THE Brett Crawford-trained Dynasty colt Futura was touted as a Gr 1 R2,5 million J&B Met winner as long as a year ago and showed world class ability at Kenilworth today when storming clear to win the big race with ease under Bernard Fayd’Herbe.

The magnificent looking bay won the Gr 1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate just three weeks ago, despite having had an interrupted preparation due to coughing, and has now clearly come into his own. This was his third Gr 1 win and he is likely to add to that record.

The form of the Queen’s Plate was franked as the seven-year-old Sean Tarry-trained Gold Onyx, a close up third in the latter race, finished runner up.

One of the biggest question marks before today’s race was the pace and Punta Arenas, as he did last year, easily overcame a wide draw to find a handy position. Helderberg Blue then came around him to take it up. The favourite Louis The King was handy as was Tellina.

Futura was in midfield and Fayd’Herbe was so confident that he was able to afford a cheeky remark at about the 1400m mark to Karl Neisius, who was on his inside on Power King, that he thought he was going to win the race easily.

The pace was not quick and there was a cavalry charge in the straight. Helderberg Blue and Punta Arenas were holding on grimly in front, but Fayd’Herbe still had plenty of horse and when he asked the question the response was instantaneous. Futura burst through and it was race over at the 200m mark as his chief market rival Louis The King was making no impression.

Futura went on to win by 2,25 lengths from Gold Onyx, who ran on strongly to pip a brave Helderberg Blue for second. Tellina stayed on well for fourth ahead of last year’s third-placed Punta Arenas.

It was third time lucky for owners Ian Longmore and Jack Mitchell, who owned the luckless Crawford-trained Jackson, who was strongly fancied in the last two runnings of the Met but failed. Longmore and Mitchell own the Guy Murdoch-trained Futura in partnership with John Freeman. Mitchell became the first since Marsh Shirtliff and Arthur and Rina Webber, owners of the great Pocket Power, to hold the Vodacom Durban July, Queen’s Plate and Met titles simultaneously, as he also won the former race with Legislate. Fayd’Herbe rode Pocket Power to three Met wins, while Crawford won the Net in 2003 with Angus.

Futura appears to be a natural and is easy to work with, according to Fayd’Herbe, while Crawford said he hadn’t been nervous in the build up as the horse had done everything right.

Earlier, Mike de Kock landed his second Gr 1 in successive weekends at Kenilworth when the magnificent specimen Ertijaal, an unbeaten Australian-bred colt by Hard Spun, left the odds-on favourite Act Of War toiling in his wake to win the Investec Cape Derby by 4,75 lengths.

Gavin Lerena took Ertijaal to the front and Piere Strydom had Act Of War perfectly positioned on the rail behind him. Ertijaal used his big stride to stretch away in the straight and Act Of War was under pressure to stay in touch. Ertijaal became more and more impressive the further he went and it was soon clear that Act Of War was not going to catch him. Lerena saluted as he crossed the line, while Act Of War’s fans began sweating that he wouldn’t make a PA place as his Joey Ramsden-trained stablemate Liquid Mercury and the Yogas Govender-trained Krambambuli had begun closing on him. In the end he just scraped in for second.

Mathew de Kock was emotional in the winner’s enclosure revealing that this horse almost lost his life through colic as a youngster. Angus Gold, the racing manager of owner and breeder Sheik Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, was on course to accept the trophy.

The Gr 1 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes was an equally fascinating contest and centred around the brilliant Ramsden-trained three-year-old Cold As Ice’s ability to stay the trip. Her cause was not helped when she found herself in front with Strydom looking over his shoulder hoping that somebody would take it up.

Eventually the long striding Jet Supreme went around her giving Cold As Ice cover for most of the turn. Cold As Ice went for home early and stayed on gallantly. However, the Mike Bass-trained Gr 1 Maine Chance Paddock Stakes winner Inara began eating up the ground with a strong run down the inside. The latter just got her nose down in time to pip a gallant Cold As Ice.

The Glen Kotzen-trained four-year-old Jet Belle repeated her Paddock Stakes third-place finish and two more four-year-olds Red Flame and Lanner Falcon were next best.

Inara, a three-year-old Trippi filly owned and bred by Drakenstein Stud, had finished a 2,5 length second to Majmu in the Gr 1 Avontuur Estate Cape Fillies Guineas before her two successive Gr 1 wins and left many wondering how good the latter is. There is now no question that the three-year-old fillies crop is exceptionally strong this season.

