Marcus caps a fine weekend
ANTON MARCUS had a weekend to remember, winning two of the most lucrative races on the Kenilworth card on Saturday and backing up with a five-timer at Greyville yesterday. The first three on the Greyville card did not come as a surprise for anyone as all three were odds-on shots, but it all unravelled in the Pinnacle Stakes where the strongly fancied Matador Man finished in the scrum after hardly raising a gallop. Paul Lafferty expressed some surprise when commenting on television before the race that Dark Moon Rising had come in for some good market support, but it proved to be money on the button as the gelding took full advantage of a good early pace set by London Call to run past Red Chesnut Road and Kazaar.
A controversial acceptor for last season’s Vodacom Durban July, this will have been a most satisfying comeback run after his sixth place in the eLan Gold Cup.
Matador Man
Matador Man was tardy out of the gate as is his want but after a furlong there was plenty of daylight between him and the last horse in the pack.
Although in touch with the field at the top of the straight the favourite surrendered tamely, the late interference having no material effect on his chances. Lady Wisteria, in spite of her record of bleeding, proved way too smart for her opposition in the card opener, as did Frozen Tune in the second. 2-0 to Marcus. Ashburton-based Shane Humby has only had two runners in the past six weeks as he gave his string off for their AHS vaccinations but Socrates is a smart colt and he clocked up his fourth win from only eight starts as he out-gunned the more than useful Buffalo Soldier in the third. 3-0 to Marcus.
Duncan Howells will have been mightily disappointed that he had to bump another Mike de Kock ‘hottie’ in Saturday’s Dingaans with Thanksgiving a gallant runner-up to Hawwaam, but the winner will be a serious Cape Guineas contender while Howells is rather eyeing the Triple Crown for his charge.
The Howells-trained Ninjinsky’s Son has been knocking at the door for some time now and finally got it right under apprentice Luke Ferraris in the fourth. Ferraris is now two winners short of losing his claim.
Marcus was back in the winner’s enclosure in the sixth, scoring a comfortable win on Belinda Impey’s Amor Ardiente. Impey confirmed mid-week that her charge had hit peak form and the gelding did not disappoint as Marcus stalked the early pace and pushed on for a comfortable victory. 4-2 for Marcus.
It was soon 5-2 as hot favourite Cruz Giovanni lathered his field as expected in spite of racing green.
This was the second winner for Peter Muscutt and the Brett Crawford yard after Lady Wisteria.
Holy Flame
Holy Flame pushed Howells to the top of the local log as far as winners (19) and stakes are concerned but the stable will be rueing the 29 seconds so far this season. Holy Flame was given a copy book ride by Warren Kennedy and comfortable held the challenge from Jamaican Bay.