Monday (11 Nov) sees the running of the G3 Betway Victory Moon Stakes (1800m) at Turffontein. Sean Tarry Racing will be sending out former Equus Champion Future Pearl to contest this R400 000 feature.

The Tarry yard has already enjoyed good success in this race, a traditional stepping stone to the Summer Cup, with the stable having sent out Litigation and Tiger's Retreat to win in and respectively. Both Litigation and Future Pearl are currently 45-1 shots for the Summer Cup, and Sean feels that both horses represent very good value and he would be extremely surprised if they don't make the final field. He had the following to say about his Summer Cup hopefuls.

"Litigation was slightly disappointing in the ‘23 Champions Challenge, running seventh, and he returned with an injury. He needed his first run back and made marked improvement when beaten only five lengths in the ‘24 Charity Mile. He is on an upward trajectory and his Summer Cup run will be his peak run. Among the runners beaten by Litigatiton in the Charity Mile were fellow Summer Cup hopefuls Frances Ethel and Safe Passage."

"Future Pearl, who was beaten two lengths in the July, is also low on the log. He needed his first run after a break and will strip a fitter horse in the Victory Moon. However, this run will bring him to his peak, and while we are expecting further improvement in this race, he will still need this run to bring him to his peak for the Summer Cup. Despite having a draw of 18 in the July, Future Pearl had all of Purple Pitcher, Winchester Mansion, and Barbaresco on that occasion."

The Victory Moon Stakes has also been a valuable pointer for the Tarry yards' Summer Cup winners, with all of Aslan (2009), Liege (2017) and Flying Carpet (2021) all contesting the race prior to winning the Summer Cup.

Below is a brief recap of the Tarry yard's Victory Moon Stakes heroes:

Tiger's Retreat: g Tiger Ridge -Water Berry

Controversially eliminated from the 2013 G2 Charity Mile, Tiger's Retreat provided his connections with some consolation when he won the 2013 G2 Victory Moon Stakes. The sixteen horse field broke on terms at the 1800m marker on a track tagged soft after rains in the previous 24 hours. The mare Cherry On The Cake and Serissa made the pace, with Royal Bencher in third, with plenty of jostling behind them. At that stage, as they went into the bend, the Raymond Danielson-ridden Tiger’s Retreat was five lengths adrift in sixth position. As they fanned out in the run for home, Danielson found himself in no man’s land at the 400m marker and he cleverly (did he have a choice?) took the race by the scruff of the neck, as Robbie Fradd produced Master Sabina on his outside. In a thrilling charge to the line, the two matched strides with the Tarry runner gaining the ascendancy late, while accounting for dual G1 Summer Cup winner Master Sabina by a head.

Litigation: g Greys Inn -Jeter

Litigation provided the Tarry stable with a memorable success when he won the 2022 G3 Tab4Racing Victory Moon Stakes. In the process, Litigation accounted for a top-class field which included July winning champion Sparkling Water, fellow Equus Champion Nebraas, and G1 winners Aragosta and Zillzazal. The son of July winning champion Greys Inn provided Philasande Mxoli with a first graded win when he took out the Victory Moon Stakes, with Mxoli putting up a polished effort in the saddle. Litigation had shown plenty of ability and promise prior to his Victory Moon Stakes with the bay having captured the 2022 Listed Derby Trial by three and a half lengths, and he would go on to finish fifth in the 2022 G1 Betway Summer Cup following his Victory Moon Stakes triumph.