Tuesday’s Listed Durbanville Cup winner, the Justin Sniath-trained Thefutureisbright, struck as a useful stayer in the making when winning over 2400m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on November 23.
The four-year-old Futura gelding was quite well weighted with most that day in the Middle Stakes event, so his next two starts, a 1,75 length fourth in the Grade 3 Drakenstein Stud Cape Summer Stayers Handicap over 2500m and a 1,50 length third in the Grade 3 Merchants On Long Chairmans Cup over 2400m, shouldn’t have been disappointing.
However, he was carrying just 52,5kg and 50 kg respectively in those two races and it took the spotlight off him as a potential MWOS Gold Cup horse.
However, today at Hollywoodbets Durbanville he won the Listed Durbanville Cup over 2400m in good style and the formlines read well.
He reversed form with the like of Senso Unico, who placed a close third in the Grade 2 New Turf Carriers Western Cape Stayers over 2800m last time out, and he also put in a better performance at the weights than another consistent staying type in Arctic Drift.
Being by Futura, whose progeny tend to be big and scopey and who get better as they get older, he could indeed make an impact in the SA Champions Season staying races, including the season ending Grade 3 Gold Cup over 3200m.
This is especially in light of the fact the Cape horse Rex Union managed to run a close up third in last year’s Gold Cup off a mere 86 merit rating.
The Gold Cup is one of the races where the bottom weight has increased to 54kg, but Rex Union made light of it last year. He was officially 10kg under sufferance with the best weighted runner Nebraas, but still went within 0,85 lengths of winning the prestigious staying race.
Research in the UK has shown that young progressive horses improve at a faster rate than the handicapper punishes them and this is often particularly noticeable out here in the staying division.
Jonathan Snaith confirmed that The Futureisbright is targeting the Gold Cup and the yard want to get him in with bottom weight.
He ran today off a 95 so can win again and still get in with bottom weight, considering last year’s winner Shangani is currently rated 120, while another probable runner Nebraas is off 116.
Today, Thefutureisbright did not have any cover sitting one out and one back virtually throughout under JP van der Merwe.
That made the win more meritorious as it points to him being a type who can be switched off easily, a big plus in a race like the Gold Cup.
The pacemaker Flower Of Saigon came back to them at the top of the straight and Thefutureisbright first repelled the pair who challenged him on either side, Senso Unico and Han Solo. He then drew off into a two length lead and had enough of a cushion to finish ahead of the late-charging Master Redoute, whom he beat by 0,40 lengths.
He was receiving 1,5kg from his four-year-old contemporary Master Redoute, but the latter had finished a 1,60 length fifth last time out in the Grade 2 New Turf Carriers Western Cape Stayers over 2800m, so is no slouch.
Flower Of Saigon, a consistent five-year-old Flower Alley mare, ran an amazing race because after leading she was quickly swamped in the straight but then stayed on for 1,65 length third.
