Future Pearl stretching out impressively on his way to the defense of his Gr 3 DSTV Gold Vase crown (Candiese Lenferna Photography)
The most popular exacta among the pundits in the build up to the Gr 3 World Pool Gold Cup meeting on Sunday has been the Sean Tarry-trained pair Future Pearl and Nebraas to finish one-two in the Gold Cup itself.
His reigning champion and hot favourite Future Pearl and his 2021 winner Nebraas are drawn nicely in six and five with Richard Fourie and Gavin Lerena aboard respectively.
Future Pearl is an impressive specimen and for a big horse has a fine turn of foot. He produced a flying finish from the back in the Hollywoodbets Durban July to finish a 2,10 length sixth and Tarry believes that had his regular pilot Richard Fourie been aboard he would have done even better.
Future Pearl had some issues in the first part of the season, but is now back to his best. As a four-year-old by the stamina influence Futura, he could well still be progressing. Futura is by Dynasty, who has sired three Gold Cup winners.
Nebraas is seven years old but has a fine chance on paper at the weights. A look at his staying race form this season sees him emerging ahead of a number of runners on paper (Future Swing, Master Redoute, Aragosta, Breeze Over, Madison Valley, Shoot The Rapids, One Way Traffic and Raiseahallelujah). Furthermore, he is effectively 5kg better off with Future Pearl on the form of last year’s Gold Cup and he only has to make up 2,65 lengths. He comes into the race off a good running-on 1,90 length third in the Gr 3 DSTV Gold Vase over 3000m. He did not receive a raise for that effort. He will be a big runner if able to run to his best. Six of his seven unplaced runs this season have been on the Highveld, whereas throughout his career his form in both Durban and Cape Town has been ultra consistent. Those below par runs on the Highveld has seen him come down nine points in the merit ratings over the season. That makes him potentially very well handicapped.
Justin Snaith will be out to keep Tarry at bay in the trainers’ championship race and he runs the talented One Way Traffic from pole position with Keagan de Melo up and Future Swing with S’Manga Khumalo up from draw eleven.
Future Swing won his only attempt at a staying trip, in a Listed race over 2500m. He looks held by Nebraas on collateral form, but could be anything over this trip.
One Way Traffic is a son of Dynasty, who has an outstanding Gold Cup record. He has not won for over two years, but on paper, looking at the weights and collateral form, he should finish alongside Future Pearl and not far behind Nebraas.
Mike de Kock runs former SA Derby winner Aragosta, who does not appear to particularly like Hollywoodbets Greyville, from draw ten with Serino Moodley up. However, if getting a good position, he is capable of doing well as is proved by his Gr1 Daily News 2000 third two years ago, his Gr3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup third over 2400m last year, his Gr 3 Splash Out 2200 second last year and his one-length second to Future Pearl in the Gr3 Tabgold Derby this year. Furthermore, Serino said during the week that they are on top of an issue he had and he gave him a nine out of ten chance of running a place.
Tony Peter runs another former SA Derby winner Son Of Raj for Durban owner Steven Chetty from barrier position four with Calvin Habib up. This horse was beaten by over 19 lengths in the July and is tough to fancy on current form. However, this is the first time he is going over a staying trip since his SA Derby win and it could bring out the best in him.
Frank Robinson runs the Gr3 DSTV Gold Vase winner and runner up Madison Valley and Shoot The Rapids from draw seven and draw 15 with Kaidan Brewer and Muzi Yeni aboard respectively. Shoot The Rapids is weighted to turn the tables on Madison Valley, but at the same time has a tough task at the weights with Gold Vase third-placed Nebraas. So they both have tough tasks at the weights, but Madison Valley is very progressive, while Shoot The Rapids will stay all day.
Mike and Adam Azzie’s charge Breeze Over is a big horse who is greatly benefited by a good draw, so draw two will do fine and Rachel Venniker replaces Muzi Yeni, who has jumped ship to ride Shoot The Rapids after Twice Over gelding Breeze Over’s 4,95 length eighth in the Gold Vase. Breeze Over has always struck as a staying type and the best might not have been seen of him yet.
The Andre Nel-trained Master Redoute has proven class over long distances as the winner of the Gr 3 New Turf Carriers Western Cape Stayers over 2800m and he should be a big runner from draw three with Corne Orffer up. He is 3kg worse off with Nebraas for a mere 0,75 length beating in the latter race. However, as a horse who likes to run through gaps he should be a big player as he should get a good position in the running before the charge for home.
Piet Botha runs Baratheon, who was a fine third in the Listed Lonsdale Stirrup Cup over 2400m, beaten 1,35 lengths by Down To Business, who was unfortunately scratched from the Gold Cup early last week.
Baratheon’s only attempt beyond 2400m was in last season’s Western Cape Stayers, when a 4,40 length eighth to Salvatore Mundi. He was well beaten by Nebraas and Master Redoute, although he does now get a little bit of weight from both.
Master Fuego ran a fine 1,90 length third in the Gr3 Splash Out 2200 in his first attempt at a trip beyond 2000m, but this is a kilometre further. He is by Master Of My Fate out of a Fort Wood mare who won up to 1950m, but he nevertheless has plenty to prove from draw nine. However, his trainer Dean Kannemeyer has won this race three times and gets the impression he will see out the trip.
Kannemeyer also runs Ponte Pietra, who is drawn 12 and comes off a 3,30 length sixth in the Splash Out 2200, which was also his first attempt at a race beyond 2000m. He is by Vercingetorix, the sire of Gold Cup winner Nebraas, and he is out of a Galileo mare so is an interesting runner. He is not an easy ride but Sean Veale did settle him beautifully last time.
Raiseahallelujah ran a gallant 3,85 length fourth last year from pole position. He is under sufferance this year again and also has to overcome a wide draw of 13.
Zeus has a fine record over staying trips but does not have the rider, Gavin Lerena, who has been aboard for all ten of his wins. Lerena is sticking with Nebraas and Grant van Niekerk gets the ride on Zeus. This might be due to Zeus’s last two starts over staying trips with Lerena aboard. In the Listed TAB Gold Bowl over 3200m he was beaten 14,25 lengths by Crimson King, although he was carrying 62kg. In his last start he ran a 2,15 length third to Furture Pearl in the Tabgold Derby over 2400 and is now 1,5kg worse off with Future Pearl, despite being given a welcome three point drop by the handicapper. Zeus also has to overcome topweight of 60kg and a difficult draw of 14.
The selection is Nebraas to beat Future Pearl with Shoot The Rapids, Master Redoute and Breeze Over next best.
