Noir, as punters jump between these top colts, seemingly undecided. Doubts spring out from the media about Master Of My Fate’s coltish behaviour and his ability to keep a cool head on the day. However, his antics haven’t seemed to affect his performances so far. Yorker and Master Sabina will also be hoping to repeat a performance similar to that in the Summer Cup. Do You Remember is the only filly in the race and has already proven on many occasions that size doesn’t count. The history of the race reflects favour towards the light weighed fillies and hopefully she’ll dart through the big, burly colts to finish well.
Further to the main race, Varsfontein bred runners include Captain America in the Gr 1 Cape Derby as well as River Crossing and Drumminor (bred by the Fosters on Varsfontein) in the Gr 2 Stayers race. Jet Belle (bred by Mr Bailes) also hails from the sterling 2009 Varsfontein crop and will be running in the Gr 1 Majorca. A good number of other runners will represent the farm (including progeny of Judpot) in the non-feature races. However our racers may finish, the 2014 Met day will be remembered for many years to come as being a big day for Varsfontein.
Do You Remember