Sean and Daniel Tarry are all smiles after Future Pearl had completed the unofficial stayers’ triple crown last year (Candiese Lenferna Photography)
Sean Tarry has a strong hand on World Pool Gold Cup day and has winning chances in a number of feature races.
In the Gold Cup itself he runs the reigning champion Future Pearl and the 2021 winner Nebraas.
Hollywoodbets have the pair at 11/10 favourite and 8/1 joint second favourite respectively and Tarry said, “They are both very well. It’s hard to say which one is the right one, because just at the weights Nebraas can beat Future Pearl, but Future Pearl is a champion stayer, there is no doubt about that. In fact I believe if Richard had ridden him in the July he would have definitely been in the money. Nebraas hasn’t won for a while, but looking at last year’s Gold Cup he had a big weight and I thought he went too early, otherwise he would have been a clear second. Nebraas also seems to run well when he travels, he seems to enjoy Cape Town and he seems to enjoy Durban, and he is healthy and well. Future Pearl has got them all beat at the weights except for One Way Traffic and Nebraas. One Way Traffic is the only one of the others who should be able to give Future Pearl a go at the weights. Nebraas has got Future Pearl beat at the weights, but Future Pearl is top class and he can step up, he could have more fight in him.”
Seven-year-old Nebraas carries 55,5kg from draw five and four-year-old Future Pearl carries 59,5kg from draw six.
Nebraas is effectively 5kg better off with Future Pearl from last year’s Gold Cup if all the weight for age considerations are taken into account and he only has to make up 2,65 lengths.
However, he can not compete with Future Pearl on the looks and visual impressiveness scale as the latter is a big horse with a fine action and superb turn of foot. He is also only a four-year-old and looks to be getting better and better.
Future Pearl also has the bonus of Richard Fourie up.
Nebraas does have in-form Gavin Lerena up.
Fourie won the race for the first time last year and Lerena’s only win in this race was also for Tarry with Aslan in 2012.
Tarry has won this race three times.
Sean spoke about the rest of his runners on the important day, in which he has to make up a leeway of about R1,4 million on Justin Snaith in the race for the trainers championship.
He runs the classy The United States filly Rodeo Drive from draw two in the Gr 2 With Gold Circle Debutante over 1200m.
He said, “She looks awesome and is a massive runner. I think she’s got a future.”
He runs DantonfromSandton from draw seven out of ten in the Gr 2 World Pool Twitter Stakes over 1200m and said, “He is doing very well. I think he’s a big runner. It’s a little more competitive this race, but he’s got a good chance.”
He runs World Of Alice and Varvara in the Gr 1 Douglas Whyte Thekwini Stakes and said, “World Of Alice needs the trip, she’s doing well and she’s a runner, she can win it. She has Quid Pro Quo and Lock And Key to beat.”
He continued, “Varvara, I felt her last run was a bit below par, so I have to ignore that run. But her run before that was very good. Hopefully she has a place chance. I’m not sure about the trip, but she was finishing strongest of all over 1400m.”
He runs the favourite Cosmic Speed, who comes off a win in the Gr 2 Durban Golden Horseshoe over 1400m, and second favourite Legend Of Arthur in the Gr 1 World Pool Moment Of The Day Champion Stakes.
He said, “I think they both can run. They’re both doing well. Richard obviously had a choice and he went for Legend, so that is worth noting, but he is drawn the widest. In his last run (where he was overtaken by Mount Pinatubo to finish a two length third over 1400m) it was winter going, he needs further, it was a prep run and he gave the winner 2kg. Legend Of Arthur will definitely appreciate the step up in trip. Cosmic Speed, we respect the fact we are stepping up in trip, but he looks like he is high quality (and he seemed to find another gear late last time over 1400m). I don’t know for certain he will get the trip, but I should imagine it shouldn’t be a problem.”
Cosmic Speed jumps from draw nine and Grant van Niekerk rides.
Lucky Lad is the favourite for the Gr 1 Mercury Sprint over 1200m, despite being drawn widest of all in the 13 horse field.
Sean said he was doing “very well”, but added that although he comes from off the pace, the draw was still a problem.
He said, “He is the best horse in the race and has the worst draw. You can say he’s going to come from behind anyway, but it all depends on a lot of factors. But, he is very well and if he gets some luck from the draw he’s a big runner.
He also runs Mrs Browning in the Mercury and said, “Based on her form and her rating she’s got to have some sort of chance. She’s well.”
He runs Cousin Casey in the Gr 1 HKJC Champions Cup over 1800m and said, “I couldn’t have him better, he’s really, really well.”
Asked whether there were still concerns about his headstrong antics, he replied, “Well there were concerns about it last time, but it did not materialise, so over 400m less from pole position he should be fine.”
He runs Red Maple in the Gr 2 Riding High Together Gold Bracelet over 2000m. She won the Gr 2 Tabgold Oaks over 2400m in her penulimate start, but was beaten 10,50 lengths in the Gr 2 Splashout 2200.
He said, “She did return with a little bit of an issue after that last race, but we are hoping we are on top of that. She wasn’t quite right after that last race and previously she didn’t seem to be getting home over those marathon trips (so the Gold Cup was avoided). I think she is a decent filly and I think she will prove to be a lot more consistent next season.”
He runs Magic Tattoo in the Listed LHKIR Umngeni Handicap over 1000m and he said, “He has a draw and must have an each/way chance.”
