The lesser fancied of the Sean Tarry duo, 3yo Hollywoodbets Durban July entry Future Pearl produced the goods with a smart display over the testing 3200m to win the weather-delayed World Sports Betting R250 000 Gr3 Gold Bowl at Turffontein on Sunday.
A joyous first feature winner for the Cornerstone Stud-sponsored 2,5kg claiming apprentice Donald Geerthsen, who could find himself with a minor censure from the Stipes after a before-the-line salute, Future Pearl (10-1) kept on doggedly under his 50kg paperweight to beat accomplished longhauler Arumugam (6-1) by 3,25 lengths in a time of 210,7 secs.
Donald Geerthsen salutes as Future Pearl charges home (Pic – JC Photos)
In a strung out field, third-placed Flying First Class (50-1) was 9,75 lengths back.
Both fancied joint topweights Shangani (8-10) and Nebraas (11-2) were well beaten, some 20 lengths off the winner.
Trainer Sean Tarry said that the decision to bypass the travel vigours of the East Cape Derby this coming Friday was vindicated.
He paid compliments to owners Antony and Angela for their trusted support, and to young Geertshen for a polished ride.
“He has a bright future if he keeps his head, and enjoys a good strike-rate for me. I wouldn’t usually go with inexperience in a feature but I was running out of options with five horses racing off the 50kg mark in this race,” added the former multiple SA champion trainer.
The Drakenstein Stud-bred Future Pearl was a R525 000 National Yearling Sale purchase and took his stakes earnings to R411 375 with his third win and 6 places from 11 starts.
The three-year-old Future Pearl is by Drakenstein Stud’s four time Gr1 winning stallion, and former Horse Of The Year, Futura, for whom he was a 14th stakes winner. He is out of the twice-winning Al Mufti mare Arabian Pearl, who won up to 2400m.
Watch the replay here:
