Stars align for Marcus, Kotzen

Jockey Anton Marcus and trainer Glen Kotzen team up for Race 6.

home over 2000m in June 2018 at Turffontein, beating Elusive Moon by 5.25 lengths.

However, she was out of action for five months from September 2018 until February 2019 so she could have a few issues. Another suggestion of a problem is that her last run on the Highveld was in June 2019.

She made her comeback in a barrier trial at Greyville on the Polytrack over 1000m in which she ran a neck second to Kason and then had her official first run for Kotzen on 1 July, over 1600m on the same surface, and ran a 0.70-length second to Fire Faerie.

Now Marcus gets on her for the first time, she is well drawn at No 2 and will enjoy the increase in distance to 1800m.

Her main challenge is likely to come from San’s Dancer who is nicely drawn in barrier No 1. This will be her second race after a layoff but she did run well last time when producing a flying finish to run a 1.35-length third behind Green Ice over 1900m at this track.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 10 Kinskey's Tune, 11 Princess Calla, 3 Flying Thunder, 13 Angry Bird

Race 2: 5 Red Rock Canyon, 6 Macallan, 4 Fort Mchenry, 9 Chief Officer Race 3: 2 Popova, 5 Makhet, 8 Colour Of Light, 7 Flashy Kaitrina Race 4: 1 Star Vega, 7 Happy Wanderer, 10 Good Rhythm, 6 Transonic Race 5: 2 What A Thrill, 3 Divine Hugh, 9 Sea Sponge, 1 Everdene Race 6: 2 Santa Vittoria, 1 San's Dancer, 6 Crimea, 3 Anika The Angel Race 7: 11 Silver Cent, 8 Grande Maestro, 2 Hammam, 6 Deposition Race 8: 2 Leslie Shadowliner, 6 Sarabi, 8 Jonathan, 5 Burgundy Rose Finding winners on the Polytrack at Greyville, especially in handicaps for fillies and mares, is not an easy task for studiers of form but when two in-form worlds collide, the stars tell you it is time to cash in.

That looks to be the case in Race 6 today when jockey Anton Marcus and trainer Glen Kotzen team up with Santa Vittoria in a FM 67 Handicap over 1800m. Since the return to racing after the lockdown, Kotzen has been in copious form, producing winner after winner.

As for Marcus, one rarely unearths a period when this thoroughly professional jockey is out of form.

In fairness, Santa Vittoria is no superstar, but she is probably better than her merit rating of 66 suggests. She won her maiden in her fourth start when cantering