Twice a winner in France, the 5-year-old Showcasing gelding Future History (GB) has been on an upward trajectory in six starts in Australia, culminating with success in Saturday’s Group III The Lexus Bart Cummings stakes (2520m) at Flemington and earning a golden ticket to the Melbourne Cup.
Ridden by Craig Williams for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, Futur5e History led from the front and repelled all challengers in the straight. He bravely fended off the favourite First Immortal (Churchill) by three-quarters of a length, with Serpentine (IRE) (Galileo) one and a quarter lengths back in third.
With his stakes breakthrough, Future History (GB) advances his record to six wins and four seconds from 15 starts with earnings of $517,688.
I thought Craig controlled the race well,” Eustice said.
“We were quite confident going into it. He had drawn well to at least ‘possie’ up, and we were comfortable in him leading if no other horse was keen to do so. He just got the fractions up and was spot on.
“He’ll probably go straight in (to the Melbourne Cup). He’s been in work a long time, this horse.
“A couple of people to thank. Nick Bell (in UK), a very good friend of mine and son of Michael Bell, who put the owner Peter Trainor, into the stable. He’s in London and he’s Irish and I spoke to him this morning and he said that he hadn’t slept for two days. I should think he won’t sleep for a week now.
“He’s a fierce racing fan racing in the UK and has branched out sending these horses to us.
“He’s been patient because the horse took a while to come up and his patience is being rewarded.”
Craig Williams said Future History feels a different horse at Flemington.
It gave me confidence. Confidence that I had a fit horse. The horse galloped really well and I got an understanding of his mannerisms.
“He is such a lovely, relaxed horse to lead up and gallop. When I forced him to run down the hill at Sandown I had to make him do it and if Ashrun was able to get to him he would be able to hold it.
“He did that at Moonee Valley two starts ago and it was plain to see here. First Immortal, really progressive, challenged him and he kept laying down the gauntlet.
“He’s a deserved winner of the golden ticket into the Melbourne Cup and he was dominant today.”
A $140,000gns purchase for Nick Bell / Peter Trainor / Hurworth from the Juddmonte Farm’s draft at the 2022 Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale, Future History (GB) is the best of two winners from four to race for the Mizzen Mast (USA) mare Likelihood (USA), a half-sister to Grade 1 Hollywood Derby winner Seek Again (Speightstown), Group III winner Treble Jig (Gone West) and Listed winner Scottish Jig (Speightstown).
Future History is the 66th black-type winner for the NZ shuttler Showcasing.
