Trainer Stuart Ferrie has entered Gladatorian in the Grade 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge over 1,600 meters at Greyville on June 6, 2026 [1, 2]. The race carries a prize of 2 million rand (around S$157,000) [1, 2].
Gladatorian finished a close third in last year’s Gold Challenge, losing by just 0.35 lengths [1, 2]. However, the horse has struggled during the 2025-2026 campaign. Based in Cape Town, Gladatorian was affected by the heavier tracks at Milnerton, which Ferrie says changed how the horse had to lift its feet during races. “When the tracks are different, horses have to lift their feet differently and it impacts on their race preparation,” Ferrie said [1]. He added that Gladatorian’s dislike of heavy conditions “is like a human who believed he was fit before going for a run on the beach and finding out otherwise” [1].
Gladatorian started his career winning a debut 1,000m race at Kenilworth as a three-year-old in 2023 under trainer Dennis Drier [1, 2]. But he struggled soon after, finishing 10 lengths behind in the Grade 2 Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes on a heavy track [1, 2]. Late 2025 posted further poor results, including 11th in the Grade 2 Ridgemont Green Point Stakes, and seventh in both the Grade 1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate and Grade 1 WSB Cape Town Met [1, 2]. Ferrie attributes some of those runs to Gladatorian’s greenness on left-handed tracks.
A more promising sign came on May 3, 2026, when Gladatorian finished a strong second in the Grade 2 Drill Hall Stakes at Greyville over 1,400m. He carried a Grade 1 penalty as last year’s Champions Cup winner [1, 2]. Ferrie expects Gladatorian’s usual late and strong finishing kick to help him return to top form for the Gold Challenge [1, 2].
Gladatorian has competed at distances from 1,000m to 2,000m throughout his career and holds 11 wins overall [1, 2]. His scheduled run on June 6 at Greyville marks his chance to redeem his form at the venue where he nearly clinched the Gold Challenge in 2025 [1, 2].