Saturday's G1 L'Ormarins Queen's Plate was supposed to be another walk in the park for South Africa's Horse of the Year Legislate (SAf) (Dynasty {SAf}), but that one came up empty in the stretch and Futura (SAf) (Dynasty {SAf}) took advantage to scoop the nation's premier weight-for-age mile, a 'Win and You're In' event for the GI Breeders' Cup Mile.
Beaten a neck into third as the odds-on favorite in the G3 Cup Trial at Clairwood June 7, Futura stayed on well to finish third, beaten under a length, behind the dead-heating Legislate and Wylie Hall (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}) in the G1 Vodacom Durban July S. at Greyville July 5. The bay bounced back with an authoritative score in that venue's G1 Champions Cup July 26, but had just one run since, a third to Legislate in the G2 Green Point S. over this course and distance Nov. 22. Futura was forced to miss an additional lead-up test in the G2 Diadem S. Dec. 27, but overcame the interrupted prep to cause a mild upset.
Drawn widest in this field, Futura hopped at the start and was taken back to near the tail by Bernard Fayd'herbe as Green Point S. runner-up Ashton Park (SAf) (Battersea Park {SAf}) set the pace with Legislate a touch keen about three lengths behind in centerfield. The nine runners edged towards the near-side fence entering the final three furlongs and while Ashton Park remained the boss, Legislate was coming with his run about four away from the inside. Futura was further to the outside, but while the heavy favorite failed to land a blow in the waning strides, Futura kicked on gamely for the victory from Triple Crown and G1 Summer Cup hero Louis the King (SAf) (Black Minnaloushe), who rallied up the fence for second.
“We were worried that there was going to be no speed on,” trainer Brett Crawford told South Africa's Sporting Post. “But Futura has always been a class horse and this is a race every trainer dreams about winning. I am looking forward to the Met in three weeks time.”
The 2000-meter J&B Met worth R2.5 million, is set for Kenilworth Jan. 31.
Saturday, Kenilworth, South Africa
L'ORMARINS QUEEN'S PLATE-G1, R1,000,000, KEN, 1-10, 3yo/up, 8fT, 1:41.59, gd.
1–FUTURA (SAF), 132, c, 4, by Dynasty (SAf)
1st Dam: Scribblin' the Cat (SAf), by Badger's Drift (SAf)
2nd Dam: Winter Fox (SAf), by Western Winter
3rd Dam: Fox of Gold (SAf), by Golden Thatch (Ire)
(R500,000 yrl '12 EMPNAT). O-John T Freeman, I W
Longmore & W J C Mitchell; B-Guy Murdoch (Saf);
T-Brett Crawford; J-Bernard Fayd'herbe. R625,000.
Lifetime Record: 10-6-1-3, R1,890,075. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating:
A++.
2–Louis the King (SAf), 132, c, 4, Black Minnaloushe–
Pamushana (SAf), by Rich Man's Gold. O-L J van der
Vyver; B-The Alchemy (SAf); T-Geoff Woodruff.
R200,000.
3–Gold Onyx (NZ), 132, g, 7, Black Minnaloushe–Egoli
Lass (NZ), by Kaapstad (NZ). (NZ$80,000 yrl '09
NZBPRE). O-C J H van Niekerk; B-P A Newman &
Windsor Park Stud Ltd (NZ); T-Sean Tarry. R100,000.
Margins: 3/4, 1, SHD. Odds: 6.00, 5.00, 33.00.
Also Ran: Jet Explorer (SAf), Tellina (SAf), Ashton Park (SAf), Kingvoldt (SAf), Paterfamilias (SAf), Legislate (SAf).
Click for the free Equineline.com five-cross pedigree. VIDEO.
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