Marcus to be Front And Centre
Honey Suite a great Eachway prospect
Jockey Anton “Superman” Marcus is in rare form, and has an impressively high 33.01% win strike rate having bagged 34 wins and 42 places from 103 rides – you make a profit backing the veteran jockey.
Today should be no different at Durbanville today where he has booked plenty rides with winning chances.
The four-time champion has surprisingly sneaked up to the No 2 spot on the National Jockeys’ log – only one winner behind Muzi Yeni – whom he should tie with when teaming up with Brett Crawford-trained Front And Centre in Race 7, a FM 81 Handicap over 1400m.
There was plenty to like about the manner in which she dismantled rivals on debut, producing a lethal turn of foot over the final 250m to defeat Juniper Spring by an extending 1.50 lengths over 1200m at Kenilworth.
Her case is further strengthened by the fact that form line has produced two winners.
This filly has earned herself a merit rating of 86 but could prove far superior. Plus, Front And Centre’s last run suggests she will prove most lethal stepping up the extra 200m.
At the time of writing she was trading at 15-10 a win.
“She’s still incredibly immature but I was very impressed with this filly,” admitted Marcus. “I really liked how she finished it (the race) off. I think they've (owners) got quite a bit to look forward to.”
This daughter of Dynasty will jump from a No 4 draw – a massive advantage considering this is her first time running around the bend, at a course where draws play a major role in the outcome of a contest.
Unfortunately, this threeyear-old comes into the race with 55.5kg to shoulder; 2.5kg more than her main danger Strawberry Wine.
The latter was backed up to 10-3 on debut when gutsily overcoming the worst of draws to outclass Faye by a commanding 0.75 lengths at Kenilworth. She then ran greenly in her follow-up over 1600m, beaten a length by Strawberry Fire.
She pulled and shifted about in running – expect tremendous improvement.
If not ring-rusty following a lengthy 347-day layoff, the jockey-trainer combination of Marcus and Brett Crawford should score when Eachway prospect Honey Suite contests Race 4, a FM 92 Handicap over the minimum trip.
This R250 000 daughter of Oratorio made light work of rivals on debut, winning by no less than 4.75 lengths. She was an unlucky second next time out, beaten 0.20 lengths by Over Again – both efforts run over this course and distance.
For the Swingers and Exactas, add Justin Snaithtrained Casual Diamond. Float the pair with the remainder of the field in your Quartet.