It did not cross MJ Byleveld’s mind in the final furlong of the Sun Met on Saturday that he was locked in battle with the jockey rated the best in the world, Ryan Moore, and he humbly gave all credit for the win to the bravery of his horse, the Vaughan Marshall-trained One World, although he did admit he could not resist a “chirp” to Moore later.   

Byleveld said, “If you are on the right horse, it doesn’t matter who you are. I never think about who I am up against, I just concentrate on getting my horse in the right place at the right time. But I guess if you want to be the best you have to take on the best and the opposition is always strong.”

It was a thing of beauty for Rainbow Bridge’s fans to see Moore sitting motionless in the straight tracking Head Honcho. One World had joined the latter on his inside, but was already being niggled at. Earlier, Moore had been swinging on the bridle in a clear third place as the front three raced in single file. When Moore switched the powerfully built defending champion out at the 400m mark it looked to be race over.

However, this view did not account for the immense courage of One World, Any stamina doubts were soon to be dispelled too. 

Byleveld said, “My horse loves a fight, I have won on him like that before. When they come to challenge he digs down deep, wow, he has a big heart.”

It was revealed afterwards that rugby fanatic Byleveld had worn a pair of Faf de Klerk-brand underpants. 

Byleveld said, “My girl friend gave them to me for Christmas and funnily enough the first time I wore them was the day I rode the Jackpot!”

He added, “I said later to Ryan Moore, how did you like watching the South African flag for a whole circuit of Kenilworth! It was all good fun banter.”

Byleveld downplayed the part he played in the win, which was to position the horse perfectly from a wide draw and then keep him going in the stirring finish. 

He said, “All the credit must go the horse. I just had to put him in the right position and follow the plan. From the draw I was always going to race him up handy, I wasn’t going to sit. I thought there would be a bit of a pace and he has good gate-speed. It worked out really well.”

One World joined Rainbow Bridge in second place in the early stages and Moore allowed Byleveld to slot in in front of him. Moore had no doubt watched the video of the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate where Rainbow Bridge had become involved in a head-to-head pulling duel with Hawwaam for about three furlongs. He had cover this time but the ideal scenario was for his mount to race on his own. Moore might also have identified One World as a horse he would have the measure of later on. 

Byleveld was strong and rhythmical in the finish and did not panic at any stage.

He understated, “My job was just to keep him concentrating and going straight.”

He did however admit that being pain free after a recent neck operation had made a big difference to his riding this season.

For about a year after a serious fall at Greyville he had felt something had been amiss. 

He said, “Your brain controls your body. When it is telling you there is something that is not quite right you naturally hold back. You are freer when you are not riding with any pain.” 

Byleveld regarded it as the greatest day of his career and in an emotional post race interview with Andrew Bon he thanked Vaughan Marshall and his parents for their unwavering support and also thanked the owners of One World, Etienne Braune, Ken and Jane Truter and Braam van Huysteen.

He said, “I had gone close in the Met on Hill Fifty Four (2013), who then won under Anton Marcus the next year, and then had the July taken away (Wylie Hall 2014), and we then went close in the Queen’s Plate this year, so it has been frustrating.”

He continued, “Mr Marshall is a pleasure to work for. He is an absolute gentleman and right is right and wrong is wrong, He is straightforward, there is no bull, and we seem to work nicely together.”

He added, “My parents have always been my biggest supporters and my Dad doesn’t miss a race.”

MJ’s path to Saturday’s glory began one day at a cattle show. His father was a cattle salesman and a friend of his who had owned horses looked at his son and recommended he apply to the SA Jockeys Academy.

One World is still a colt and might well be retired now to stand on the farm of his breeder, Klawervlei Stud.

It is said that freak ability is unlikely to be passed on by a stallion to future generations, whereas courage is one asset which can be. This sentiment is accredited to the great Vincent O’Brien who was impressed by Northern Dancer’s record in which he had never won any of his 14 races by far and thus identified him as a sire to concentrate on. Northern Dancer went on to become probably the most influential sire in the history of the thoroughbred.

One World showed just how much courage he has on Saturday. His record also attests to it. He has run in 14 races for ten wins three seconds and a third.