The Listed Sun International Summer Juvenile Stakes was expectedly fought out by the smart colts Buckinghampshire and Seventh Plain. The latter started favourite but the former, a Justin Snaith-trained Australian-bred by Lohnro, took full advantage of his 3kg pull to slowly wear the latter down in an exciting tussle.

Dennis Drier will go home to KZN without a Cape Gr 1 win for the first time since the 2011/2012 season after Captain Of All’s hair’s breadth loss in the Betting World Cape Flying Championship last weekend, but today Balkan and Triptique gave him two wins, both ridden by Sean Cormack, and he had a Listed second with Seventh Plain.

Cormack had a memorable four-timer, having also ridden the Ramsden-trained Swannee Rose and the Snaith-trained Ultimate Dollar to victory.

Crawford and Fayd’Herbe also had a double together as Captain America won the tenth race in fine style despite carrying a welter burden.

De Kock and Lerena secured a Graded double on the day when they won the last race, the Gr 2 J&B Urban Honey Stayers over 2800m, with the four-year-old British-bred Archipenko gelding Kingston Mines.

David Thiselton for http://www.goldcircle.co.za

Pictures: Liesl King

A South Westerly wind is predicted by WindGuru and this should favour low draws in races down the straight.

The Gr 1 Investec Cape Derby features the high class Act Of War who should enjoy the step up in trip and he looks hard to oppose. The biggest danger is the unbeaten Ertijaal, a long-striding sort who relish both the trip and the long straight. Light The Lights was found to have a lung infection after his disappointing Gr 1 Grand Parade Cape Guineas run but has been doing well lately and as a progressive type who will relish the trip he looks to be the dark horse.

The Gr 1 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes is packed with class and very competitive. However, the three-year-old fillies crop looks special this year. The potential superstar Cold As Ice has tremendous cruising speed and was running on when winning a Gr 2 over 1400m which gives hope she will stay the trip. Inara impressed with her runner up finish in the Gr 1 Avontuur Estate Cape Guineas and then won the Gr 1 Maine Chance Paddock Stakes despite being squeezed out in the straight.

Carry On Alice is full of class and effective over this trip.  Hammie’s Hooker showed signs of being a high class miler last season and was ridden too aggressively in the Paddock Stakes. Jet Belle was an unlucky third in the Paddock Stakes and has always struck as a potential Gr 1 winner.

Arcetri Pink can be devastating on her day but needs a good pace. Priceless Jewel is likely fresher than the others having only run in sprints and

finished a fine third last year. Red Flame at last gets the opportunity to prove herself at this level over her best trip, but she has unfortunately drawn wide.

Maybe Yes won the Gr2 KRA Fillies Guineas last year when showing a superb turn of foot. However, Cold As Ice is tipped to beat Inara with Carry On Alice, Hammie’s Hooker and Jet Belle next best.

The Listed Sun International Summer Juvenile Stakes, which forms the first leg of the Pick 6, is often won by a horse flying under the radar, but the Dennis Drier-trained Seventh Plain did create a huge impression on debut, lengthening beautifully when hitting his considerable full stride. He is a possible banker.

The speedy Buckinghampshire is rated by the Justin Snaith yard as one of their best bets of the day.  He was slow away and rushed when beaten by Seventh Plan but now receives 3kg. The Glen Kotzen-trained Princess Royal is a half-sister to a former winner of this race, the brilliant Princess Victoria, and won well on debut.

The second leg of the Pick 6 is a competitive handicap over 1200m and taking draws and form into account Bold Var could be the one to side with. Zingaro, Mister Matchett, Uncle Jim, Tour De Var and Azincourt make most appeal of the rest.

In the last leg of the Pick 6, Ultimate Dollar, St. Tropez and Fire Master have given the impression that they can go on to bigger things.

In the first leg of the PA Swannee Rose has a big chance from a nice draw. Summer Cruise should be cherry ripe and is drawn well over a step up in trip she should relish. Crystal Cavern has the class and form to win but has a wide draw to overcome. The same can be said for Seven Grand. Princess Salme has come down to a winning mark and is drawn in pole with Piere Strydom up.

Sail South is full of class and can win the tenth if the pace is better than in his last race over 1400m in which he didn’t settle. Ze Kaiser is over his feet problems so should also be included and Piere Strydom will suit Big Cat’s style. Night Trip and Captain America have big weights but are classy types that can’t be ignored.

