South Africa’s champion miler Variety Club made a meal of his nine opponents at Clairwood on Saturday when he cruised to his eighth successive win in the G1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge.

Joey Ramsden’s reigning Horse of the Year was never under threat during another professional exhibition of power galloping after Anton Marcus was allowed to dictate the speed.

Challenges were launched by second and third favourites Beach Beauty and Pomodoro at the 400m but Variety Club responded as expected and stormed clear to win by a length for his second successive win in the Gold Challenge.

Beach Beauty held second with last year’s Durban July winner Pomodoro showing e is on track to defend his title with a pleasing third.

Variety Club, by leading sire Var, has now won 14 races from 19 starts and has been unplaced only once. His victories include six G1 races, three G2 and three G3.

If the Gold Challenge lacked surprises, there were plenty in the second feature on the card, the G2 Rising Sun Tibouchina Stakes.

Hot favourite Princess Victoria failed to make the first four as 28-1 chance Louvre won from the front.

Louvre has won two in a row since moving from the Highveld to Duncan Howell’s yard in KwaZulu-Natal.

Louvre has now won eight times from 31 starts.

The G3 Cup Trial saw veteran jockey Kevin Shea get the Charles Laird-trained Astro News home with a smart ride.