Gladatorian won over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville in his penultimate start (Candiese Lenferna Photography)
Stuart Ferrie is bullish about the chances of Gladatorian in the postponed Gr 2 IOS Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Greyville today.
He pointed out the horse’s liking for the Hollywoodbets Greyville turf, on which he has raced four times for two wins, a second and one unplaced run.
His first win there was in the Gr 2 Post Merchants over 1200m on Hollywoodbets Durban July day last year, where he beat the now twice Gr 1-winning sprinter Thunderstruck by a neck receiving only 2kg.
His other win was last time out over that same 1200m course and distance in a Pinnacle event and his only unplaced run was in the Gr 1 Mercury Sprint, also over 1200m, when finishing just 2,60 lengths behind the winner Isivunguvungu on weight for age terms.
The Vercingetorix four-year-old gelding has only had 15 starts and has only twice run over further than sprint distances. He finished second on the polytrack over 1400m in his fifth career start and in his penultimate start over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville he carried topweight of 62kg in a Pinnacle Stakes event and won it despite the going being soft.
Stuart said, “He seems to want further now . He has come in to a decent draw as long as the 70 rated horse doesn’t get in the way!”
Ferrie was asked whether he gave Gladatoriaan a chance and replied, “Definitely. He has run against the best for a number of starts and he certainly wasn’t stopping when he won over 1400m. He’s bred to go a little bit further too.”
Gladatorian’s sire Vercingetorix produces more speed and precocity than his famous six-times national champion sire Silvano. However, Vercingetorix did win the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 and the Gr 1 Jebel Hatta over 1800m at Meydan, among other Graded race victories.
Gladatorian’s 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.
So to say Gladatorian is “bred to go a little bit further” is an understatement.
He could have an interesting career ahead of him if winning today.
The favourite with Hollywoodbets is Royal Aussie at 28/10, with Cousin Casey and Gladatorian next best, both at 7/2.
Royal Aussie showed a tremendous turn of foot when running third in the Gr 1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate behind Charles Dickens and See It Again and should enjoy this course and distance, considering he did not appear to see out the WSB Met trip.
Cousin Casey had a fantastic record at Hollywoodbets Greyville as a two-year-old, winning a Listed race and a Gr 2 over this trip and a Gr 1 over 1600m. He appears to need gelding and has not been settling well in some of his starts. However, a drop in trip from a plum draw of two could bring out the best in him.
The Ricky Maingard-trained pair Al Muthana and Waterberry Lane are the longest-priced of the recognised runners and are draw seven and eight respectively in the eight horse field.
However, they can’t be ignored as they are both capable of producing performances out of the top drawer. Al Muthana has won the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville before, while Waterberry Lane has won his last three attempts at this course and distance, although the last of those in September last year was the last time he finished in the money in any race, so his recent form is uninspiring.
The Mike de Kock pair Humdinger and Gimmeanotherchance are both course and distance suited too and not out of it.
Double Grand Slam will be very hard to beat in the Gr 2 WSB Fillies Guineas. She is at cramped odds of 3/10 with Hollywoodbets.
Rascova should enjoy the course and distance and could give some cheek and White Pearl should give another good account of herself.
The next race, the Gr 2 WSB Guineas, is a touch more open although the 12/10 favourite Sandringham Summit will have plenty of supporters.
The Gimmethegreenlight colt has proved his liking for the WSB Guineas course and distance with a facile win in the Gr 1 World Pool Moment Of The Day Champion Stakes last season, where he easily beat Main Defender. However, the latter has improved since then. Sandringham Summit jumps from a plum draw of two.
Green With Envy will prefer further, but is a highly progressive sort, so he could upset the applecart.
Mid Winter Wind is improving all the time too and represents the flying Tarry yard, although he does have a tricky draw of 6 out of 7.
Snow Pilot is the Gr 1 Holywoodbets Cape Guineas winner and will have come on from his Champions Season pipe opener. He will be dangerous in a small field as he can kick well from handy positions.
Hluhluwe is highly regarded and has been gelded so could be dangerous from pole position.
Navajo Nation has a wide draw and looks to have it all to do.
