The Weiho Marwing-trained pair Mac De Lago and Rampant Ice were the surprise packages of the Gr 2 KRA Guineas at Greyville on the opening day of Champions Season, finishing second and fifth respectively, and the never to be under-estimated Ashburton-based trainer is predicting good performances from both of them in the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 at Greyville this Saturday.
He also believes his reserve runner Illuminati will run well if he gets in.
Mac De Lago was backed in from 33/1 to 20/1 in the Guineas while Rampant Ice started at 75/1, but their runs didn’t surprise Marwing, who said, “Mac De Lago is a good horse and has come on nicely, although he hasn’t got the best draw. He will stay and Illuminati and Rampant Ice will also run well.”
All three horses had previously run in the Gr 1 SA Classic. Mac De Lago finished 13th, beaten 15,75 lengths, and Rampant Ice finished 10th , beaten 11,5 lengths. However, that did not tell the story that they had both moved up quite well but had unfortunately been caught on the inside of horses where the going was palpably inferior than the outside strip from which the winner and all of the placed horses came. Illuminati began his run from well back on the favourable outside but had to switch to the inside to get a clear run, so he also ended in the unfavourable going. He finished 9,75 lengths back in seventh place.
Many were of the opinion that Mac De Lago’s run in the KRA Guineas was a fluke due to his merit rating of 86. However, after winning his maiden over 1160m on debut, backed in from 33/1 to 12/1, he then achieved the rare feat of beating older horses in a handicap in just his second career outing. He ran off a 78 merit rating and thrashed them by 4,25 after producing a resolute finish from the near the back of the field under Marco van Rensburg.
Among the vanquished was the twice Gr 1-placed Daily News contender Deputy Jud, whom he beat by 4,3 lengths, although he was receiving 4kg. In his next start in the Gr 3 Tony Ruffel over 1450m, Mac de Lago was backed in from 12/1 to 7/2 but was found to be striding short in both front legs after running below par. Two runs later he was actually a touch unlucky in the Guineas because, after relaxing well on the rail from a pole position draw, he had to be eased for a stride or two at the top of the straight due to the compounding pacemaker Riff Raff.
However, he still managed to run on strongly for a two length second to the comfortable winner The Conglomerate. Australian-breds have been achieving fantastic results in South Africa this season and Mac De Lago could be one of the most under-estimated members of a non-vintage three-year-old male crop. His sire Encosta Delago was a twice leading sire in Australia and has produced horses ranging from sprinters to Oaks winers, so Mac Delago should stay the 200m trip, especially when considering that his Gr 1-winning dam Macavelli Miss (won a Gr 1 over 1600m) is by stamina influence Vettori.
Rampant Ice couldn’t initially go with them in the straight in the KRA Guineas but then began to run on strongly and was doing his best work late to finish 3,15 lengths back. He is by Go Deputy so should relish the extra trip and progeny of this sire also improve noticeably as late three-year-olds. His full sister out of the KRA Fillies Guineas runner up Strawberry Ice won impressively on debut over 1400m at Scottsville on Saturday, so he is a well-bred sort.
Illuminati came from last in the KRA Guineas and followed his stablemate Mac De Lago. He kept up with him until the final few strides and finished 3,6 lengths behind the winner. He is by the miler Lateral out of a dam by Fasliyev, who was a sprinter. This dam has tended to produce sprint-milers, so on pedigree there could be a slight stamina doubt. However, Illuminati has raced over 2000m before, in a MR 89 Handicap on Turffontein Standside in December, and he was finishing well despite being caught three wide and running off a 96 Handicap to finish four lengths behind Vodacom Durban July entry Henry Higgins, who was only running off an 86 that day.
Mac de Lago is drawn 18 out of 18 with Weichong Marwing up, Rampant Ice has drawn well in six with Bernard Fayd’Herbe aboard and Illuminati is drawn 16 and Ian Sturgeon will likely ride if he gets in. However, it should be remembered that in the recent Gr 2 Betting World 1900 at this course the first five finishers came from double figure draws.
By David Thiselton
Picture: Weiho Marwing
