Marcus, Lerena are African Angels
Enterthedebutante a worthy BiPot banker
Heavy showers at Scottsville over the weekend have resulted in the meeting being switched to the Greyville Turf track today, with the only change made being the distance of Race 8 which will now be contested over 1800m.
Jockey Anton “Superman” Marcus is riding like a demon and is at No 2 on the National Jockeys’ log with 80 winners, and his 31.37% win-strike rate is proof you could make a profit backing him.
He is likely to creep a lot closer to current log-leader Muzi Yeni (82 winners) today, courtesy of his four rides – all of whom have winning chances – so it could pay to take a TAB All To Come featuring the veteran. The suggested multiple focusing on three of his rides: Enterthedebutante in Race 1, Mysterious Omen in Race 2 and Socrates in Race 5.
Marcus should draw first blood when Kumaran Naidoo-trained Enterthedebutante competes in the Maiden Juvenile Plate over 800m. This daughter of What A Winter ran her heart out over this course and distance on debut, beaten merely 0.75 lengths into second place by Bound By Duty, who interestingly also defeated her in a barrier trial before that. Enterthedebutante looks a decent sort, and if she can reproduce her most recent performance will be very hard to outclass. Plus her case is further strengthened by the fact she ran ahead of six of the eight rivals she meets today. Considering Brett Crawford-trained Mysterious Omen was returning from a four-month stint off the racetrack and drawn poorly, he wasn’t disgraced last time out, beaten a commendable 0.75 lengths into third place by Final Attempt on the Greyville Polytrack – failing to justify 13-20 favouritism.
This three-year-old colt should repay his supporters with a decent pay day when he lines up in Race 2, a Maiden Plate over 1200m. The good news is, L’ Histiore (fourth placed) went on to frank that form line which bodes well for Crawford’s charge. If the boxed Swinger and Exacta bet tickles your fancy, add in Donnan. Shane Humby-trained Socrates is clearly an above-average thoroughbred having won four of his last five starts. This Horse Chestnut colt should register a third consecutive triumph when he runs in Race 5, a MR 92 Handicap over 1000m. He appears far better than his merit rating of 93 suggests and has the advantage of fitness on his side, as opposed to his main danger Autumn In Seattle who returns from a lengthy 297-day stint off the racetrack and shoulders 2kg more than Marcus’ mount at 62.5kg.
Jockey Brandon Lerena rides worthy Pick 6 banker African Angel in the second leg, Race 4, a FM Maiden Plate over 1400m. This daughter of Mogok has finished third in both career starts over 1200m, but was unfortunately carried out over the last 400m in her latest offering so could have run a lot closer than two lengths behind I’m Free.