Wild One, Futura Win on Big Day at Greyville

 

Wild One struck from off the pace Aug. 1 at Greyville to land the eLan Property Group Gold Cup (SAf-I), South Africa's premier staying event, which was delayed a week due to inclement weather.

 

The South African track hosted three other group I races Saturday, including the Champions Cup, won by Futura for the second straight year. 

 

The 16-horse field for the Gold Cup got off to a perfect start, with J's Outsider electing to make the running in the early stages, and Wild One well positioned just off the pace throughout.

 

Turning for home, Wild One made a dash toward the inside and ran on strongly to hold off a late challenge from rank outsider Balance Sheet, who took a late bump from the winner.

 

Balance Sheet, a newly turned 4-year-old (South African Thoroughbreds turn a year older on Aug. 1), ran out of his skin to put up the race of his career and he looks a young stayer of promise.

 

Outsider Savage Wind (50-1) put up a smart effort to finish back in third place.

 

Wild One's win provided jockey Anthony Delpech with his first victory in the Gold Cup, with the rider having been second six times previously in the race. 

 

"This horse was spot-on today," Delpech said. "He doesn't show much at home in the morning but has enjoyed the perfect prep. He's a good stayer and the best stayer around at the moment."

 

Winning trainer Mike de Kock, who last won the 2010 Gold Cup with Ancestral Fore, said: "He has had a helluva preparation. Unusually, absolutely nothing went wrong during the last few weeks, with the possible exception of the delay."

 

Wild One, a 6-year-old son of Mogok who suffered what looked at one stage a career ending injury earlier in his campaign, was picking up the first group I win of his career and has won four of his 19 outings for more than R1.7 million in stakes.

 

Wild One was bred by the Scott Bros., who also stand his sire Mogok, a Storm Cat half brother to Machiavellian. Mogok has four group I winners to his credit, including disqualified 2013 Arlington Million (gr. I) first-place finisher The Apache and 2010 Matriarch Stakes (gr. IT) winner Gypsy's Warning.

 

Second of Saturday's major features, the Champions Cup (SAf-I), also went to the favorite--Futura, who made it back to back wins in the race, with a brave, last gasp win over the very game Ice Machine.

 

Futura, a son of Dynasty who was picking up the fourth group I win of his career, jumped the even money favorite in a race, which looked a match race between him and his stablemate, former Horse of the Year Legislate.

 

The Champions Cup was a triumph for Justin Snaith, champion trainer two seasons ago, with Legislate finishing third to his stablemate and paternal half brother,

 

Outsider Light The Lights pulled hard and went off to make a good pace in the Champions Cup, with the favorite racing well off the pace. Turning for home, it was Legislate who appeared to be going the best and he hit the front at the top of the straight before weakening as Ice Machine started running on menacingly, while Futura slowly starting to quicken down the inside.

 

Ice Machine looked to have the win in the bag, but Futura showed tremendous courage under pressure from Bernard Fayd' Herbe and he got back up to by a head in the shadow of the post.

 

Futura has now won nine of his 15 outings and earned more than R4.2 million in stakes.

 

The other two group I on the day saw 12-1 shot Lauderdale (by Elusive Fort) upset a high-class field in the Thekwini Stakes, while hot favorite Rabada (by Brave Tin Soldier) had to dig down deep to live up to his 9-10 odds in the Premier's Champion Stakes.