Anton Marcus and Anthony Delpech ride many a false favourite as their mere presence in the saddle trims much of the fat off returns, be it the tote or bookmakers. Piere Strydom is outspoken in this regard and has been vilified in some quarters as being a poor sport and just making excuses.
Anton Marcus (Nkosi Hlophe)
The simple fact is that riders of the ilk of Delpech, Marcus and Strydom are at the top of the pile because of sheer ability and as a consequence can cherry-pick rides. However, they may not necessary be on the best rides, but only on the best mounts they could secure as many stables also having preferred riders. Often in their defence a horse whose form suggests that it is say a 5-1 chance can start as short as 16-10 simply because of who’s been pencilled in to ride.
That said, Delpech and Marcus look set to fight out the first leg of the Greyville PA this evening where Delpech will be aboard likely ante-post favourite Georgina for Alyson Wright with Marcus in the saddle on Saint Karli for Jeff Freeman. The two fillies met last time out with Georgina shading Saint Karli so with two top riders in action and the balance of the field nothing to write home about we should be in for a tactical battle between two of the best.
Anthony Delpech (Nkosi Hlophe)
Beaten favourite Modesty can get the Jackpot rolling and make amends for her disappointing last effort when starting at a short-price. She was all at sea on the soft Scottsville track and a switch to the firmer poly could bring out the best in Duncan Howells’s filly.
Dean Kannemeyer’s runner Figaro makes his local debut in the Track & Ball Gaming Plate after showing some promise in the Cape and is the likely favourite. The Silvano gelding is rated far superior to anything else in the field and although this will be his first outing since gelding, if the ratings are correct he should be difficult to beat even if not at his peak. Of the opposition, Kali’s King improved with gelding and back over a more suitable trip could pose a threat.
Mr Hallo can round off the evening’s proceedings for Gavin van Zyl and stable rider Warren Kennedy. Since being relocated from Van Zyl’s Gauteng satellite yard, the Kahal gelding has put up two smart showings on the Greyville poly track and although he has picked up three pounds for his recent placings, his rating has dropped from a career high of 84 to tonight’s 67.
By Andrew Harrison
