Anton Marcus may have been out for three months, getting himself stitched up and back into one piece, but although the limbs may be taking strain the racing brain is as sharp as ever.

Marcus was given free licence on Fools Gold in the Model Man Mile (Listed) at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday and like a shrewd prospector who had seeded his claim, he played the field on the break, cruising to the line unchallenged. Making all the running he delivered what ultimately amounted to little more than an exercise gallop for Robbie and Shannon Hill’s gelding.

A proven front runner, Marcus set pedestrian fractions on Fools Gold and somewhat surprisingly was never challenged as his mount sped clear at the top of the straight to win as he liked.

The win will have been have been cold comfort for Marcus with Mike de Kock, who saddled six winners at Turffontein on Saturday, pointing out that had he been able to take up the De Kock rides he would have added the Gr2 Emperors Palace Charity Mile on Barahin and the Gr 3 Graham Beck Stakes on Frosted Gold to his CV.

Marcus is tied to a contract with the powerful mainly Western Cape-based Ridgemont stable that required him to ride Bitter Lemon in a lowly MR73 Handicap at Kenilworth on the same afternoon. De Kock, in jest rather than malice, took the opportunity to rub a little salt into the ‘lemon’ of a good friend.

Frank Robinson’s gelding Avro Lancaster has the Summerveld dogs barking but Tony Nassif, a doyen and one of the really nice men in the sport, was on hand to lead in Greattobecaptain in the card opener for Karen and Greg Anthony. Poorly drawn last run and a much better gate at two yesterday. Serino Moodley steered the colt home. “On his work we knew he would run a big race,” confirmed Anthony and knowing the owner’s, Greattobecaptain will not have been allowed to ‘run loose’.

Avro Lancaster pulled up with a myriad of reported problems so do not write him off.

Mark Dixon was in Gauteng hoping to pluck another plum at the Emperor’s Palace Ready To Run Sale, but Victor Tojeira, owner Brian Burnard’s son-in-law, appears to have picked a good one at the National Two-year-old sale in Dinetto. Pressed to a mile last time out, the wheels came off, but yesterday it was all smooth travelling as Dinetto put in a telling run up the inside of the pack to head off Themba and Elusive Force with favourite Fred emulating a Manchester United dud signing.

Dixon was on the mark again as Presumptuous continued is steady improvement with a comfortable win in the third.

Exion and Battle Of Alesia were the expected flag-bearers for the raiding Paul Peter yard, but it was the less expected Western Front, down the field in a work-riders maiden on debut, who paid their way, getting the better of Twice Golden in the fifth.

By Andrew Harrison

Turffontein Standside hosts the Grade 2 Peermont Emperor’s Palace Charity Mile and the progressive Candice Dawson-trained Approach Control could cause an upset.

Last time out he was well beaten by the favourite Zillzaal over this course and distance. The latter, who won easing up, beat him by four lengths. However, Approach Control clearly did not enjoy blinkers and was throwing his head around at one stage. The blinkers have been taken off and he is 4,5kg better off with Zillzaal. The form of his previous start looks better. In that race over 1400m he beat the like of Charity Mile contenders Divine Odyssey,

Infamous Fox, Flying Winger and Pilou and on paper should either beat them again or there should be nothing in it, so he looks good value at long odds. Lastly, he is a long-striding sort who will relish the long straight of the Standside track and he has always struck as a scopey sort who would come into his own as a four-year-old. On the downside he is 1,5kg under sufferance, half-a-kilogram due to his merit rating and 1kg due to S’Manga Khumalo riding 1kg overweight. However, Khumalo is not a twice champion jockey for nothing and he is riding at the top of his game. The other downside is his tricky draw of ten out of 16, so Khumalo will need to be at his best and also have some luck to find necessary cover.

Zillzaal has improved with gelding and went through with his run last time, something he had not been doing last season. Therefore, he could be well handicapped as he is probably yet to show his best. However, the Gauteng Summer Cup is his main aim, so he might not be quite at his peak. 

Infamous Fox seems to prefer tighter tracks. He has a good draw, which should enable MJ Byleveld to find cover. However, he will need to follow a forward moving horse in the straight so his fine turn of foot can be used to maximum effect. 

In The Dance has as good a turn of foot as her half-brother Capetown Noir and is still relatively unexposed, so she will be dangerous running with just 53kg on her back. However, Sean Tarry did say he would have liked another run under the belt before tackling this tough mile race.

