Futura (Bernard Fayd’herbe) bears down on Ice Machine (Anton Marcus) in a Champions Cup thriller
Justin Snaith’s newsmaking big gun Futura gave us a glimpse of his streetwise fighting side at Greyville on Saturday when he dug deep to peg back a determined Ice Machine and score an exciting last gasp win in the R1 million Gr1 Champions Cup. Bernard Fayd’herbe rode a determined and balanced finish.
Starting a popular even money favourite, Futura’s anticipated showdown with his stablemate Legislate failed to materialise, as the latter just managed to hang on for a well beaten third, after looking dangerous early in the home straight.
The anomaly that Futura may have edged ahead of top sprinter Captain Of All in the Horse Of The Year title chase, after winning this Gr1 in a different season, is probably the only contentious issue to come out of a race that saw the son of Dynasty notch up an impressive fourth Gr1 victory.
Futura and Ashton Park were slightly slow away in the twelve horse field as Johnny Geroudis’ mount Light The Lights tore off like a scalded cat to set a decent pace, followed by Deputy Jud, No Worries and Punta Arenas. Futura and Legislate were settled in midfield.
Into the turn for home, Light The Lights, Deputy Jud and No Worries were still the top three as Richard Fourie fired up Legislate’s engines as he went around his field, chased by Ice Machine.
Bernard Fayd’herbe – showed value of his cool nerve and balance
Bernard Fayd’herbe also made his move at the same time as he guided Futura down the inside.
The astute Anton Marcus on Ice Machine had a plan up his sleeve and he pressed the launch button early on the son of Silvano, who grabbed two lengths and left Legislate for dead with his superior turn of foot.
But Fayd’herbe, reunited with his Met winner, also knew what he had under him and motivated by the urgings of a determined left hand ride, Futura chased Drill Hall Stakes winner Ice Machine and caught him in the last stride to win by a short head in a time of 111,04 secs.
This was Futura’s second consecutive Champions Cup win and, unlike his easy win over King Of Pain in 2014, he will know that he had been in a serious scrap this time.
The 33-10 Legislate had no answers late in the race and just managed to stave off an improved low-flying Helderberg Blue in third.
A R500 000 National Yearling Sale buy, Futura was bred by Guy Murdoch and races in the interests of Jack Mitchell, Drakenstein Stud and John Freeman.
Dynasty’s son is out of the lightly raced one time winning Badger’s Drift mare, Scribblin’ The Cat.
Futura has won 9 of his 15 starts with 6 places for stakes of R4 232 575.
With Richard Fourie bound for the East, Bernard Fayd’herbe is the new Snaith stable retained rider and this big race win was a dream start for the combination.
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Gr1 Champions Cup (SAf-Gr1)
Greyville, South Africa, August 1, R1 million, 1800m, turf, soft, 1.51.04
1 – FUTURA (SAF), 60.0, b h 5, Dynasty (SAF) – Scribblin’ The Cat (SAF) by Badger’s Drift (SAF). Owner Messrs John T Freeman & W J C Mitchell & Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert); Breeder G Murdoch; trainer J Snaith; jockey B Fayd’herbe
2 – Ice Machine (SAF), 59.0, b g 7, Silvano (GER) – Skid Alley (SAF) by Elliodor (FR)
3 – Legislate (SAF), 60.0, b h 5, Dynasty (SAF) – Champers (SAF) by Restructure
Margins: 0.05, 2.75, 0.05
