Variety Club, South Africa’s reigning Horse of the Year, showed that he is indeed the best miler in the country when he demolished the R 1 million, Group 1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate field in a devastating fashion, after surviving a false start.

Jockey Anton Marcus was very confident that the Joey Ramsden trained Variety Club had enough gate speed to overcome his wide draw in barrier 15 and the colt proved him correct. Pomodoro briefly held the lead, but within a few strides, Marcus had steered the colt across and into the lead.

From there it was a masterful display of dominance as Variety Club led the field into the home stride, swinging wide around the bend, as he is likes to do, before switching gears and putting daylight between himself and the chasing pack.

Behind him a desperate battle for second unfolded, as the rest of the field had long since come off the bit and oxygen was in short supply, as they tried to stay within a reasonable distance of the fast disappearing leader.

Variety Club was going so easily that Marcus had time to salute the crowd before crossing the line 2.25 lengths clear after easing down in the closing stages. Jackson finished the best of the rest in second, narrowly piping Pomodoro, who had to settle for third.

Starting 1/1 favourite, Variety Club stopped the clock in 1.37.83 on a good track with a slight headwind.

According to his connections, Variety Club will now head off on an overseas campaign, with an application having been made to the Dubai authorities to allow the colt to run on World Cup night.

Derek Brugman, racing manager for owners Mrs I Jooste and Mr M J Jooste said,: “We have sent a request to the Dubai Racing Carnival asking for special permission to go into quarantine so that he can run in either the Dubai Duty Free or the Mile.”

Variety Club by Var(USA) out of the Secret Prospector(USA) mare La Massine, recorded his 12th victory from 17 starts, taking his earnings to R2 715 250.

In the R 1 million, Group 1 Maine Chance Farms Paddock Stakes(1800m), another star finally got her just deserves, as the diminutive Beach Beauty put a very strong field to the sword, to win comfortably by 3.75 lengths.

Dennis Drier’s mare was unlucky in the race last year, as a slow pace forced her into the lead allowing Thunder Dance to run her down in the closing stages. This time round the pace was on from the start.

Despite her wide draw in barrier 12 and a hefty 60kgs on her back, the slight mare put her tremendous gate speed to good use and jockey Sean Cormack was able to settle her just behind the early leaders.

Once the field turned for home Cormack got bored of waiting and pressed the accelerator button. The effect was electric as Beach Beauty shot into the lead and it was race over. The mare crossed the line in 1.40.76 on a good track.

Jet Aglow finished in second, 3.75 lengths back with Mike De Kock’s Viva Maria in third a further 2.75 lengths back.

Drier admitted that Beach Beauty surprised even him, as her main aim has always been the Group 1 J & B Met over 2000m on February 2nd.

Beach Beauty by Dynasty out of the Capture Him (USA) mare Sun Coast recorded her tenth win from 19 starts taking her earnings to just over the R2 million mark for owners the Shanks Syndicate (Nom: Mr W G Kidd).

ENDS