KZN’s Futura Wins The Gr1 J&B Met
| KZN’s Futura Wins The Gr1 J&B Met |
Born at Yellow Star Stud and bred by Guy Murdoch, Futura stamped his authority on South African racing by storming home to an easy victory in the Gr1 J&B Met, just weeks after his facile win in the Gr1 Queens Plate for trainer Brett Crawford.
Owned by John Freeman, Ian Longmore and Jack Mitchell, the son of Dynasty is out of a Badger’s Drift mare Scribblin’ The Cat, yet another KZN connection.
Futura made hacks of his opposition to score a runaway win and stamp himself as a galloper with a very bright future. Brett Crawford-trained L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate winner Futura charged home to Met glory, to register his third Gr1 victory from just 11 starts.
With Futura idling in midfield, it was Gr1 Majorca-winning jockey Grant Van Niekerk who took Helderberg Blue to lead Punta Arenas and Louis The King. The order remained unchanged into the long home straight as Helderberg Blue kept at his task, with Strydom angling Summer Cup winner Louis The King to the middle for his run.
Fayd’herbe was working quietly on Futura and the big Dynasty colt quickened as the ice-cool heavyweight rider found a split between Punta Arenas and Louis The King and surged into the lead at the 250m marker.
With the opposition flat-footed, Futura powered on to win by 2,25 lengths in a time of 125,38 secs.
Jockey Grant Behr rode his heart out from many lengths back on the 7yo Gold Onyx as he put his head down and dug deep to nab second from Helderberg Blue on the line.
Gavin Lerena got Tellina (out of Spectrum mare Tachina) to cut back the deficit out wide and he stayed on for fourth.
Jockey Bernard Fayd’herbe, who told Karl Neisius during the running at the 1400m marker that he felt that he was going to win easily, was over the moon.
“I saw Karl next to me and knew I was in the right place. I just said it as I was so amped! This is one of the ultimate races to win. And it is an honour to ride these good horses. Thanks to Brett Crawford and especially Futura – what a great horse to work with,” said the Vasco Da Gama Tavern-sponsored jockey.
An elated trainer Brett Crawford said: “This horse has just done everything right. It is his third Gr1 win in eleven starts. Those horses don’t come by often in our lifetimes. Thanks to the owners and the team. A great effort.”
Futura was a R500 000 National Yearling Sale purchase and is owned in partnership by John Freeman, Ian Longmore and Jack Mitchell.
He is a genuine and top-class racehorse who has never been out of the money yet in his career. A multiple Gr1 winner, Futura took his tally to seven wins with four places from 11 starts and gross earnings of R3 315 075.
Futura was crowned KZN Breeders Outstanding Three Year Old Colt and Outsanding Middle Distance Male [pictured above right] in 2014.
Well done to everyone concerned.
– extract sportingpost.co.za
