Future Swing did not give much away at today’s Hollywoodbets Durban July gallops (Candiese Lenferna Photography)
The biggest enigma in the Hollywoodbets Durban July betting is the 6/1 third favouritism of the Justin Snaith-trained Future Swing, because on paper he should be a way longer price.
Future Swing is officially 4,5kg under sufferance off his 110 merit rating and is held on paper by other runners.
For example, Master Redoute beat him by 0,40 lengths in the Gr 3 Peninsula Handicap over 1800m and is now 1kg better off and that form seemed to have been confirmed when Master Redoute lost by just 1,70 lengths to Future Swing last time out over 1900m on 4kg worse terms than he faces the latter in the July.
Oriental Charm lost by 0,30 lengths to Future Swing in the Gr 2 WSB 1900 and is now not only 3kg better off but will also have had two months of weight for age improvement since then, being a three-year-old.
So those are just two examples of horses who hold Future Swing on paper, yet they are 50/1 and 7/1 shots respectively with the big race’s sponsor.
Richard Fourie aboard does invariably shorten a horse’s price, but can he make that many lengths difference?
The key to this mystery is not Fourie, but a look at the replays of Future Swing’s WSB 1900 race.
The good looking horse runs on strongly from a handy position to get up.
However, he is clearly crying out for the extra 300m of the July.
He also creates a good visial impression.
Jonathan Snaith said about Future Swing’s workout at the official Hollywoodbets Durban July gallops, “Future Swing was not asked to do much under Richard Fourie in the gallop as he kept his cards close to his chest. He’s a relentless galloper and he’ll be ready come the big day. His preparation has gone perfectly.”
Future Swing is drawn well in four.
It is dream time for Ravi Naidoo, the man behind “Kalinga”, who part-owns Future Swing. Ravi’s Kalinga also owns the July candidate Cousin Casey.
Future Swing, a four-year-old gelding by Futura, was bred by Drakenstein Stud, who part-own him in partnership with Kalinga and Pamela Isdell.
The Snaiths other two runners, Double Superlative and Without Question, are both owned by Nick Jonsson, who has already win the July twice, both times with his part-owned Do It Again.
Jonsson has three chances of getting his colours on to the Classic Room wall of honour this year, because he also owns the second favourite See It Again outright.
He also owns the first reserve Hluhluwe.
Jonathan Snaith said about the WSB Met winner Double Superlative, who disappointed in his recent comeback run when beaten 5,65 lengths into fourth place in a Pinnacle Stakes race over 1600m, “He put in a superb gallop and if he had had another prep run he would have been the horse to beat. He is one run short of his best, but class does often prevail.”
Daniel Muscutt will be out to make history by becoming the first jockey to win both the Met and the July in his first rides in the respective races, while Double Superlative, a Patricia Devine Investments-bred five-year-old entire by Twice Over, will be out to become the 8th horse in history to win both the Met and the July and the third to do this double in the same season.
Without Question, who was third in the Met, is right up with Future Swing on paper, considering he was only three lengths behind him in the WSB 1900 and is now 5,5kg bgetter off.
However, he has not had an ideal prep and followed that WSB 1900 run with a 4,70 length seventh in the Gr 3 Tabgold Derby.
He also disappointed in last year’s July.
Jonathan said, “Without Question put in a reasonable gallop and he’ll need to reproduce his Met run to have a chance.”
Nevertheless, he will make history as the first horse to ever be ridden in the July by a woman, Rachel Venniker.
