Progressive stayer Future Pearl – can he step up? (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Sunday’s World Pool Gold Cup favourite Future Pearl is an exciting 3-year-old stayer, attempting to emulate the 2017 feat of Hermoso Mundo, by landing the unofficial stayers triple crown.
Michele Wing and her Racing News caught up with the connections ahead of the Hollywoodbets Greyville end-of-season spectacular.
Trainer Comments:
(Runners in market order)
- FUTURE PEARL: “It’s a lot of weight for a 3-year-old to carry in the Gold Cup, but I suppose he is 4 next month. There are a couple of horses better weighted than he is, but he must have a very good chance”, Sean Tarry.
- ARAGOSTA: “I suppose the jury is out that 3200m … I think it’s okay for him, but whether he stays it genuinely or not, I don’t know. His last run was very good. If he reproduces that, he should be in the top 4”, Mike de Kock.
- CRIMSON KING: “He recently moved to our stable and his form since arriving with us has just got better and better with each and every run. He’s had a flawless preparation leading up to this race and on the strength of that, I think he’s a horse that must be considered”, Brett Crawford.
- ARUMUGAM: “He’s a young horse. He’s a decent little stayer. I sent him back to Joburg because I couldn’t really do much of the stamina work here. He’s drawn well at 4”, Weiho Marwing.
- SHANGANI: “He goes for a double of wins in the race. The only horse not under sufferance in this year’s field. He posted similar below par runs ahead of last year’s race, before going on to win under 59kgs. Has a good draw of 6”, Racing News.
- NEBRAAS: “I think he is spot on for the race. He reunites with Lyle (they won 2 years ago). I don’t think he’ll be far off them”, Sean Tarry.
- ONE WAY TRAFFIC: “July day was certainly a problem and I think that I have ironed out a few things that certainly will put this horse into play. I do think that if the right One Way Traffic arrives on the day, over this distance, he’s definitely one of the best stayers in the country”, Justin Snaith.
- BLACK THORN: “The second run scenario isn’t ideal (2nd run after a rest). His last run was very good. I think he’s still got another bit of improvement in him”, Mike de Kock.
- FIGHT SONG: “He is a horse that is very hard to get consecutive, honest runs out of. If he does settle, because he needs to settle, he’s got the ability to turn it on, which is a great asset in a race like the Gold Cup when most horses will be stopping”, Gareth van Zyl.
- SENSO UNICO: “He’s a decent stayer. Even though he finished a couple of lengths off them on July day, he ran a very good race in the 3000m race, he came from last to run 4th. Since then he’s progressed”, Vaughan Marshall.
- SEA MASTER: “The draw is not preferable for him. He just needs to settle, which will be possible as long as he’s not cramped up behind them. A horse who is definitely in a happy and good space. Anthandiwe Mgudlwa knows him very well”, Gareth van Zyl.
- SALVATOR MUNDI: “Great jockey in Gavin Lerena. He’s won on him before in a big race. He doesn’t do well in Natal, he certainly does a lot better in the Cape season. Shocking draw. Going to need a bit of luck”, Justin Snaith.
- ROCKIE REEF: “Obviously she’s taking a big step-up in class. She’s from an outstanding female line. If you look through her 3rd dam, just champion stayers of Europe. She does stay very well. She’s very fit. I have no doubt in my mind that she’ll be one of the ones ‘towering’ down the straight”, Peter Muscutt.
- FLYING FIRST CLASS: “She’s a proven stayer. She’s up against the boys. Out at the weights. But if you go back to her ‘Vase’ run she ran a credible race and am expecting her to be right there. If we can have her handy, she’ll give a good account of herself”, David Nieuwenhuizen.
Enjoy the show here:
Michele Wing 🎥: Nkululeko Mbhele 🖥: Sanette Holmes 📷: Candiese Lenferna
