Get ready for a Marcus Embrace
Drama Queen is banker material
Trainer Justin Snaith recently said on Winning Ways that, Anton “Superman” Marcus, is probably the greatest South African jockey of the century, and considering nobody has won as many Grade 1s as the veteran, Snaith may have a point. Marcus currently has the highest win-strike rate in the country at 30.21% thanks to leading 142 of his 470 rides into the No 1 box. He rekindled his relationship with Ridgemont Highlands and should leave Kenilworth racecourse with a 100% strike rate today courtesy of his only ride on the card – Heaven’s Embrace – in Race 6, a FM 72 Handicap over 1600m on the Summer track.
This Brett Crawford-trained daughter of Jackson looks a decent sort in the making and in her defence, appeared to find 2000m a touch too far in her latest effort when beaten 1.25 lengths into fourth place by Waldorf Astoria. And it didn’t help that she shouldered 3kg more than the winner. Heaven’s Embrace was victim to a shocking draw in her penultimate start, forcing her to come from off the pace. She was threefrom-last passing the 400m marker but produced a devastating turn of foot in the dying stages and at the end was beaten no more than 1.25 lengths into third place by place Depeche. Her case is further strengthened by the fact she was triumphant over this course and distance three runs back. Marcus knows her very well having steered her to victory on debut, and he wouldn’t travel to Cape Town just to view the scenery so a loss is highly unlikely, despite the fact Heaven’s Embrace jumps from No 10 draw.
The Snaith duo of Dancing Sally and Chakri look the main dangers. Unfortunately the former returns from an 87-day stint off the racetrack and the latter is drawn a wide No 14 in this 15-horse field. Candice Bass-Robinson-trained Drama Queen appears a worthy Pick 6 banker when she lines up in Race 3, a Fillies Juvenile Plate over 1400m. Considering this Ashaawes filly was drawn worst of all in her most recent start, she ran an absolute cracker to finish second, beaten only 0.50 lengths by Capacity Crowd over the minimum trip. The great news is that form line has produced two winners and she comes into this contest with a 3kg advantage over her main threat, Ferrari Red, from the Justin Snaith yard. Aldo Domeyer should be seen in the winner’s enclosure with the Andre Neltrained Window To Africa following the running of Race 5, a FM 75 Handicap over 1400m.