Saturday’s race would likely have taken a lot out of him and he has little left to prove.

By David Thiselton

“Before the race I was thinking back to how well One World had run in the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate. They went quite quick that day and he really kicked. I know there were doubts whether he would stay the trip in the Met but, if you watch the replay, you will see that he ran to the line.

“I said to Mr Marshall ‘Please run this horse in the Met – I think he could win.’ Obviously the draw was a bit of a worry but I knew Head Honcho would go on and I thought that, if I could just latch on to him, it would be ideal. He gave me good speed out of the gate and Ryan Moore on Rainbow Bridge followed me.

“When a horse challenges One World he kicks on but in the Queen’s Plate Vardy had a good turn of foot at the right time and he outsprinted me. At the 400m this time I started working on One World because I felt I needed to get going. I thought that if he is going to stay he is going to stay anyway but I needed to keep going and I was hoping that something would challenge me. Fortunately Rainbow Bridge came and he actually passed me. That made my race a little bit easier. My horse promptly changed legs, put his head down, ran to the line and I thought then that he would hold on. He has a big heart and I could tell that he enjoyed the fight every bit as much as I did.”

By Michael Clower

One World earned himself a harem for the rest of his days when out-fighting Rainbow Bridge in a final furlong thriller in Saturday’s Sun Met.

The original plan was that he would accompany the rest of Vaughan Marshall’s string going to Summerveld but owners Ken and Jane Truter, Etienne Braun and Braam van Huyssteen now have to consider the implications of every move and, if at all possible, avoid any further defeat.

You would think that last bit might be easy considering the colt’s record – ten wins from 14 starts, three seconds and a third in the Cape Guineas. Certainly he has the pedigree – by the late, great Captain Al, he is out of an imported Giant’s Causeway mare whose own dam (by Caerleon) was placed in the Prix Vermeille and is a full sister to a French Oaks winner.

Klawervlei would look an obvious destination, not least because John Koster bred One World who was bought for R425 000 at the 2017 CTS Cape Premier and has now won over R5.6 million! Whatever their choice, the owners are unlikely to get it wrong because it was they who persuaded Vaughan Marshall to let the 15-1 shot take his chance.

“I was in two minds about running him because I had my doubts about whether he would stay the trip,” Marshall admitted after greeting the third Met winner of his career. “But the owners were keen.”

There was no fluke about the result with only the fancied Vardy having a legitimate excuse and the 2 min 2.48 was the fastest in this race since Pocket Power won it for the first time 13 years ago.

Rainbow Bridge

For Rainbow Bridge the focus now switches to a second attempt to achieve owner Mike Rattray’s great ambition of winning the Vodacom Durban July but a furlong out, with Ryan Moore still not having asked for everything, a second Met looked as good as in the book. The fact that appearances were to prove deceptive did little to diminish the great jockey’s opinion of the horse or, for that matter, connections’ opinions of the rider.

“He ran a great race but I never thought I had it,” said Moore as he returned to the weighing room with trainer Eric Sands supremely impressed. “Ryan can ride for me any day. He had the horse beautifully placed throughout and he gave the horse a great ride.”

Unfortunately he won’t be free on July day as that comes at the height of the British and Irish seasons and usually clashes with the Eclipse – but it wasn’t just Moore’s race-riding that impressed Sands. “I spent two hours with him on Friday. He listened to everything, he was so intense and he walked the course with me.”

No lesser jockey than former champion Andrew Fortune was equally taken with Moore who, incidentally, rides a hole or two longer than most jockeys here. “Did you see him going to the start?” said Fortune whose own success was due in no small part to his intuitive understanding of horses. “He had his mount’s head down, not in the air like some of the South African riders. He is a proper jockey.”

De Kock

Hawwaam, the 43-20 favourite who was three and a half lengths back third, now leaves for Britain via a three-month Mauritius quarantine. “Anton Marcus did a sterling job and he settled the horse just where I wanted him,” said Mike de Kock who now seems to believe that the colt may have been a little over-rated by some observers. “I am starting to wonder – he has just about run to the form of his win in the Premier Trophy.”

