Justin Snaith’s Hollywoodbets Durban July master plan for the 4yo Future Swing is unfolding sweetly and the tough Futura gelding stamped his authority at his second run after a rest to win the R500 000 World Sports Betting 1900 at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday.
Future Swing (Richard Fourie) powers up the inside to grab the determined Oriental Charm under JP van der Merwe (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Day 2 of the 2024 SA Champions Season went off smoothly after the 4 May debacle, with a host of form results characterizing a good afternoon for punters, and the Cape raiders again dominating the feature contests.
Snaith has walked this path in recent times with Belgarion, and the SA Champion must fancy his improved chances of saddling his sixth winner in the big one on 6 July after 2023 Algoa Cup and 2024 Chairman’s Cup winner Future Swing, a horse that he has conceded has been hidden from the handicapper, showed that his opening effort in the WSB Listed Sledgehammer at Hollywoodbets Scottsville in mid-April was all wrong.
Allowed to relax by Richard Fourie, who was registering his personal fourth winner on the afternoon, Future Swing (28-10) powered up the inside and changed legs late to grab the determined 3yo Oriental Charm (25-2), who did much of the donkey work.
With Richard Fourie’s body language showing some contempt, Future Swing beat his year younger contemporary by 0,30 lengths in a time of 116,50 secs.
The runner-up ran third in the SplashOut Cape Derby off an 87 at his previous start 11 weeks ago, and caught the eye with a smart effort here.
There was some debate about the 26 point penalty incurred when running 3,25 lengths Off Green With Envy, but maybe the handicappers were on the mark and he looks a low profile 3yo capable of going all the way to a date with destiny on 6 July.
Andre Nel’s Master Redoute (25-2) and Dean Kannemeyer’s Ponte Pietra (16-1) did their own Hollywoodbets Durban July claims no harm, by rounding off the quartet, with two lengths separating the top four.
Bred by Drakenstein, Future Swing is a son of former SA Horse Of The Year Futura (Dynasty) out of the twice winning Carousel Swing, a daughter of retired champion Trippi (End Sweep).
Raced in partnership by Drakenstein, Kalinga and Pamela Isdell, the winner is a R600 000 National Yearling Sale graduate and a winner of 7 races with 8 places from 17 starts for stakes of R1 119 850.
All fourteen that started here are Hollywoodbets Durban July entries, and with first declarations set for closing at 11h00 on Monday, there are a few that may have their connections considering their options with just over 50 days left.
They include Atticus Finch, who jumped from pole position and ran 5,70 lengths behind at what admittedly was his first start at the City track, the disappointing Safe Passage, who ran 7,50 lengths behind, and River Romeo who ran a 17,30 lengths shocker.
