The principal reason for his first Cape Town appearance for seven weeks is to partner Computaform Sprint hope Normanz in the itsarush.co.za Pinnacle Stakes and this notoriously difficult starter has been the subject of some intense tuition from Malan du Toit.
“Malan has done a fortune of work with him and he has been very successful,” says Charles Laird. “I know it is all work at home rather than on the racecourse but, if Normanz can bring his A-game through on Saturday, we expect a big run.”
Anton Marcus
Strictly on the book this is one of the races that Marcus should not win –Tevez has almost a length and a half in hand on merit ratings and there are no stalls quirks in his make-up. Furthermore Grant van Niekerk’s mount is weighted to beat the rest with ease – from two and a half lengths with Happy Forever to 12 lengths with Promicing Polly.
Tevez opened 2-1 favourite yesterday with Betting World who make Normanz a generous 4-1, the same price as Happy Forever and Silver Salver.
Marcus should win the first on Prince Of Thieves – the Joey Ramsden colt comes out quite a bit better than Seven Wood on a line through Shachar – and stable companion St Tropez should justify 12-10 favouritism in the Abercrombie Handicap.
My Emblem won well enough on debut to suggest that the 14-10 favourite may be able to beat Just Felicity and give weight to fellow 5-2 shot Just Rock ‘N Roll in the Soccer Juvenile although it could be touch and go. “She was quite ready for her first run,” says Eric Sands. “I don’t know much she would have come on but she is not a bad filly at all.”
Breathless Bertie (15-10) finished a length in front of 5-2 chance Balletome last time but the Marcus factor may swing the balance in the Bellville Maiden. “Balletome showed vast improvement last time because he had been gelded,” says the rider’s nephew Adam. “He is as well as he was then but I would expect some further improvement as it is his second run after a long lay-off, and I’m hopeful we can turn around that length.”
Azarenka is 4-1 for the M. Clarke Handicap but she could find it hard to beat 7-2 stable companion Eros’s Girl who tried to make all on Met day and was only caught on the line.
Sir Henry has lost ground leaving the pens in his last two races but there should be no worries on that score in the concluding Soccer 6 Maiden with the master starter on the 14-10 favourite’s back. Kurundu (5-1), who pulled hard early last time, and Just A Jag (4-1) look the dangers.
