She’s awesome. She said it all- Dennis Drier

“She’s awesome. She said it all,” were the comments of trainer Dennis Drier after his five-year-old daughter of Var, Val De Ra, held off the challenge from What A Winter to win the R600 000, Grade 1 Betting World Cape Flying Championship over 1 000m at Kenilworth on Saturday.



The race was billed as the race of the season with the mare going head-to-head with international Grade 1 winner J J The Jet Plane and the top Cape Sprinter What A Winter and it lived up to all the pre-race publicity.



The Mike Bass –trained What A Winter was always a firm 1-1 favourite to beat Val De Ra who had beaten him in the Grade 1 Computaform Sprint while the odds on Val De Ra eased slightly to be at 17-10. The feeling was that over the tougher Kenilworth 1 000m course, What A Winter would run her down in the finish.



But the gutsy mare was having none of it and, as usual, she was quickly out of the pens and into the lead with the balance of the runners always chasing. J J The Jet Plane, having his first run after a long break, was the first of the speedy trio to throw in the towel leaving What A Winter to take up the challenge for the boys.



But jockey Alec Forbes was ready for whatever challenge that was likely to come and when Karl Neisius set What A Winter alight and began to close, Forbes just called for the extra and Val De Ra produced a strong finishing run to hold on and win her 11th race from 12 starts.



After the race one could see the relief on the face of trainer Drier who quipped “I watched the first part with my eyes closed” and said he only saw the closing stages with his charge striding out to victory.



Forbes said the mare had never before needed to fight off a challenge but she showed in this race she was up to the task. He said he had been as excited about the race as a five-year-old on Christmas morning and got to the course three hours early.



He said Val De Ra had always been in command in the race and, had the race been a little further, the result would have still been the same.



Richard McMillan

What a Horse !!!!!!!!
I got goose flesh watching her race What a SUPERSTAR !!!!!!!

Plus what a fantastic photo

'She is awesome' - indeed

'Had the race been a little further, the result would still have been the same' - Utter hogwash

Frodo Wrote:

---

> 'She is awesome' - indeed
>
> 'Had the race been a little further, the result
> would still have been the same' - Utter hogwash


I think Forbes said "30 meters further" and I dont think he was implying that she would have won if it had been a 1200. Anybody got the interview recorded?

Anyone got a replay?

Saksy Wrote:

---

o

---

> Anyone got a replay?


TT are the only tv channel in the Racing World that is not proactive

Alcaponee Wrote:

---

> Frodo Wrote:
>

---

>

---

> > 'She is awesome' - indeed
> >
> > 'Had the race been a little further, the result
> > would still have been the same' - Utter
> hogwash
>
>
> I think Forbes said "30 meters further" and I dont
> think he was implying that she would have won if
> it had been a 1200. Anybody got the interview
> recorded?

he did say 30metre further.

Also very interesting is an article in the racing insert in the "Witness" dated 21 Jan.
Mr Drier said that the speed you see in Val De Ra is NOT her "flatout" speed. There is always more in reserve.
I found that to be very interesting

Race Replay

Cheers Bob

Great stuff! Thanks Hibs!

The way VDR left WAW for dead at the 300 was awesome. WAW was tracking her for first 700 but Forbes changed gears on the filly and before Karl knew it she was gone and it was effectively race over.

WAW lost nothing in defeat though and its great to have 2 top sprinters going for glory. I'm sure they would hold their own on the international stage, lets hope these stone age export protocols are lifted!

"I love to go a-wandering
Along the mountain track
And as I go, I love to sing
My knapsack on my back

...................................."