Futura Powerful J&B Met Winner at Kenilworth
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By Sarah Whitelaw
Brilliant 4-year-old Futura landed South Africa's prestigious J&B Met (SAf-I) Jan. 31 at Kenilworth in Cape Town, earning a second straight victory at the group I level.
The son of Dynasty won the L'Ormarins Queen's Plate (SAf-I) Jan. 10 last time out, earning an automatic berth in the 2015 Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT). He was dispatched the 2-1 second choice for the 2,000-meter (about 1 1/4-mile) J&B Met.
Following the late withdrawal of South Africa's reigning Horse of the Year Legislate, the betting for the J&B Met was dominated by Futura and South African Triple Crown winner Louis the King. However, it was the latter colt who eventually started as the favorite, sent off at 18-10.
The field jumped to a good and level start, with the Mike Bass trained Helderberg Blue setting the early pace. Futura was allowed to settle midfield, behind last year's Met third Punta Arenas and Louis the King.
The front-runner kept going gamely into the straight, despite challenges coming fast and thick around him, but jockey Bernard Fayd'Herbe, who partnered Futura to a win in the Queen's Plate, asked his charge to quicken with 250 meters to run. The bay produced a devastating turn of foot when finding a split between Punta Arenas and the struggling Louis the King and hit the front, going on to deliver a 2 1/4-length win from the late-flying 18-1 outsider Gold Onyx. Helderberg Blue gallantly held on for third.
The final time for the J&B Met was 2:05.38 on turf rated good.
"This horse has done everything right," trainer Brett Crawford said of Futura, who also won the 2014 Beach Beauty Champions Cup (SAf-I). "It is his third group I win (and seventh win overall) in 11 starts. These horses don't come by often in our lifetimes. Thanks to the owners and the team. It was a great team effort."
Futura is owned by John Freeman, Jack Mitchell, and Ian Longmore, with the latter pair having also teamed up as the owners of multiple group I winner Jackson, the beaten favorite in the last two editions of the Met.
Fayd'Herbe, who rode Pocket Power to Met wins in 2008 and 2009, was elated with his latest success, commenting, "This is one of the ultimate races to win. And it is an honor to ride these good horses. Thanks to Brett Crawford and to Futura. What a great horse to work with."
Bred by Guy Murdoch, Futura was purchased for 500,000 rand at the 2012 Emperors Palace national yearling sale. He is out of the winning Badger's Drift mare Scribblin' the Cat.
Futura is one of seven group I winners for former Horse of the Year Dynasty, whose legendary sire Fort Wood died the previous week. Dynasty is also the sire of this season's brilliant 3-year-old Act of War, who proved a disappointing favorite in one of the day's three grade I features, the Investec Cape Derby.
Sent off at 1-3 for the 2,000-meter race but trying the distance for the first time, Act of War could only finish a well-beaten second in the classic. The race was won by the Mike de Kock-trained Ertijaal, who maintained his unbeaten record in the process. Given a perfect ride by jockey Gavin Lerena, Ertijaal made all to win by 4 3/4 lengths.
Owned and bred by Sheikh Hamdan, Ertijaal, a half brother to United Arab Emirates group winner Mushreq, has now won all four of his outings.
The Australian-bred son of Hard Spun out of Alharir, by Jeune, stopped the clock in 2:03.82. He is the sixth top-level winner for Darley's Central Kentucky-based sire.
Fortunate to survive a bout of colic, Ertijaal is likely now to be aimed at the SA Classic and SA Derby (both SAf-I) run at Turffontein later this season.
Joey Ramsden, the trainer of Act of War, also sent out the favorite in the Klawervlei Majorca Stakes (SAf-I) for fillies and mares, but again had to settle for second place.
His brilliant Cold As Ice stretching out to 1,600 meters (about one mile) for the first time and entered on a five-race win streak. She was the 18-10 favorite.
However, it was recent Maine Chance Farms Paddock Stakes (SAf-I) winner Inara, trained by Mike Bass, who just got up to deny Cold As Ice by a short head, giving 3-year-olds a 1-2 finish in the race. Last time out Jan. 10, Inara secured a spot in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT) with her victory.
The Majorca Stakes was a great result for Drakenstein Stud, who own and bred Inara, and are part owners of third-place finisher Jet Belle. They also own and bred fifth-place finisher Lanner Falcon.
Both Inara and Lanner Falcon are daughters of Drakenstein Stud's resident sire Trippi , a former Florida-based stallion who regularly ranks among South Africa's best.
Inara, who notched a second career group I score, is out of the Shirley Heights matron Mountains of Mist, and is thus a half sister to U.S. grade III winner Madeira Mist, the dam of three-time Pattison Canadian International (Can-I) winner Joshua Tree.