Gladatorian’s Chief Aim Is The Champions Cup

Stuart Ferrie’s training skills have shone through the Vercingetorix gelding Gladatorian, who despite being in his fourth season of racing stamps himself with each successive race as one of the classiest horses in KZN.

On Sunday at Hollywoodbets Scottsville he made it four wins from four Pinnacle Stakes races he has competed in this calendar year with Sean Veale up everytime.

The interesting point was that on Sunday he went over a trip he had never been over before, 1750m, and won it just as easily as he had won the other Pinnacles.

Veale sat still from draw one, so he was one from last. In the straight he kept the athletic bay in the hands and he picked them off one by one and won with ears pricked.

Gladatorian showed a lot of speed from day one, so was kept to sprints and 1400m races for his first 17 career starts and this included winning the Gr 2 Post Merchants over 1200m.

However, his pedigree suggests he should get further.

Gladatorian’s sire Vercingetorix won the Gr 1 Daily News 2000, among other races, and his dam dam Harvard Crimson is by Dynasty, who won the Durban July among other races.

Harvard Crimson herself won from 1200m up to 2000m, including a Listed race over 2000m.

Stuart said the chief aim for Gladatorian now would be the Gr 1 Champions Cup over 1800m on the last weekend of the season at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

Sunday’s race proved he will get the 1800m trip.

Stuart has not been tempted by races like the L’Ormarins King’s Plate and WSB Met in Cape Town and Gladatorian will stay in KZN.

Races like the Gr 2 IOS Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m and the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge over 1600m seem like obvious races on the way to the Champions Cup.

At present Stuart has given Gladatorian his AHS vaccines and will give him a break.

After Sunday’s easy victory there were some who even raised the question whether Gladatorian should have gone for the Betway Summer Cup. He would have carried 56kg off his 123 rating, which he earned for his unlucky second in the Gr 2 Allied Streelrode Onamission Charity Mile, in which he had to come from way back after being dropped out from a wide draw and being slightly hampered early.

Perhaps, the Summer Cup will be an option next season.