Twist Of Fate (fourth) fared better than strongly fancied stable companion Vardy who was only sixth but seemingly lack of stamina was not the problem. “Hawwaam came in on me, my horse clipped heels and he just buckled,” said Craig Zackey who was fortunate not be brought down. “He got very unbalanced and he didn’t really pull himself together after that,” added Adam Marcus. “Thank God he is not injured but it was disappointing. With One World winning, you look at the collateral form with Vardy and you think we could have had it.”

Those post- Queen’s Plate problems with Do It Again left their mark and the dual July winner managed only ninth. “He never fired, just sort of switched off,” reported Richard Fourie and Justin Snaith added: “He was at the back and, although he ran through a third of the field, he was not himself. He will have a break and then go to Durban.”

Candice hits back

For much of this season the Candice Bass-Robinson stable has seemed to be some way below it’s customary high standards. You only have to compare the 8% strike rate with the ten of the last two seasons to appreciate that, but the renaissance came just in time to enable her father (who still plays a big part behind the scenes) to enjoy yesterday’s 75^th birthday celebrations.

His daughter landed the Cape Flying Championship and recorded her third Bidvest Majorca in her four seasons. “I didn’t really do anything different,” she said. “The horses just came right at the right time.”

Aldo Domeyer certainly made a big difference. The brilliance and sheer confidence of his riding post-Hong Kong has even his father (Andrew Fortune) envious and the way he saved and delivered first Russet Air and then Clouds Unfold for devastating late runs would have done credit to any jockey anywhere in the world. For good measure he also won the CTS 1200 on Invidia for Fortune’s wife Ashley.

Sadly for his growing band of fans Domeyer is intent on returning to Hong Kong soon – “I can’t wait to get back. It’s unfinished business so far as I am concerned” – so the mounts on Saturday’s two Group 1 winners will be up for grabs.

“I am not sure about Russet Air going to KZN but he may go to Jo’burg for the Computaform Sprint,” said the victorious trainer who added: “Clouds Unfold is something special. She had an injury (she chipped the point of her hip when getting loose at Summerveld) and I struggled to get her back. But she is something special as well as versatile – a brilliant sprinter who can also go round the turn.”

Kasimir, last year’s Cape Flying victor, was an honourable third and Snaith said: “Horses were hanging and we had to go round them. Also he was a run short.”

By Michael Clower

The first leg of yesterday’s Pick 6 at Hollywoodbets Greyville was the highest rated race on the card, a Pinnacle Stakes over 1 400m, and was won by the Dennis Drier-trained four-year-old Visionaire gelding Caliente under Sean Veale.

All nine races were on the poly and in this race Veale sat in the box seat one wide and one back with cover before extracting a good finish out of the 8-1 chance.

Many tickets were knocked out of the exotics when the odds-on favourite Born To Perform finished unplaced for the first time in his career.

Born To Perform, whose issues are well documented, has a record of five wins out of five starts with Warren Kennedy aboard.

The grey gelding’s record with other jockeys now stands at five losses from five starts as even the great Anton Marcus was unable to change the losing streak yesterday. Kennedy might well be up the next time Born To Perform runs.

Marcus was also aboard a slow starting favourite in the first race over 1 100m, the Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained Jay Fizz, but the What A  Winter gelding responded well to his urging thereafter to make up the leeway before running on well in the straight to win cosily.

Marcus then made it a double for himself, favourites and What A Winter when coming from one wide and one back on the Glen Kotzen-trained Arctic Princess to win comfortably.

In the third over 1 400m Tristan Godden brought the Alyson Wright-trained Gimmethegreenlight gelding Ralph The Rascal from the back of the field but it was hardly in doubt as he mowed the field down with ease to win by 3,50 lengths in just his second career start.

The in form Gavin van Zyl yard had another winner in the fifth over 1400m when Kennedy burst through from midfield on the Pomodoro gelding Opensea. Apprentice Thabiso Gumede was dumped at the start of this race by Fives Wild, who dropped his head to the floor.

Gumede was taken to hospital for routine check ups.

