A LESSON IN RIDING FROM MARCUS
Gets three winners
IN a just world it would not be wrong for Anton Marcus’ agent to send out invoices to most of his fellow riders as Marcus rode a couple of cracking races on Saturday at Greyville, in effect handing out lessons.
The first of them was his win on Zante in the Queen Palm Stakes (Non-black type) over 2 400m, Race 6. The early pace of the race was on the slow side so Marcus made a decisive move all of 1 600m out by taking up the running and skipping clear aboard the Neil Bruss-trained filly Zante.
They built up a nice lead and try as the opposition could she was never for the catching.
Christmas Carol looked a threat 300m out but soon tired and it was stable companion to Zante and favourite for the race Deputy Ryder who was second best on the line, with Grey Light third and Jet Intombi fourth.
It was a big turnaround in form between Zante and Deputy Ryder on the last time they had met.
Adding insult to the punters of Deputy Ryder was the fact that Zante was a chance ride for jockey Marcus.
The Joey Ramsden-trained and Marcus-ridden Red Ray picked up the main feature of the day The Mercury Sprint Grade1) over 1 200m in Race 7.
Marcus had Red Ray perfectly placed behind the free striding Captain Alfredo who possibly went too quickly and was quick to skip clear approaching the 200m and was never in doubt from then on.
Particularly as the two runners most expected to fight out the finish, Talktothestars and Trip To Heaven were out of their ground.
Talktothestars had a terrible draw to overcome but his fate was soon sealed as although jockey Gavin Lerena got him across to the rail he proceeded to drop to the back of the field.
Trip To Heaven is often slow away and that was again the case and although the rider attempted to circle the field and make a move before the home straight it proved in vain.
Red Ray was eased up before the line to beat fellow Western Cape raiders Night Trip, Real Princess and Gulf Storm.
Talktothestars did well to even run fifth and will win more sprints next season.
For the record Marcus also brought home the winner of Race 3 Hejira much to the delight of favourite punters.