Two runners and two winners for trainer Adam Marcus
Ken Nicol
The very much in form Adam Marcus was the star of a low key day at Kenilworth, as he saddled only two runners, and both finished strongly to win going away.
Debutante Red Rascal was heavily supported in the opening Maiden 1200m from 3-1 into 9-10.
Coming to the 200m pole his backers were sweating as a place seemed his best hope, but the Jay Peg gelding then impressively found another gear to win by an extending 1.25-lengths.
The winner is owned and bred by Basil Marcus, and his son clearly regards this one highly.
“We think quite a lot of him, and he won well considering he hasn’t been on the grass,” was his post-race comment, and jockey Aldo Domeyer also gave the seal of approval.
It was then a four-hour wait for the last race for Marcus, but Elusive Touch made it worthwhile with her second win in three runs since a 10-month layoff.
“She was off because she chipped a fetlock, but won well today, and should have a couple more in the tank,” Marcus junior said after she had won a very open-looking FM 68 over 1400m by a length or so.
Candice Bass-Robinson runners were second and third here.
Indeed she was a runaway winner of the ‘unluckiest trainer’ title, as she competed in a quartet of races, and was runner up in all four.
Unheralded Anthony Andrews enjoyed an excellent day, with two winners and a second from only four rides.
The second was a family affair as Samsara is part owned by his father Terry. This Rock Of Rochelle filly has now won three of four races over the Kenilworth 1400m, and scored by an easy 1.75 lengths despite shifting in markedly over the final 200m.
His first winner had been a well-judged ride on the improving stayer Silver De Lange for Andre Nel. Unusually in the post-race interview his trainer spoke of the need to get his merit rating up, “as we want to take him to KZN to compete in the staying features”.
As he was 1.5kg under sufferance in this MR 88 2000m, his wish will be granted, as the minimum adjustment will be five points.