Gladatorian was given a fine ride by Sean Veale in the Gr 2 IOS Drill Hall Stakes (Candiese Lenferna Photography)
The first Graded feature of the new era was the Gr 2 IOS Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m and it saw a scintillating victory for the Stuart Ferrie-trained five-year-old Vercingetorix gelding Gladatorian, who was given a fine ride by Sean Veale.
Gladatorian was offered at 20/1 by Hollywoodbets in the opening ante-post market for the traditional Champions Season opener and was recommended by Turf Talk (https://www.turftalk.co.za/kzn-yard-could-land-first-champions-season-blow/).
Those who took the eachway odds would have been smiling by race time, because with the field having cut up to 12 runners at the declaration stage he started Tote favourite and was a bookmakers starting price of 9/2.
Sean Veale did well to hold his position from draw five early on as Gladatorian was being pushed sideways on the hindquarters by the slower starting Great Plains, who was heading for the same gap.
Great Plains took his medicine and dropped back on to the rail, while Veale settled Gladatorian one out in midfield with cover.
Meanwhile, the Michael Roberts-trained second favourite See It Again probably had the best start of his career and was one of the first away from draw two under his new rider Raymond Danielson, who then settled him in the running three back on the rail.
Three-year-old Great Plains, who won the Listed Gatecrasher over this course and distance as a juvenile, was on the rail two positions behind See It Again right near the back. Both See It Again and Great Plains run in the colours of big KZN owner Nick Jonsson.
The pacemaker Texas Red switched outward off the false rail while See It Again went inward and a dream gap opened for Gladatorian, who showed his usual fine turn of foot and had hit the front by about the 150m mark.
See It Again was a strong contender on the inside and Great Plains, on the rail next to See It Again, was also right in it.
Gladatorian held on to beat See It Again by a short-head with Great Plains only 0,25 lengths further back.
The Real Prince ran on exceptionally well from last to be beaten just 1,35 lengths. Questioning, Cafe Culture and Montien were next best.
Gladatorian had thus landed a second Gr 2 at Hollywoodbets Greyville, having won the Post Merchants as a three-year-old.
He is owned by Messrs Late Agasthamuni Gujadhur, E G Hart de Keating, M L Jean Hardy and Gold Circle’s CEO Michel Nairac.
Veale, who praised Ferrie and his team for a fine training feat, said they had not been able to really gallop Gladatorian with the all the rain there had been at Summerveld, so said there was still plenty in the tank for him.
His next mission will likely be the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge and thereafter it will either be the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Durban July or the Gr 1 Champions Cup or both.
Gladatorian has never raced beyond 1750m before, but won when sent over the latter trip for the first time.
His pedigree, with Vercingetorix having won the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 and his dam, who won over 2000m, being by stamina influence Dynasty, suggests he could get the 2200m of the July, despite the speed he possesses.
The Jonsson-owned pair See It Again and Great Plains can also look forward to fine respective Champions Seasons after excellent pipe openers.