Marchingontogether, who finished third in the SA Derby, prefers further and his chief target is the Summer Cup. However, he has plenty of class and has improved with gelding. He won his seasonal reappearance over the too sharp 1400m, so there is no reason why he should not make an impact here. 

The like of Camphoratus, Cascapedia, Barahin and Divine Odyssey have the ability to go close but this looks likely to be a build up run for the Summer Cup. Tilbury Fort has a harder task at the weights than he did when running a close second first up last year and the talented Zouaves has a wide draw over a trip which stretches him.

In the Grade 3 Graham Beck Stakes over 1400m Putontheredlight has scope and as a long-striding sort will relish this course and distance. He is well drawn and should also get the good pace he will appreciate with a lot of stablemates under the same ownership taking part. Riverstown is well regarded and has been working well at home. His last run can be ignored as he bumped his head in the stalls and it was not his run. Eden Roc has proven class and has a fine turn of foot so should be involved although he does not have as much scope as Putontheredlight. Frosted Gold and Tallin cannot be ignored for the exotics. 

In the Grade 3 HSH Princess Charlene Starling Stakes Cockney Pride will relish the course and distance as one with a strong, sustained finish. She has one run under the belt which will give her an advantage over Mill Queen, who is drawn in pole and has always struck as one whose class would blossom the older she got. Sidonie went too hard last time but was still not disgraced against the classy older horse Vistula, so she could be dangerous under a more conservative ride from a good draw and Strydom up is an obvious bonus.

The Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup is as competitive as ever but Gaian Glory looks to have the class to take it. Enjoy The View should have come on from his effort last week and has some class. Spiritofthegroove should run on from a wide draw. Seemyvision might make a bold bid from the front but has a stamina doubt and Bohica can’t be ignored.

The Grade 3 Yellowwood Handicapo could be fought out by two classy well drawn horses, Queen Supreme and Roy’s Riviera.

Paul Peter has a strong hand in the Listed Golden Loom and two of this trio, Operetta and Rebel’s Champ have favourable high draws. Prince Of Kahal is in fine form and also has a high draw. 

By David Thiselton

Justin Snaith can kick off what should be a good day by taking the opening Itsarush.co.za Maiden at Kenilworth tomorrow with Linda Loves Lace.

The probable favourite threw away her chance in her last two Kenilworth starts by coming out of the pens like a grandmother – but at Durbanville last time her tuition clearly paid off because she reverted to the useful form that saw her finish either second or third in three consecutive outings last season.

The obvious danger is Festive Girl who finished nearly six lengths in front of her early last month in a race in which Piet Steyn had three of the first four. Morne Winnaar’s mount certainly has the form to take advantage if the Snaith filly fluffs the start again but Steyn is cautious.

He said yesterday: “I am expecting a good effort – she is doing well and working well – but I gave her a bit of a break and I haven’t galloped her since that last race so she might need the run.”

Bernard Fayd’Herbe returns on the Andre Nel newcomer Lady Lu who was 33-10 third favourite yesterday morning. The bookmakers are also cautious about 5-1 fellow first-timers Silver Maria and Blue Duchess. Keep an eye on the betting because money for any of the three would be significant.

Pinkerton is not much of a price at 5-10 in the Cape Town Summer Of Champions Maiden 40 minutes later but Richard Fourie’s mount was considered good enough to go to Durban and, while no match for convincing winner Kilindini three weeks ago, he had the useful 84-rated Gold Medal over five lengths back third.

Second favourite at 9-2 is Ronaldo who steps up in trip after a good run over 1 250m but he will need to have come on a fair bit to trouble Pinkerton.

Matchless Captain (6-1) made the running when four lengths-fifth to Quintay over this trip at Durbanville 11 days ago but was reported hanging out in the straight. This is his eighth run and he looks a bit unlikely.

Race three, though, may see the Snaith bandwagon brought to a temporary halt by Lit trained by the in-form Glen Kotzen. Winnaar’s mount has finished second in the last two of his three starts and both were over the distance of this race. He is justifiably favourite at 13-10.

Fourie rides 5-2 second favourite Myhopesanddreams in preference to 15-1 shot Peter Paul Rubens who has been showing promise but the main danger to the selection could well be 7-2 chance Gold Medal. Fayd’Herbe’s mount is rated the equal of Lit and has some promising form but the negative is his poor draw.