The classy Indaba looks the one to beat in the eleventh, but Pecan Nut will be a big runner too.

Dynastic Power is the class horse in the Gr 2 J&B Urban Honey Reserve Stayers and is better than his merit rating. He will stay too but all of Coltrane, Shingwedzi, Mountain Master, Gothic, Ash Cloud and Wavin’ Flag have to be considered too.

He was held up at a crucial stage in the L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate before flying home for second and that was only intended as a “bring on” race. The Triple Crown hero carried a big weight to victory in the Sansui Summer Cup and is very much at home over 2000m.

Futura showed fine finishing speed in his Vodacom Durban July third place run as well as when winning the L’Omarins Queen’s Plate, despite a slow pace in both races. He will appreciate this distance and is likely to be finishing strongly.

Punta Arenas finished third at a big price last year and will be cherry-ripe after a good preparation. His wide draw might favour him as it did last year, as he won’t have to expend much energy in finding a handy position in a likely slow paced race. He has a resolute finish and could present the best place value in the race. Power King is getting better and better after gelding and should now be at his peak. He is 1kg better off with Arion for a 1,25 length beating in the Peninsula Handicap over 1800m, in which he was doing his best work late.

Tellina placed in two Gr 1s over this trip at Turffontein last season and will be having his second run after gelding. He finished fifth in the Queen’s Plate, a race that was intended to bring him to his peak.

Dynamic went close to upsetting Capetown Noir over this course and distance in the Investec Cape Derby two years ago and has impressed in his unbeaten run this season. He is said to be getting “better and better” in work and from draw 6 could take advantage of a lack of pace by being right up there before staying on. However, trainer Justin Snaith’s yard has been badly affected by a virus that appears to be rife in Cape Town at present and it is hard to fancy their horses with confidence at present.

Gold Onyx has a short run in and was a touch unlucky not to get a clear passage in the Queen’s Plate after cruising in behind for much of the straight. He gets on well with Grant Behr, who has retained the ride, and he stays this trip these days. Arion takes a lot of work and is not the soundest, but his Peninsula Handicap win proved that he was at his peak, so he has probably just been kept ticking over. Jet Explorer will go into the Met off a good preparation, unlike last year when pulling a shoe and banging his leg in the Met Gallops. He is always a dangerous contender at his peak and will be 1,5kg better off with Futura and Louis The King for beatings of between one and two lengths in the Queen’s Plate. He does have a slight stamina doubt, but in a slow paced race he should get this trip.

Killua Castle’s best form was always on the Turffontein Standside Track until he waltzed in last time out in the Gr 3 London News Stakes over 1800m on the Turffontein Inside Track, so he looks to be coming into his own. He is only 1kg worse off with Louis The King for a narrow defeat in the Summer Cup. Helderberg Blue’s temperament let him down last season, but is now under control. He was forced to go for home too early when fourth in the Peninsula and trainer Mike Bass also admitted said that he had probably not done enough with him in work before that race. He does have a wide draw to overcome. Paterfamilias will be having his third run after a year’s layoff and could earn if showing the same form of his Premier Trophy third place last season. He also has a wide draw, but Bass expects both him and Helderberg Blue to run their best ever races.

Johnny Rockets is not a sound horse so is unreliable, but is capable of a strong finish and if he is able to fully let himself down, which he doesn’t tend to do, he could earn a cheque.

Astro News was a close up sixth to Igugu as a three-year-old, but has only placed once in ten Gr 1 outings.

The scratching of Legislate and Justin Snaith’s admission that his yard is battling to contain a virus has changed the dynamic of this race so the selection has altered slightly from last Sunday and is now Louis The King to beat Futura, with Punta Arenas, Power King and Tellina next best. However, Dynamic remains the dark horse as he looks to have the potential on his day to upset the favourites.

The fifty-something stalwart has a chance of completing a lifelong ambition in the Gr 1 R2,5 million race this year as he has a good ride on the Dean Kannemeyer-trained Power King, who landed a nice barrier position of seven.

Neisius said, “He has improved with gelding and is exceptionally well, he is probably the best he has ever been. The draw is fine, I am happy with it and I am just hoping for a bit of luck. He’ll run well.”

Power King will have no problem with the trip. He was running on late for a 1,25 length second last time out in the Gr 2 Peninsula Handicap over 1800m. He will not only be 1kg better off with the winner Arion, but Kannemeyer said he also still needed that run slightly, so will have improved further.