The sixth over 1 400m saw the first leg of a double for Dennis Bosch as Craig Zackey produced the six-year-old Royal Air Force gelding Royal Rustler with a sustained run on the outside.

The seventh over 2 000m saw a thrilling finish and Keagan de Melo prevailed by a shorthead on the favourite, the Dean Kannemeyer-trained Ideal gelding Joseph Jagger at the expense of Isikheto.

In the eighth over 1600m Alyson Wright completed a double when the Oratorio gelding Caesura ran on strongly on the outside under Dennis Schwarz. Bosch completed his double in the last when the outsider Ms Rosa Parks, a Black Minnaloushe filly, burst clear under Ant Mgudlwa.

By David Thiselton

Vardy can live up to his star billing at Kenilworth tomorrow and become only the second horse in the last decade to complete the Queen’s Plate-Sun Met double. Hawwaam and Rainbow Bridge look the two biggest dangers.

But punters should avoid getting sucked in if there is a wholesale gamble on the horse and he ends up shorter than 2-1 – as he well might because most tipsters seem to think he is the one. He hardened from 3-1 (a fair price) to 28-10 joint favourite yesterday morning but starting at the head of the market in this race has proved a no-no in recent years with the last seven favourites all expensively biting the dust.

Craig Zackey’s mount produced a devastating turn of foot to land the L’Ormarins showpiece three weeks ago and he won like a class horse but his Achilles heel could well be his pedigree. He is not bred to be a ten furlong horse and, while there are some in the family who have won over the trip, they have not done so at this level.

Furthermore he is up against two exceptional animals in the half-brothers Hawwaam and Rainbow Bridge, even though both are complex characters who test their trainers to the limits of their skill, patience and understanding.

Forget Hawwaam’s last run – the 22 minute delay at the start was the last thing he needed – and instead recall the brilliance he has shown in the past. He eased from 5-2 to 28-10 yesterday but he is fully entitled to be as short as that. Mike de Kock has described the betting as ridiculous but bookmakers – and punters – are influenced by reputation as much as form and the trainer’s has long been sky high while not even Ryan Moore is better than Anton Marcus in South Africa.

Just as Vardy’s weakness could be his pedigree, so Hawwaam’s is his temperament and he has to somehow survive all the noise and general hullaboloo that goes with Met day. Hopefully the bands and musicians will be instructed to keep the volume down but they have not always ridden to orders in the past.

The horse’s family has a highly strung element and for race after race Rainbow Bridge had to have the sweat cleaned off before dancing edgily round the parade ring. It never stopped him running a tremendous race and 12 months ago he came into his own inside the final furlong. Currently third favourite at 4-1, he has a big chance of winning the race again, this time in the hands of a man many regard as the greatest big race jockey in the world.

Do It Again, at one time as short as 33-10, is now available at more than twice that price after having had to be put on antibiotics following his disappointing Queen’s Plate run. He is, though, a class act and officially the best horse in the race. He finished second 12 months ago, despite not getting the run of the race, but it’s hard to see him going one better after such a worrying preparation.

It’s even harder to make a case for any of the other nine runners. Twist Of Fate (16-1) can be relied up on to run his usual honest race as can 15-1 shot One World although there are doubts about him lasting out the final furlong. The notorious Cape crawl could, of course, put the cat among the fancied pigeons but hopefully Head Honcho’s penchant for the front will ensure that doesn’t happen.

Pick 6 selections:

Race 4: Alramz

Race 5: Sachdev

Race 6: Silver Host

Race 7: Run Fox Run

Race 8: Front And Centre

Race 9: Vardy

By Michael Clower

Turffontein Inside has a nine race meeting on Sun Met day tomorrow and there look to be some fair opportunities for punters, although this course can spring some upset results so caution is also necessary.

Viper Jet should win the first race, a workriders maiden over 1450m, despite jumping from a wide draw. He finished fifth in the Listed Secretariat Stakes over 1400m and has finished close up in other starts to the like of Marshall, Riverstown, Mohican and Solarize. 

