Gladatorian wins easing up under Sean Veale (Candiese Lenferna Photography)
Impressive five-year-old Vercingetorix gelding Gladatorian has the Gr 2 Allied Steelrode On a Mission Charity Mile in his sights after his comfortable win in a 1500m Pinnacle Stakes event at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday.
It was the Stuart Ferrie-trained gelding’s seasonal reappearance and after travelling supremely in midfield one wide with cover in about seventh place in a stretched out field behind a strong pace set by Parmenion, he was switched to the outside by Sean Veale and then began to run on resolutely.
He was carrying 62kg and it still looked touch and go whether he would get there in time. However, his momentum built up and he shot clear in the last 200m to win easing up by 2,20 lengths.
Gladatorian, whose career best win was in the Gr 2 Post Merchants over 1200m on Hollywoodbets Durban July day in 2023, was kept to sprints and 1400m up until his 18th run when taking on the best milers in the country in the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge over a 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville.
However, his pedigree suggests he should not be short of stamina.
His sire Vercingetorix does tend to produce more speed than his father Silvano did, but Vercingetorix has also produced a Gold Cup winner plus this year’s Hollywoodbets Durban July winner. Vercingetorix himself won the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 among other big races.
Gladatorian’s dam is a mare by Dynasty called Harvard Crimson. Dynasty’s illustrious career included July victory and he has produced two July winners himself. Harvard Crimson herself won six times from 1200m to 2000m, including the Listed Jockey Club Stakes over 2000m and, furthermore, she is out of a mare by stamina influence Badger Land.
So there is no shortage of stamina in Gladatorian’s pedigree.
However, Ferrie said, “A mile is the furthest we will go at the moment.”
In the Gold Challenge he finished a 3,90 length sixth behind Dave The King, but the race did not pan out at all well from draw seven out of 12.
Stuart said, “He was knocked out by Sandringham Summit and ended up three wide.”
He feels that under those circumstances still finishing just 3,90 lengths behind the Equus Horse Of The Year means he is competitive at the highest level.
However, Gladatorian will not be going down to Cape Town for the L’Ormarins King’s Plate.
Stuart said, “There is a race in Johannesburg at the beginning of October (Gr 2 Jo’Burg Spring Challenge over 1450m at Turffontein Inside on October 5) and there is then the Charity Mile (November 2 at Turffontein Standside).”
Ferrie had an impressive winner the previous weekend at Hollywoodbets Scottsville too in Lunarcam, who is by the yard’s stalwart sprinter Captain Of All (whom Dennis Drier trained with Stuart as assistant).
However, Stuart said he was a 1000m horse, so the options are limieted for this 102 rated speedster.
He said the Listed Golden Loom Handicap over 1000m on Charity Mile day was being considered for Lunarcam.
