KZN Yard Could Land First Champions Season Blow

The Gr 2 IOS Drill Hall Stakes is shaping up to have the best field of any race this season and considering the weights and the draws the Stuart Ferrie-trained Gladatorian could score an early Champions Season strike for KZN. (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

Stuart Ferrie said training with the current rainy weather had been stop start, so he was particularly glad Gladatorian had got in the King’s Cup race.

He finished a flying neck second to Winter games in that 1600m race, which was run on March 23, and he was giving the winner 10,5kg.

Gladatorian was drawn four out of eight in the Drill Hall last season and finished a 0,55 length third behind Royal Aussie and Cousin Casey.

However, he carried topweight of 60kg due to the penalty for his Gr 2 Post Merchants win the previous season and he had to give both Royal Aussie and Cousin Casey 1,5kg.

This season he only has to carry 57kg and he receives 1,5kg from Royal Aussie, a 3kg swing, and he runs at level weights with Cousin Casey.

He is drawn six out of the 27 entries, so should get a good draw, while Cousin Casey is drawn 26 and will be returning from an injury enforced layoff.

Royal Aussie is drawn well in three.

Gimme A Prince, the highest rated horse in the country,  has drawn 19 and has to give Gladatorian 3kg.

Main Defender is one of the best 1400m horses in the country, but he has drawn 21 and has to give Gladatorian 1,5kg.

Eight On Eighteen is full of class and although this is on the sharp side for the WSB Met winner he has drawn well in five, although he has to give Gladatorian 1kg, meaning he is 3kg worse off than weight for age.

Cosmic Speed is another class three-year-old who has to give Gladatorian 1kg and he is drawn 13.

Dave The King will be a big runner if at his best, but he returns from well below par form and a long layoff and he also has to give Gladatorian 3kg.

Montien should be a big runner as an effective front runner and he is at level weights with Gladatorian, but has a draw of 14.

Cafe Cluture could be a contender too and is drawn in pole, although he has to give Gladatorian 1,5kg.

Barbaresco will be dangerous at level weights with Gladatiorian and from draw eight among the entries he could land a fair draw.

Questioning, drawn ten, is another who will be dangerous at level weights with Gladatorian.

Red Palace will receive 1kg from Gladatorian and could be a big runner too from draw nine.

Winds Of Change is a classy sort and will likely enjoy the distance, but he is drawn 17.

Three-year-old Great Plains is out at the weights, but is course and distance suited and gets 2kg from Gladatorian and is drawn well in four.

It is going to be a humdinger of a race and a signal of its quality is that if all of the entries stand their ground and the final field is chosen on merit ratings, then Gladatorian will only just scrape into the final field.

What makes Gladatorian a particularly attractive proposition is that Hollywoodbets have him out at 20/1 and 4/1 for the first four.

The entries are shown below: