33/1 outsider, THE FUTURIST, committed daylight robbery in Leg 3 of the Winter Feature Racing Season, the Pocket Power Stakes Gr3 over 1950m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. He quickly opened a massive, uncontested and, as it turned out, insurmountable lead before cruising in untroubled by over 50m. He was followed in by Pacaya, Navy Strength and Otto Luyken, who raced in a different time zone and could barely be sighted on the wide-angle TV pan shot.
The Futura gelding had finished stone last either side of a rest. And even though he’d run second in this race last year behind Solar Power, and was fitter for the benefit of a comeback outing 43 days ago, this was a classic case of pace makes the race and what happens when a horse shakes way loose on the lead. Most punters and, it must be said, the other jockeys in the race, were caught looking completely the wrong way.
Winning trainer Brett Crawford said, “I’m surprised the other jockeys let a genuine front running horse get away like that. Anthony Andrew (substitute jockey) judged the fractions perfectly.”
THE FUTURIST is sired by Futura, and this was his fifth score from 22 starts.
On a day when on-pace runners were perfectly suited by the shorter run in of the Winter course, RED PALACE also went start to finish in the Listed Stormsvlei Stakes over 1800m – Leg 3 of the Winter Feature Racing Season for fillies and mares – to record her third career victory.
The bay Potala Palace filly is trained by Candice Bass-Robinson, and was expertly ridden by Anthony Andrews for a partnership which includes the breeders – his parents, Terry and Annabel Andrews.
Said Bass-Robinson of the resurgent filly who so nearly upset the colts in the ’23 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas, and ran well in the Gr1 Cartier Paddock Stakes before losing her way slightly in January ’24 which necessitated a three-month layoff: “She needed her last two but was spot on today. She was too classy for them – the short run in suited her – this is really pleasing.”
RED PALACE can be feisty, yet is hard to pass when in full galloping mode. She got over easily enough from draw 7, then sustained a strong tempo throughout to win by a clear margin at a starting price of 11/2.
Handily placed horses, LOVE IS A ROSE and TIME FOR LOVE pretty much followed her around the circuit to complete the order of finish. PRINCESS IZZY was the only horse to make slight progress from off the pace and ran a never threatening fourth.
