The fourteen year long visitor stranglehold on the ‘Gqeberha July’ continued at Fairview on Sunday when the Justin Snaith yard celebrated their fifth winner in the past ten renewals of the R350 000 Jonsson Workwear Listed Algoa Cup.
Snaith enjoyed a good feature weekend with Mucho Dinero a runaway winner of the Listed Woolavington at Hollywoodbets Durbanville 24 hours earlier.
With two runners in the Eastern Cape 2000m contest, he would have fancied his chances of following up on Hoedspruit’s 2021 victory and JP van der Merwe produced the goods on the 8-1 Future Swing, who was going beyond a mile for the first time in his career.
Riding to instructions to switch his mount off early, JP had Future Swing settled early as Cherry Ano led Gallic Tribe into the run for home as The Futurist then took over and the top trio set sail.
Jason Gates made an early move on Gallic Tribe and he poached a three length lead on his field as they went past the 400m.
Future Swing (JP van der Merwe) is chased by Han Solo (Raymond Danielson) and Gallic Tribe (Jason Gates) in a thrilling finish (Pic – Pauline Herman Photography)
All the while, JP van der Merwe was stalking in midfield and after switching the 4yo after some traffic issues, they swept into the lead chased by the gallant defending champion Han Solo.
At the line Future Swing (8-1) had 1,25 lengths to spare over the late charging Han Solo (17-2), with Gallic Tribe (20-1) showing he likely stays the 2000m, when a half length back in third.
Glen Kotzen capped a great weekend, with Han Solo stablemate Lord William (25-1) all of 2,25 lengths back in fourth.
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 champion Trippi. Interestingly, the mare had a winner, also bred by Drakenstein, earlier on the card, when Oratorio’s daughter Opera Swing registered her sixth win in the third race.
Raced in partnership by Drakenstein, Kalinga and Pamela Isdell, the winner is a R600 000 National Yearling Sale graduate and a winner of 5 races with 6 places from 14 starts for stakes of R552 725.
Enjoy the replay:
