Ton up for Marcus
WHETHER you are a jockey, trainer, owner, groom or breeder, the supreme goal in horseracing is to win a Grade 1 race. It is regarded as the ultimate prize.
To win one in a lifetime is an achievement in itself. To win 100 Grade 1 races is an exceptional achievement. Anton Marcus hit his “century” of Grade 1 winners at the Vodacom Durban July racemeeting at Greyville Racecourse on Saturday July 7.
While three of his Grade 1 successes have been overseas, the rest have all been in country of South Africa. Marcus was granted his Jockey’s licence in 1989 and throughout his illustrious career he has set some impressive records, here in South Africa. He is the only jockey to have ridden five Vodacom Durban July winners: Dancing Duel in 1993, El Picha in 2000, Dunford in 2005, Hunting Tower in 2007 and on Do it Again this past Saturday.
A graduate of our worldclass South African Jockey’s Academy, Marcus has had a few stints riding overseas, although he has remained in South Africa for the majority of his riding career.
He has won the South African Jockeys Championship four times, in 1999, 2009, 2010 and 2011. He has ridden the likes of Variety Club, Legal Eagle, Jet Master, Hill Fifty Four, Yorker, Mother Russia and Empress Club - who he regards as the best horse he has ever ridden.
He has won all of the biggest Grade 1 races in South Africa. The Sun Met twice (1993 and 2014), the Queen’s Plate (1993, 2000, 2011, 2013, 2016 and 2017), and the Summer Cup (1995 and 2013). He currently sits in 11th position on this season’s log.