The Joey Ramsden-trained Silvano filly Gallica Rose has always been well regarded and earned bold black type at Greyville yesterday under a fine ride by Bernard Fayd’Herbe when winning the Listed East Coast Cup over 2 000m.

She jumped from a wide draw but travelled comfortably throughout three wide of the rail in the back half of the field and produced a strong finish to catch and overtake Bilateral, who was the only three-year-old in the field and was the winner of last season’s Gr 1 Golden Slipper over 1 400m at this course. Later the ruling Vodocam Durban July favourite Futura made his debut for the Justin Snaith yard in a Pinnacle Stakes race over 1 600m and won by 0,25 lengths under Sean Cormack without being hard ridden. He was turned out in fine condition and this was an eyecatching preparation for the Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge over the same course and distance on June 6.

Before the meeting the reigning July champion Legislate, also from the Snaith yard, had an easy gallop under Cormack and Snaith said he had done everything asked of him perfectly.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Gallica Rose (Nkosi Hlophe)