Abbacadabra ready to weave her magic at Vaal

Unlike some breeders, Varsfontein Stud invariably comes up with interesting names for horses they breed. The latest is three-year-old Abbacadabra who is expected to weave her magic at the Vaal on Tuesday.

Excellent Varsfontein names that spring to mind are two from last year’s National Yearling Sales On The Guest List out of the mare Party Crasher and Shoemaker out of the mare Moffytwoshoes. Add in Kimball O’Hara (from Rudyard Kipling’s book) out of the mare Secret Mission.

Abbacadabra, who runs in Tuesday’s second race, started favourite for her debut at Turffontein in September and finished second behind Permesso Avanti. The daughter of Judpot should go one better this time.

Of the horses to have raced in the 1,000m contest, Eyes On Tiger and French Rebel boast the best form. But with five seconds to her name, Eyes On Tiger is not one on whom to risk your monthly salary.

Johan Janse van Vuuren trains Abbacadabra and also runs the debutante Spanish Spirit. He told Winning Form that

the filly is “immature and will need the run”.

Two horses that earned owner Chris van Niekerk more than R3m between them — Chimichuri Run and Ikigai — boast the Hollywood Syndicate silks in the seventh race. Sean Tarry trains the duo and also the four-year-old colt Flying Carpet.

Though Chimichuri Run has a hefty weight of 62kg, it looks significant that the six-year-old will be partnered by Lyle Hewitson. The champion jockey can expect a challenge from seventime winner Mr Flood who reverts to 1,200m after an unplaced run over 1,450m at Turffontein. The gelding is 1.5kg better off with Vaseem than in their recent clash.

Still, Roy Magner has Vaseem in great fettle and with 54kg on his back and Muzi Yeni in the saddle it would be no surprise to see the son of Vercingetorix complete a four-timer.

Riverstown won his penultimate start for the Paul Peter stable, but disappointed next time out in the race won by Cornish Pomodoro.

Peter and Warren Kennedy have a better chance of success with unbeaten Mufasa in the sixth race, with the trainer reporting that the son of What A Winter is “working well”.

Still, it’s a worry that Mufasa has not raced since June. It may be best to include Grappler, (another new Hollywood acquisition), Whafeef and Buck’s Fizz in jackpot and Pick 6 perms.

Grappler, a son of Trippi who cost R475,000 as a yearling, boasts an admirably consistent record and is probably a safe banker for punters in the place accumulator.