Sean Tarry’s 2023 World Pool Gr3 Gold Cup winner Future Pearl looks to have played himself into contention for a starting berth in the Hollywoodbets Gr1 Durban July after flying up late for an uncontested victory in the R350 000 Tabgold Gr3 Derby at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday.
Richard Fourie delivers Future Pearl in style to beat fellow Hollywoodbets Durban July entry Aragosta (Muzi Yeni) in a cracking big race prep. Fourth-placed Zeus (Calvin Habib) can be seen in the background (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
One of a trio of Tarry entries still in the mix for the big one on 6 July, Future Pearl ran the perfect prep when finding his best form to register his first victory since his Gold Cup success as a 3yo in the sunset days of last term.
With Policy Of Truth and One Way Traffic setting the fractions in Saturday’s 2400m feature, Future Pearl was confidently by Richard Fourie from some lengths off the gallop.
As Rachel Venniker produced Without Question into the home straight, Future Pearl (11-2) could be seen making up lengths and despite Richard Fourie losing his crop in the process of showing it to the gelding in the closing stages, he went on powerfully to hold Mike de Kock’s Aragosta (5-1), also a Hollywoodbets Durban July entry, by a length in a time of 149,27 secs.
One Way Traffic (8-1) rallied well for third, a further 1,10 lengths away, and a nose in front of Highveld raider, Zeus (14-1) who completed the quartet in an improved effort.
Hollywoodbets Durban July entries Cape Eagle (4,65 lengths) and Without Question (4,70 lengths), the latter at 14th on the final log published just days ago, did their big race claims no favours and failed to flatter.
Trainer Sean Tarry confirmed that he was thrilled that Future Pearl was back to form.
“We left him alone last season. We were in no hurry. Interestingly, Richard Fourie was very upbeat to ride him in the 2023 Betway Summer Cup. He has an affinity with this course. I see he wasn’t sighted on the Hollywoodbets Durban July log but he has put his hand up now, loud and clear!” added Tarry, as he thanked the sponsors Tabgold and his patrons the Beck family, who have enjoyed a nice season with the 3yo Lucky Lad.
The Drakenstein Stud-bred Future Pearl was a R525 000 National Yearling Sale purchase and took his stakes earnings to R1 436 375 with his sixth win and 6 places from 19 starts.
Trainer Sean Tarry speaks to Gallop TV’s Warren Lenferna (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Future Pearl is by Drakenstein Stud’s four time Gr1 winning stallion, and former Horse Of The Year, Futura, who could be well represented in the Hollywoodbets Durban July this year. The winner is out of the twice-winning Al Mufti mare Arabian Pearl.
The Tabgold Derby and the Oaks were opened to all ages at weight-for-age terms, plus penalties in 2014.
The decision was made as the focus of 3yo’s during Champions Season was on the Guineas, the Daily News 2000, the Woolavington Stakes, and obviously the Durban July. This resulted in the Derby and Oaks suffering a downgrade over the years and somehow struggled to find a consistent place in the programme.