By Michael Clower

Barrier trials are a continuing bone of contention amongst local trainers but they are here to stay for the time being so it is best to try and make use of them as a pointer to possible ability.

Back in September, the word was out early that Kay Tee Perry was something special and Johan Janse van Vuuren’s Argentinian-bred filly duly arrived in her Hollywoodbets Scottsville barrier trial, never allowed off the bit. The ‘form’ behind that doesn’t look too flash at this stage but there were a number of ‘non-triers’ behind her that, had this been a race, would have had jockey and trainer locked up for life.

One was Han Solo, Sean Veale letting Glen Kotzen’s runner cruise to the line without asking anything serious from his mount.

Barrier trials need to be viewed in context. They are essentially an exercise in smoke and mirrors but for punters who take their form studying seriously, they are another gun in their arsenal.

Han Solo may have flattered to deceive in his 1000m trial, but all will be revealed when he lines up in the second at Hollywoodbets Greyville tonight where he tackles 1600m on debut. The signs are good – Anton Marcus aboard from a plum draw and a strong stable.

It is another tricky card on the synthetic surface but Techno Captain can get the Pick 6 off to a favourable start in the third. There were varying opinions as to the validity of his demotion behind Clouds Of Witness last time out, many believing that Paul Gadsby’s runner was a trifle unlucky to be on the receiving end. No matter, Techno Captain escaped unsullied by the handicappers and with regular pilot Sherman Brown back in the saddle he rates a possible Pick 6 banker.

Silva Magic found one better when Shoot The Wagon upstaged her last time out and she renews rivalry with Lady Clementine – a length back in that race. This pair of improving three-year-olds should be involved in the finish again along with Live My Dream who Gadsby has set up nicely for this race.

Should Lady Clementine oblige, Lady Caroline Lamb could afford Gavin van Zyl and Warren Kennedy a quick double. Although a recent maiden winner, she enjoyed the trip and her first race on poly and rates a strong chance. Challenges could come thick and fast from the Ashburton challenge of Bold Beauty from Duncan Howells and Chatty Cathy and Purple And Gold, Julie Dittmer’s pair having valid excuses in their recent starts and both due a change of fortune.

Louis Goosen has been quite of late but has recently relocated to Summerveld and may only now be getting the hang of the tracks. He saddles Yaas in the sixth and the booking of Anton Marcus could prove significant but the dangers are many. Ginger Biscuit is a remarkable mare that never knows when she’s beaten while Vaal-based Dorrie Sham is not a regular in KZN but Samba With Suzie is one of two Sham runners in the race. Her best recent form has been over the Fairview poly and with a light weight is one to watch.

Jardin looks well handicapped in spite of top weight in the seventh and the ever-alert Marcus could cash in for Alyson Wright.

The last is a difficult race but Land Of Mystery is down in class and takes a two-point drop in the ratings which should see him competitive in spite of top weight. Roy’s Magic is useful and has also taken a rating drop and from a good draw could shape as the biggest threat along with Candle Cove that took on a strong field first up out of the maidens from a wide draw.

By Andrew Harrison

Peace Flower, a half-sister to the R9 million colt who smashed the South African yearling record six months ago, sprang one of the shocks of the month when coming home at 50-1 (and 65-1 on the Tote) in the mile fillies maiden at Kenilworth yesterday.

The once-raced Ideal World filly was the second string for both Candice Bass-Robinson and owners Varsfontein – and was allowed to drift almost unbacked from 28-1 – yet Anthony Andrews was able to bring her with a strong run to shade the fancied What A Flirt by less than the thickness of a race card.

Andrews said: “The penny is still far from dropping. I was battling a long way out and niggling probably 1 000m from home but she is only going to get better.”

The winning trainer added: “There is a lot of improvement to come although this was very much a surprise. I said to Susan Rowett of Varsfontein beforehand that she is the type of filly who is going to need a couple of runs.”

Mrs Bass-Robinson should know because she won her first Grade 1 with Peace Flower’s half-sister Nightingale in the 2017 Klawervlei Majorca. But it’s Masaki, yet to see a racecourse, who is the family headline-maker.

At the National Yearling Sale in April Mike de Kock, acting for Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, got the better of a battle royal with Hong Kong-based Tony Millard to buy him for 50% more than any yearling in South Africa had ever made before.

By Michael Clower