Futura gets merit boost
CHAMPIONS Cup winner Futura has been raised 3.5kg to a new merit rating of 113 for last Saturday's devastating performance and he is now second only to Vodacom Durban July hero Legislate (114) among the three-year-olds.
“Next season he will put his claims to the test over a mile in the L'Ormarins Queen’s Plate as well as going for the J & B Met.
Brett Crawford said: “Those will probably be his two main missions. He is a very versatile horse but the good ones are and he is improving with every start. He was immature when he first arrived in Durban but in the last four months he has strengthened up and last Saturday he looked an absolute picture.’’
Futura and eLan Property Group Property Group Gold Cup winner Wavin’ Flag return to Cape Town this week and will then be given a break.
Crawford said: “I will be sending them to a farm for a short spell and bring them back after they have had their African Horse Sickness vaccinations. Wavin' Flag will be aimed at the J & B Jet Stayers on Met day and will have one or two prep runs before that.’’
The 42-year-old has now had 15 Grade 1 wins, eight of them since he took that shock decision five years ago to resign as a private trainer to Sabine Plattner and start from scratch at Philippi with more hope than horses. He now he has a yard of 94 boxes and one of the most powerful strings in the country. He reflected: “In this game you can’t do things on your own. You need the support of everyone around you, especially the owners - and I’ve been blessed.’’