Futura, Inara Earn BC Berths in South Africa

 

Futura pulled an upset in the L'Ormarins Queen's Plate (SAf-I) Jan. 10 at Kenilworth, where South African Horse of the Year and hot favorite Legislate ran a shocking last in the race regarded as South Africa's top contest at a mile.

 

The 1,600-meter showpiece event was one of two races carded Saturday to kick off the 2015 Breeders' Cup Challenge series. Futura earned an automatic berth in the Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) after Inara secured a spot in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT) with her victory in the Maine Chance Farms Paddock Stakes (gr. IT). The Breeders' Cup will be held at Keeneland Oct.30-31.  

 

Dispatched a 6-1 shot for the Queen's Plate, the 4-year-old Futura had been forced to miss his intended Queen's Plate prep run when a bout of coughing meant the colt was a late scratching from the Diadem Stakes (SAf-II).

 

Setting a slow pace, Ashton Park tried to steal the race and quickened up well with 400 meters left to run. However, when the field moved toward the outside fence, it was quickly apparent that Ashton Park was about to being swallowed up as Legislate, who had pulled hard early on, looked to be traveling well before coming under a hard ride. 

 

With the race seemingly wide open, Futura pounced late and hit the front with 100 meters left to run. Last season's Triple Crown winner Louis The King challenged bravely, but Futura kicked on over the final meters of the race to score a three-quarter of a length victory over Louis The King, who lost few admirers with a game first run at Kenilworth.

 

Longshot Gold Onyx belied his odds of 33-1 to run third, beaten 1 3/4 lengths, with Jet Explorer (stablemate to the favorite) back in fourth. 

 

Legislate pulled up sound after the race, but pulling hard early clearly took its toll on the colt. 

 

Final time for the 2015 L'Ormarins Queen's Plate was 1:41.49, slower than the stakes record time of 1:41.05.

 

Saturday's win pushed Futura's record to 10-6-4. Bred by Guy Murdoch, Futura is owned by Ian Longmore, John Freeman, and Jack Mitchell. The latter is also a part owner of beaten favorite Legislate.

 

Victory in Saturday's race also provided in form jockey Bernard Fayd'Herbe, who partnered Pocket Power to three victories in the Queen's Plate.

 

"When I saw Legislate traveling hard I thought he would be hard to beat, but when I saw Richard (Fourie rider of Legislate) battle I expected my horse to go close," Fayd'Herbe said. "He is a fantastic horse to ride and well done to (trainer) Brett Crawford."

 

Victory in the Queen's Plate was doubly sweet to winning trainer Brett Crawford, whose charge Jackson (like Futura owned by Jack Mitchell and Ian Longmore) had previously finished second in the last two runnings of the race.

 

Futura's win was boosted sire Dynasty (the sire of Jackson as well as Legislate), as that former Horse of the Year could only finish third in the Queen's Plate of 2004 when suffering a career-ending injury.

 

Futura is out of Badger's Drift mare Scribblin' The Cat, a winning daughter of former high-class 2-year-old Winter Fox. This is the same family as Paddock Stakes (SAf) winner Angelina.

 

 

Earlier in the day, Gaynor Rupert's Drakenstein Stud (who sponsors the big day) enjoyed a big race when their Trippi filly Inara held off a luckless Athina to win the Maine Chance Farms Paddock Stakes.

 

Jet Belle, part-owned by Drakenstein Stud, finished third. Less than half a length separated the first three home in what was a thrilling finish to this R1 million contest.

 

Inara, who was trying the 1,800-meter (about 1 1/8-mile) trip for the first time, came into Saturday's race off a creditable second in the Avontuur Cape Fillies Guineas (SAf-I), but was expected to face a tough task with a poor draw and some top-class older fillies and mares to contend with. 

 

However, Inara proved up to the task, although it has to be said the runner-up Athina, winner of last season's SA Fillies Classic (SAf-I), looked a little unlucky after a rough passage.

 

Inara also provided young jockey Grant Van Niekerk with the first group I win of his career, while the filly was one of three in the race for prominent Cape conditioner Mike Bass. In landing the first feature of her career, Inara took her tally to two wins from seven outings.