Wild Justice ran right through the line at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday and looks to be most promising. (Picture: Anneke Akal Kitching)
Gareth van Zyl trained the first Vercingetorix Gr 1 winner, the filly Vernichey, who won the Allan Robertson Championship, and he now looks to have another top class Vercingetorix speedster in the La Plaisance Stud-bred Wild Justice, who recorded the fastest 1200m time of the four races over that trip at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday and he made it two from two in the process.
Gavin van Zyl spotted this colt at the sale and put the partnership together after splashing out R900,000 to land him.
Ravi Padayachee’s Lucky Vest 12 CC consequently has two exciting horses to look forward to this season as he is also the owner of Equus Champion Stayer, the Summer Cup-bound King Pelles, who is also trained by Gareth.
Gareth agreed it was not easy to land a Vercingetorix and a lot had to be spent, but he pointed out the R900,000 label on Wild Justice actually looked on the reasonable side now, considering the soaring averages for Vercingetorix’s progeny at every sale.
He said he was not sure at this stage whether Wild Justice would go further than sprints.
However, he said there was plenty more to come from him and that is the impression he created on Sunday.
He had to show a good turn of foot to accelerate past Ibhele, who was carrying him outward.
He then pinned his ears back and was flying at the line under S’Manga Khumalo to win by 1,70 lengths carrying 57kg off an 87 merit rating.
He ran right through the line and looks to be an exciting prospect.
It would not be surprising if he turns out to be a sprinter in the mould of the Gr 1 Golden Horse Sprint winner by Vercingetorix, Alesian Chief, as he does have plenty of substance and is strongly built.
On the other hand Wild Justice, who is out of Captain Al maiden Sovereign Flo, is a half-brother to the Hollywoodbets Durban July third-placed Selukwe.
Selukwe is by July winner Pomodoro, whereas Wild Justice’s useful full-brother Supreme Warrior, who was a narrow runner up in the Gr 2 WSB Guineas, was a sprint-miler who was third in the Gr 2 Senor Santa and a short-head second in the Gr 3 Lebelo Sprint over 1000m.
Interestingly, Vernichey was also out of a Captain Al mare and so is Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint-winning Vercingetorix filly Mia Moo as well as the dual Gr 1-winning Vercingetorix filly Double Grand Slam.
Al Khayl Breeders (Pty) Ltd and Miss Trinisha Pillay are the partners in Wild Justice together with Ravi Padayachee’s Lucky Vest 12 CC.
Wild Justice was one of two winners on Sunday for his champion sire, with the Louis Goosen-trained Vercingetorix mare Arverni Princess victorious in a 1000m sprint, her third career win.
Meanwhile, King Pelles (Duke Of Marmalade) is Betway Summer Cup bound.
Gareth said he would have two runs before the Summer Cup and said he would need them both as a preparation for the big race.
King Pelles won four staying race Gr 3s last season, including the big one, the World Pool Gold Cup over 3200m.
He would prefer further than the 2000m of the Summer Cup, but Gareth is excited about the race, because he felt the tough Turffontein Standside track with its long straight would suit him down to the ground and he reckoned the pace of that race was usually good.
King Pelles is certainly not just a dour stayer as he has an exceptional turn of foot and he could be a dark horse in Johannesburg’s traditionally biggest race.