In the second race Sultanah is a scopey sort who ran on strongly last time over 1600m for a close second. That was only her second start for the in-form Candice Dawson yard, so she can improve further and has a good draw. Milford Sound has been knocking on the door and should give a good account of herself. 

The third over 1800m is an uninspiring event and Dawson could clinch a quick double as Master Supreme is a stand out on form, having finished a close fifth to the promising Dual At Dawn over 1400m on debut. The form has been franked and on pedigree and running style he looks likely to enjoy the step up in trip, although the high draw is a bit of a concern. Turf Master is ideally drawn to fulfil his favourite front running style and could place in this field.

The fourth is a MR 112 handicap and the small field and good draw should suit the front-running Seattle Force perfectly unless Duke Of Spin takes him on in front with first-time blinkers on. Divine Odyssey, who is capable of a strong finish, should be close to his peak and is the main danger along with Duke Of Spin.

In the fifth Heart Stwings has always struck as decent and has a plum draw over an ideal 2000m distance. Rabia The Rebel and Pretty Ballerina look the chief dangers. However, those who are not going to banker Heart Stwings can also include Jive Express and Wild Thoughts.

In the sixth over 1000m Arikel loves this course and distance, where she has two wins, a second, a third and a fourth in five starts. She has a fair draw with a 2,5kg claimer up and can beat Mademoiselle and Eskimo Kisses. Winter Watch and Ocean City also warrant respect.

In the seventh over 1450m, a classy three-year-old handicap, Ivalo’s Prince has stuck as decent and could rise above his current merit rating so is the selection. Marshall is held in high esteem but has to bounce back from a disappointing race as favourite for the Dingaans where he was not striding out. Your Pace Or Mine can improve.

In the eighth over 1450m Written In Stone has fair pace and always finds a good finish, although he tends to run on too late so is difficult to win with. He is made a PA banker but for the Pick 6 and Jackpot a few others must be included.

In the last over 1450m Gold Rock is improving and starts handicapping off a reasonable merit rating. What A Story and Tombola make most appeal of the rest.

By David Thiselton

Image: Diego de Gouveia is aboard Seattle Force in race four at Turffontein tomorrow.

Tonight’s meeting at Greyville is as competitive as ever and the exotics should pay rewarding dividends.

The Johan Janse Van Vuuren-trained Gentleman’s Wager has always struck as one who would blossom with experience and he won his first start on the poly over 1900m with consummate ease, beating no slouch in Northern Route by 4,25 lengths. He was given the maximum raise of eight points and is also 1kg under sufferance but he could still be ahead of the handicapper and can win the fifth race from a good draw of five under Ashton Arries. Railtrip has class and has dropped to a competitive merit rating, so can make a bold bid for an inform yard from draw four. However, the Gavin van Zyl yard elect appears to be the hard-knocking Just Cruised In. Land Of Mystery ran on well when stepped up to 1800m last time and should also be a threat. Sunny Bill Du-toy is the most interesting of the rest as he has some class and now has his peak run following a one-and-a-half year layoff.

The meeting starts with an intriguing maiden for fillies and mares over 1200m.  Path To The Stars has not been disgraced in two much stronger fields than this in Johannesburg and should go close from a plum draw under a 4kg claimer. Brunilda is improving and should be running on strongly from a high draw. At Your Request has been knocking on the door over 1400m and should handle the step down in trip. 

The second is a tricky maiden over 1600m. Grey Linngari wears first time blinkers and this should help over a distance on the sharp side of his range. Great Warrior made a fair debut in Jo’burg and could be in the shake up as can the hard-knocking Academy Award.

In the third over 1600m, an uninspiring maiden for fillies and mares, Leanna could be an outsider to consider having her third run after a layoff as she has shown good ability in the past, although it depends on whether she starts on terms and settles well in the running. The one to beat on form is Warren Kennedy’s mount Duchess Of Malfi.

In the fourth over 2000m War Office showed big improvement when stepped up to this trip from sprints third time out and can beat Impressive Master.

The sixth over 1200m is the highlight of the evening, being a MR 96 handicap over 1200m, and the classy Wave can win it, although pole position is not always a good draw on the poly. Di Mazzio loves this course and distance and has a plum middle draw and the well regarded Euphoric is interesting over a course and distance where he has a first and a second from two starts.

