Justin Snaith has still not decided whether Horse Of The Year Legislate will take his place in the Gr 1 Champions Cup over 1800m at Greyville on Saturday, although he was bullish about the chances of the probable Horse Of The Year elect Futura. He also has two other Gr 1 runners on the day, including the filly Ash Cloud in the big one, the Gr 1 eLan Property Group Gold Cup over 3200m.

Legislate (Liesl King)

Legislate finished third in the Gr 1 Mercury Sprint on Saturday and Snaith said, “The race was a bit harder than we expected. I thought we might be able to overcome the draw but he was caught five wide on the turn and then eventually had to go and lead the race. Obviously I never thought I would have Legislate leading the fastest horses in the country, but I think it just shows you what a good horse he is. No one would ever have beaten Captain Of All on the day, but I think he would have been a bit closer.”

Everything Snaith is doing with Legislate at present is aimed at having him at his best for next season’s Gr 1 L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate, so he will be monitoring him over the next few days before deciding whether to run him on Saturday.

Star Chestnut (Nkosi Hlophe)

Futura finished a gallant 2,25 length fourth in the Vodacom Durban July carrying top weight of 60kg and Snaith said, “He is doing very well and under these weight conditions he’s got a much better chance. In the July he had to give 7kg to the winner and to most of the other horses, which is a lot to give over 2200m. I haven’t had much time to get to know him and when I saw him in the parade ring I thought I had him far too big, so I take the blame. He probably would have finished a bit closer if I had stripped him up properly. But it won’t happen again on Saturday and he has come on from the run. Bernard (Fayd’Herbe) has taken the job as stable jockey so from now on in he will be on all of our main horses.”

Futura is drawn six and Legislate five.

Ash Cloud is a former Gr 1 SA Oaks winner and was given ten points for winning the Gr 2 Gold Circle Oaks over 2400m at Scottsville last time out. Snaith said, “She stays two miles so that is the positive, but I thought the handicappers were very quick in the Oaks to punish her when you see Disco Al’s win in the Derby on the same day earned him one point for beating Hot Ticket who was merit rated 112. So any chance that we probably did have in the Gold Cup has been taken away by the handicappers, but it’s her last run, she’s going to stud, so we’ve got absolutely nothing to lose. We just hope the handicappers being harsh on some other horses gives us a chance, but I would have been a lot more confident with a lighter weight.”

Futura (Nkosi Hlophe)

He runs the Horse Chestnut colt Star Chestnut in the Gr 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes over 1600m. He stayed on well to finish a 2,05 length eighth in the Gr 1 Durban Golden Horseshoe over 1400m last time and only one of the horses who was in front of him, Mogok Master, who beat him by 0,65 lengths, takes his place in Saturday’s race. Snaith said, “He was still very green and is much better suited to the mile. Bar one or two horses it’s not the strongest two-year-old field so we’re just taking our chances as there’s nothing for him in the next two months. He’s looking well and he definitely has class, although he’s still a bit immature. The draw is not ideal (12), although it can sometimes work in your favour by giving him a chance and then he will run on well. I give him a bit of a chance.”

Acrostar is also drawn 12 in the Gr 2 Gold Bracelet over 2000m, having finished 7,25 lengths back in an ultra strong Gr 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes last time out. Snaith said, “She is better suited to this sort of distance and in the Garden Province she had to drop out to last and ran on strongly at the end, but the race was over. I’m hoping this is a much weaker race and just to get into the first three. She’s had no luck in the Durban season, so we’re just hoping for some sort of black type to add to her aleady good career.”  She will likely be dropped out again as she does have a fine turn of foot and resolute finish.

By David Thiselton