Princess Arverni is comfortably ahead of stablemate Donquerari (green and red colours) at the finish of the WSB Dash over 400m (Julia Marnewick)
Louis Goosen scored the exacta in South Africa’s shortest thoroughbred horse race, the WSB Dash over 400m, with his smart five-year-old mare Arverni Princess and his six-year-old soldier Donquerari respectively.
He said no special training had been given to the pair and added, “The secret is to select the right horse for the race. The horse must, number one, be quick out of the pens and, number two, must land running. And then, funnily enough, the horse must be able to kick again in the final 200m.”
The 71-rated Arverni Princess by Vercingetorix was a pick up ride for apprentice Blaine Marx-Jacobson, meaning she carried the very minimum weight allowed in the race, i.e. 50kg, because she was set to carry 54kg but got Marx-Jacobson’s 2,5kg claim as well as the 1,5kg gender allowance for females.
Donquerari, rated 86, had to carry 56kg under Calvin Habib.
Princess Arverni duly pinged the starting gates from draw three and tore into the lead, although Sun In My Pocket from the standside draw in the eleven horse field was also very quick to get going and Donquerari on her inside was matching her.
Arverni Princess was far enough clear to be able to hang right across the course to her left, although she did take up Inafix’s running and Marx-Jacobson might be in trouble for that, because the stipendiary report said, “The Board has adjourned to review an incident that occurred at the 200m. ”
It was unlikely to have changed the result and she won by a length from Donquerari, who moved fluently throughout and was thus able to kick on in the final stages.
Sun In My Pocket stayed on to be a short-head behind Donquearari and Inafix rallied to finish a 1,30 length fourth.
Chicarito was pacy throughout and might possibly have got closer had Arverni Princess not taken up her lane as she did not have fresh air in front of her.
Arverni Princess, whom Louis has always owned alone, has had an interesting career. She won her sixth start over 1000m and was given a 76 rating which went up to a 78 after a close up fourth.
However, a couple of runs later her form began to dip and she steadily declined until she was rated 58.
Since then she just hasn’t stopped winning or going close and by the time the WSB Dash arrived she was a six-time winner.
She has now won seven but her official record will remain six wins and her merit rating will remain on 71.
The 400m distance is usually associated with American Quarter Horse racing and consequently the Durban Dash is not included in the season’s statistics or the participants career statistics.
The race certainly provides a thrill every season though.