The seventh over 1200m could be won by Peppermint Tea who has good pace and stays on. Then Highveld raider Solar Flare is speedy and is interesting on her poly debut from a low draw.

In the eighth over 1200m Someone Exciting produced an exciting finish last time from off the pace on the Greyville turf and she has run second on the poly before. Diamondsandpearls is drawn three and having run a pearler to win her maiden over course and distance she should be in the shake up from draw three. However, it is ultra-competitive and going wide is the suggestion.

By David Thiselton

Many think it is an easy game, and it is a case of pushing buttons when it comes to racing but it is far from that!

Trainer Joey Soma’s smart son of Gimmiethegreenlight, Got The Greenlight who lines up for the R5 Million CTS 1600 race on Sun Met day, left his Highveld base on Monday afternoon after two and a half weeks of quarantine at Randjesfontein and arrived safely in the Cape on Tuesday morning at 10:30am.

Soma said “he travelled well and I am as happy as I can be. He is drinking a lot, adapted well and working well.” Soma added that trainers Paul Peter and Lucky Houdalakis also had to go through the same quarantine process with their Cape Town raiders due to a recent African Horse Sickness scare in Gauteng.

Soma mentioned that it was difficult preparing his horse because they are only allowed out of their stables while in quarantine between 10am and 3pm.

Got The Greenlight has improved from his last run which he needed badly after his break from the KZN Champions Season. With luck in running Soma is expecting to be competitive but it is never easy considering the journey undertaken to prepare for this race in the Cape.

“We are expecting a good run. The win would be the cherry on the cake” said Soma.

By Warren Lenferna

Only once in the last ten years has the Queen’s Plate winner gone on take the Met in the same season. The extra two furlongs has often turned out to be a bridge too far – some didn’t see it out while others, notably Legal Eagle, were not as effective over it.

Vardy has been backed down to second favourite for Saturday’s Sun International highlight but, if you are putting your money down, it could be worth bearing in mind that there are doubts about him having the necessary stamina to follow in Futura’s 2015 footsteps.

He is by the European champion sprinter Var, none of whose progeny has won a Grade 1 beyond a mile. Vardy’s dam (by Jet Master) did not race and her Cape Fillies Guineas-winning sisters Ebony Flyer and Captain’s Lover did not win over further than 1 800m. She has produced two winning foals in addition to Vardy – Shallcross who won a humble 2 400m maiden at Fairview (but it took her until she was four to do it) while Eros’s Girl won the 2 000m East Cape Oaks at the Port Elizabeth course.

“Eros’s Girl beat little of note in that race and two of her four wins came over 1 200m,” says pedigree expert Sarah Whitelaw. “On paper I have my doubts about Vardy getting the 2 000m of the Met.”

Nobody knows Var and his progeny better than Pippa Mickleburgh and the Avontuur general manager points out that his daughter Princess Of Light was only beaten three-quarters of a length (by In Writing) in the 2012 Gold Cup when it was a Grade 1.

“Personally I think Vardy will make it on Saturday because the female line is quite stout,” she says. “The way he races will definitely help but 2 000m will be the maximum of his range.”

Trainers tend to be optimistic in such circumstances and Adam Marcus is no exception – “Vardy is a very athletic horse, he has a lot of size to him and he switches off so beautifully that I don’t think going an extra 200m or 400m is going to have much effect.”

Marcus points to Vardy’s two and a quarter-length defeat of One World in last season’s 1 800m Winter Classic (although One World was thought to be feeling the effects of a tough season that day and was promptly put away until this term).  “I thought that was a great performance from Vardy and I don’t see why the 2 000m on Saturday should be an issue.”

Indeed Marcus believes that Craig Zackey’s mount has improved since the L’Ormarins showpiece. “From what I have seen so far he has certainly come on from the race. My norm is to give horses a couple of really easy days after a race but he was jumping out of his skin to such an extent that I had to get him going again.”