Neisius said Indaba in the 11^th race was “probably his best ride on the day.” He said, “She is reasonably well weighted and is taking on weaker than she is used to.”

He said of his other rides, “Lanner Falcon (Gr 1 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes) has to overcome a wide draw, but will drop off them anyway, and she has an eachway chance. Varlo (2^nd race) is well, but it is a difficult race. He has an each/way chance but at the weights it’s going to be quite hard for him.

“I don’t know much about Harlem Shake (Listed Sun International Summer Juvenile Stakes). She won a nice race on debut, but I don’t know how strong that field was and up against the colts it’s going to hard to beat the first and second favourites (Seventh Plain and Buckinghampshire).

“Blackmore (5^th race) will probably need this run as it is his first after gelding. Catkin (Gr 1 Investec Cape Derby), I don’t know much about him, but he is quite good as he has always been only a few lengths off Act Of War. Solar Star (10^th race) has been going well at home and has an each/way chance, but it is a competitive race and hard to pick a winner.

Gothic (Gr 2 J&B Urban Honey Stayers) is very honest and always gives of his best. I hope he can go one better on Saturday.”

Meanwhile, the wind direction for the J&B Met meeting at Kenilworth on Saturday according to WindGuru is due to be south westerly, which means it will be blowing over the stands, and it will be between 15 and 17km/h in strength.

Experienced jockey Neisius believed that it was therefore “unlikely” that the jockeys would go to the outside for the sprint races down the straight. Furthermore, the inside draws should also be shielded from the wind by the outside horses, so low draws down the straight could be favourable on the day.

Snaith was forced to scratch leading J&B Met candidate Legislate earlier this afternoon after conceding that although the Equus Horse Of The Year was ‘100% healthy’ his preparation had not been great after scoping full of mucus in his lungs following a subpar performance in the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate just three weeks ago.

Snaith still has a massive team of 40 runners engaged on Saturday, including five in the R2,5 million J&B Met over 2000m.

The always professional Snaith team have sort the advice of the world renowned USA-based immunologist, Dr Holland, who practices a “serum aminoid test” as opposed to the more risky method of scoping, in order to find out whether horses are incubating a virus.

The virus affecting horses has been thriving in the current hot weather in Cape Town. Dr Holland has also advised on both treatment and prevention.

Jonathon Snaith spoke glowingly of the results of this assistance in a Met panel discussion on Tellytrack on Sunday. Justin said, “We are doing the best we can behind the scenes to contain the virus and find out which horses are incubating and which aren’t, but this has been the worst two weeks the yard have had, and it’s not just us it’s all over. It seems to be hit and miss and the yard have had more last places in the last couple of weeks than winners.”

He said of his 16/1 chance Dynamic, “He is sailing, he’s doing very well.” Dynamic has been seen by some as a possible pacemaker, but Snaith said, “He is not a natural front runner, he likes to come from behind, and it’s only when the pace has been too slow that he’s been up there.”

Arion is also a 16/1 chance and Snaith said, “My biggest concern with him was the Met Gallops as he’s not the soundest, so he went as slowly as possible and never came out of a canter. All is well with him.”

Jet Explorer’s form points to a possible stamina doubt and Snaith said, “It depends on the pace. He didn’t stay the July trip (2013), otherwise he would have won it, although he might have been sent for home too early. He’s a runner, make no mistake, although he will prefer a slow pace.”

He said of the rank 150/1 outsider Johnny Rockets, “We have him as sound as we can have him. He hurt his feet in his last start. It is just his feet that worry him.” This horse runs with quite a head carriage, due to his unsound feet, and it would be interesting if he one day fully let himself down as he does look full of potential.

Snaith denied a rumour that Astro News had been supplemented in order to set the pace. He said, “He is as sound as he’s ever been going into a big race but has no easy task. One of the reasons we entered him was in order for Luyolo (Mxothwa) to gain some experience and to give him a feeling of a big race as we think this young jockey has a bright future.”

Snaith named Buckinghamshire in the Listed Sun International Summer Juvenile Stakes as one of his best runners on the day.

However, he lamented that most of his runners were poorly weighted in their respective races. He cited the example of Ultimate Dollar, who runs in the ninth over 1600m, as he was beaten by St. Tropez in the maidens over 1400m two runs ago, but now has to carry 1kg more than him.