MARCUS SHINES ON HILL FIFTY FOUR
IN the 2013 Grade 1 J&B Met, Hill Fifty Four was gallant in defeat when beaten by Martial Eagle. In 2014, Anton Marcus made all the difference when guiding the Vaughan Marshall-trained runner won Cape Town’s biggest race.
Marcus does not often ride horses in big races who go of at 15-1. Stable rider MJ Byleveld was full of jubilation after the race which shows what a tight knit group the Marshall unit is and the amount of teamwork that has gone into this victory.
Hill Fifty Four was soon in front at a very slow pace. Many pundits expected No Worries and Piere Strydom to do the work up front but he was contempt to race second. Royal Zulu Warrior and Punta Arenas were also handy while the favourite Master Of My Fate did not show the urgency that made him such a big threat. He raced nearer last.
As they turned for home Marcus took Hill Fifty Four to the middle of the course and he quickened off a slow pace to turn the race into a sprint for home. He did not look like losing through the last 400m as he easily kept Yorker at bay. Yorker ran a superb race in second ahead of Punta Arenas and Whiteline Fever with Master Of My Fate finishing third.
Marcus had a great day as he rode four winners on the day including the Grade 2 J&B Jet Reserve Stayers over 2 800m aboard River Crossing.
The highlight of the day was the great mare Beach Beauty who win the Grade 1 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes over 1 600m in brilliant fashion. She was ridden was patience by Sean Cormack who confirmed the inevitable later on. ``I know her racing days are numbered by I will miss her so much.’’
He also confirmed that she was caught a bit flat footed but she eventually got going to win another Grade 1 race. There are no words that can describe this unbelievable horse.
Legislate won the Grade 1 Investec Derby over 2 000m for Justin Snaith and Richard Fourie to deny Captain America a big race. Legislate cruised through the field 400m out and left the rest of the field in his wake. It was a commanding win for a talented and now proven three-year-old.