Widely respected pedigree guru Karel Miedema’s opening gambit when Futura entered stud in 2016 was that ‘Gr1 horses win Gr1 races’.
“It’s an old adage to illustrate that only the best horses win the biggest races. Just one or two of such winners in a hundred sets you way apart from the also-rans in the great genetic lottery,” mused Miedema.
As a champion son of Fort Wood, widely recognised as one of the most significant South African Stud Book contributors, Futura’s sire Dynasty has left his mark in no uncertain terms.
Futura (Dynasty x Scribblin’ The Cat) is enjoying a busy 2021 breeding season (Pic- Drakenstein Stud Farm)
He entered stud in 2005 and produced 665 runners for 460 winners – a formidable career average of 69% runners to winners. In addition, he had an incredible 79 stakes winners – 12%. The global benchmark for greatness is 10%.
His sixteen Gr1 winners included six sons at stud, including Futura, Legislate and Act Of War.
Our stallion focus this week will be on Drakenstein Stud Farms Triple Equus Champion Futura.
The handsome athlete started his racing career in the same manner as his illustrious sire Dynasty – late maturing and winning as an early three-year-old over a distance that would soon prove to be short of his best.
Dynasty ended his career as a four-year-old due to injury while contesting the L’Órmarins Queen’s Plate.
Futura made his winning debut over 1200m showing versatility, and continued to race successfully until he was five years old.
Dynasty’s trainer at the time, Peter Kannemeyer, always believed that he was versatile enough to win a sprint at the top level.
The similarities don’t end there. They both won nine races, and both concluded their careers being crowned Horse Of The Year. Additionally, both star gallopers won four Gr1 races each. While Dynasty won the Durban July, Futura won the Met and the Queen’s Plate. He is one of only a handful of horses to accomplish that feat in such rapid succession.
The talented Futura also won the Gr1 Champions Cup twice, setting a track record the first time as a three-year-old.
Futura has had an outstanding career at stud so far. His first crop includes six stakes winners of nine stakes races, including stakes winner Nourbese. Having won the Gr2 Golden Horseshoe, placing second in the Gr1 Premiers Champion Stakes and running third in the Gr2 SA Nursery, he was involved in a phantom AHS scare in Mauritius whilst en route to the Saudi Cup last year. Unfortunately, he didn’t return to SA after finding a buyer in Mauritius, where he beat a good field first time out a few weeks ago.
Nourbese (Futura – Golden Pathway) winner of the Gr2 Golden Horseshoe
That first crop also included Drakenstein Stud Farms Gr2 placed and Listed winner filly Sweet Future, Ridgemont-Highlands’ promising Gr3 winner Warrior, Gr3 winning filly Vihaan’s Pie, and the Zimbabwe triple stakes-winning Champion 2YO Dingdingwe, to name a few.
Futura’s first crop has delivered 60% winners to runners, and 20% of his winners have earned bold type. His stakes and win stats prove that his colts are as good as his fillies!
Like his sire and grandsire, Futura’s progeny are late maturing. However, there is a clear pattern of stamina emerging in his progeny report. His stakes winners range from 1000m to 2000m.
“Trainers that have Futura’s progeny report them to be straightforward and uncomplicated. Inspiring reports are coming in about his new youngsters in training,” says stallion manager John Freeman.
“My clients and I purchased several more this year. So we have boundless confidence in his progeny,” he enthuses.
The stallion has had some impressive sales numbers over the years. His top prices include R1,3million, R1,2million, R600 000 and several more over the R400 000 mark.
With Futura having covered 119 mares last season and with another good book of over 100 mares this season, there are many more exciting years to come for the handsome horse.
Gavin Pickford, Stallion manager at Drakenstein Stud Farm, reports that Futura has a superb temperament and is a pleasure to deal with. He covers efficiently and is extremely fertile.
Last season the classy stallion received encouraging support, with many impressive mares due to foal down this season including the likes of Champion 2YO daughter of Western Winter – Lady Windemere, stakes winner Joshua’s Mistress, multiple winner and Gr1 placed mare My Kazzie, and Se Agabor, whose first foal is Gr1 winning Champion 2YO Filly Gabor.
Drakenstein Stud Farm are sending 26 of their mares to Futura this breeding season.
Drakenstein Stud farms Futura filly out of Rock On Baby at eight weeks old (Pic- Drakenstein Stud Farm)
These include Street Cry’s daughter Oh Susanna, an Equus Horse Of The Year and four-time Gr1 winner, five-time Gr1 winning Trippi mare Inara, and dual Gr1 winner Snowdance by Captain Al. Another two mares are Gulf Breeze by Dubai Destination, dam of multiple stakes winner Fresnaye, and the two-time Gr1 winning Dubawi mare, Happy Archer.
“Futura is an incredible physical specimen, one of those horses that you could clearly see why he could run. Most importantly he passes on those traits to his yearlings. He gets well grown yearlings that have athletic walks and really catch the eye at the sales,” concludes Kevin Sommerville, Stud manager at Drakenstein Stud Farm.
Futura’s service fee for 2021 is R20 000: a deposit of R5000 and the balance due at live foal.
Contact FreemanStallions for more information: [email protected]
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