The way Vardy is usually ridden, from the back and coming with a sustained run, should help but there will be no specific orders to hold him up. “The horse is versatile – he has won coming from last and from sitting in the box seat – and I will let Craig make the decisions. If Vardy flies out of the gates and Craig finds himself in a handy position, I don’t want him to feel he has to ease the horse out of it.”

Aldo Domeyer will similarly not be tied to orders on 16-1 shot Twist Of Fate – “I am going to leave things to him. The trip should be more suitable than the mile of the Queen’s Plate and the horse has a lot in his favour.”

BLOB The field is down to 13 – the same as last season’s race and jointly the smallest in the last 25 years – following yesterday’s scratching of longshot Roy Had Enough with a tendon injury. 

By Michael Clower

Vaughan Marshall won the Sun Met six years ago with Hill Fifty Four and there are a number of similarities between that horse and the yard’s contender this year, One World.

Marshall said about One World, “I am very happy with him, he is very well, and all we need now is a bit of luck.”

The first similarity with Hill Fifty Four is that he is by Captain Al, although he is a four-year-old colt whereas Hill Fifty Four was a five-year-old gelding. 

The second similarity is that their respective damsires impart stamina. Hill Fifty Four was out of a Sportsworld mare, while One World is out of a Giant’s Causeway mare.

Marshall said, “There must be a slight stamina doubt but he was running on well in the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and we will take our chances,”

In One World’s only attempt beyond a mile he finished a 2,25 length second to Vardy in the Grade 3 Winter Classic over 1800m at Kenilworth.

One World’s British-bred dam Aquilonia only raced five times but the distance range was from one-mile-and-two-furlongs to one-mile-and-four-furlongs, suggesting her trainer Roger Charlton believed she was a stayer. A fourth place finish over one- mile-and-two-furlongs at Salisbury was her best effort. In the breeding shed she has produced a horse by Count Dubois called Counterstroke who won over 1800m, although he and his full sister Count To Ten, who was stakes placed over a mile, generally looked to be most comfortable from 1400m to a mile. On the other hand Count To Ten’s first foal, Blow Your Cool, has placed three times in five starts and her placed distance range is 1800m to 2000m despite being by the speedster Warm White Night.

The next similarity with Hill Fifty Four is that One World is drawn wide. 

He is drawn in barrier 12 out of the 13 remaining runners, while Hill Fifty Four’s Met win came from a draw of 15 out of 18.

Hill Fifty Four was admittedly given a ride by Anton Marcus which can genuinely be described as brilliant.

Marshall said about One World’s draw, “It should not matter especially as there are now only 13 runners and I definitely think there will be a good pace.”

The race is now weight-for-age (wfa) whereas in Hill Fifty Four’s day it was wfa plus penalties, so the latter only carried 58kg and received 2kg from the Grade 1 winners. 

However, One World looks to be a genuine Grade 1 weight for age class horse and on pure formlines should be the second favourite instead of the 10/1 fifth favourite (Track and Ball). He has finished second to Vardy three times in succession, over 1800m and then twice over 1600m, and this pair have had Do It Again and Rainbow Bridge beaten twice and Hawwaam once.

However, the public and the bookmakers are still not convinced. They believe the big guns needed it in the Green Point Stakes and they must believe the delayed start affected the result in the LQP.

Vardy and One World will have to do it a third time to be accepted as the best, such is the aura surrounding the big three.

One World has certainly blossomed this season and conformation-wise this big, strong, rangy horse looks the real deal.

Marshall’s long time stable jockey MJ Byleveld has also blossomed in recent seasons, especially in the field of BMT.  He is overdue a win ín one of South Africa big two races, the Vodacom Durban July and the Sun Met, where he has gone close a couple of times, including being first across the line on Wylie Hall in the July of 2014 and a narrow second in the 2013 Met on Hill Fifty Four.  

Marshall named his best runner on the day as Cane Lime And Soda in the CTS 1600. He is drawn two and wears first-time blinkers. 

He also named Joseph Berry (Listed Summer Juvenile Stakes), Mirage (CTS 1200) and Tap O’ Noth (Grade 2 New Turf Carriers Western Cape Stayers) as competitive runners on the day.

By David Thiselton