Racing legend Basil Marcus is in Cape Town’s Milnerton Mediclinic recovering from what is believed to be a seizure.

Son Adam said: “It happened during track work last Thursday. When I went into the office I found him in a chair pretty much out, and I took him to the Mediclinic as that was the nearest hospital.

“They thought he had had a heart attack or a stroke and they did a CTC scan on his heart and lungs but both were OK.

“The next day they did an MRI scan on his brain and they now believe he had an epileptic seizure. It was a frightening experience and I personally didn’t think he was going to make it.

“It’s amazing to think that he had all those injuries, and broke all those bones, during his riding career yet this could happen when he was relaxing.”

Marcus, 59, was seven times champion in Hong Kong in an outstanding riding career that saw him win two Mets and three Queen’s Plates. He was also twice Cape champion apprentice and had considerable success in Britain. He was second on Game Plan in the 1990 Oaks and rode her to victory in the Pretty Polly Stakes in Ireland.

He switched to training in 2004 and sent out almost 300 winners in five and a half seasons including the Cape Guineas and Derby with Jay Peg.

Michael Clower

Coenie de Beer has traipsed the country with his one good horse in search of a Grade 1 and it paid off handsomely at Scottsville yesterday. Talktothestars (11-2), racing ‘barefoot’, defying top weight and his pedigree landed the Gr1 Tsogo Sun Sprint over 1200m. The win was also the first Gr1 for De Beer.

Pierre Strydom, recently back from an extended injury break, rode the perfect race, tracking the pace before accelerating up the inside fence to win under hands and heels.

African Ruler tried hard up the centre but proved no match for the winner while Exelero was the first of the fancied runners home in third.

“What a lovely temperament this horse has, “said Strydom. “He tried to buck me off going to the start. First he didn’t want to canter, but he went into the stalls and stood quietly and he just travelled in the race.

“I felt really good going through the 400 but I always thought that something that was well handicapped might come and grab us with 60 on our back but he just kept on plugging away,” Strydom concluded.

Carry On Alice, looking for her fifth Gr1 victory, and back-to-back wins in the Gr1 City Of Pietermaritzburg Fillies Sprint, proved an expensive failure as she could only manage fifth behind Real Princess (5-1) who was chased home by Fly By Night and rank outsider Joan Ranger.

This was the sixth and most important win for Real Princess who is unbeaten at Scottsville. “My filly just loves this track,” said winning rider Anthony Delpech. “She’s never been beaten here. This was a great win because she’s all heart and no legs.”

Delpech tracked the early pace and pulled out from behind the pack approaching the 300m mark. All this time S’manga Khumalo, who had tracked the early speed on Carry On Alice, found himself ‘snookered’ and his hunt for a gap was thwarted at every turn. Delpech gave Real Princess a clear run for the wire and she responded under a driving ride to hold of Fly By Night, second to Via Africa two years back, who had shown pace throughout on the outside.

Vaughan Marshall did the Gr1 two-year-old double as Always In Charge (19-10) lived up to his name and made most of the running to win the Gr1 Tsogo Sun Medallion following on The Secret Is Out’s victory in the G1 Allan Robertson Championship.

An outside gate down the Scottsville straight is widely regarded as a coffin draw but Anton Marcus, braving criticism, held station and cut the early pace. He had the field off the bit a long way out and although drifting towards the inside under pressure the result was never in doubt once the chips were down.

Corne Spies’s decision to skip the Allan Robertson in favour of the Medallion with Seattle Singer proved an inspired move as she put all but Always In Charge to bed, finishing a clear second ahead of Riverine and Red Rock.

Always In Charge is owned by Markus and Ingrid Jooste, in the UK for the Investec Derby, and was booted home by their retained rider.

“I must thank MJ Byleveld,” said Marcus. “When this horse arrived in Durban MJ came to me and said this horse is special. I have been working him for about 10 days now and his work was exceptional,” he added.

“This is one instance when I’m looking forward to a horse going around the turn because I think he will be even better,” commented Marshall, issuing a warning for to those with hopes in the Gr2 Golden Horseshoe on Vodacom Durban July day and the Gr1 Premier’s Champion Juvenile Stakes on eLan Gold Cup day.

 

If it wasn’t out before, it is now. The Secret Is Out (12-10, pictured) overcame some traffic and put a high class field to the sword in the Gr1 Allan Robertson Fillies Championship.

It was a fourth win in the race for Marshall who also trained full sister All Is Secret to win the race back in 2012. Super sire Captain Al was also trained by Marshall and did the double with Always In Charge winning the Medallion. Stable rider MJ Byleveld produced his filly with a sustained burst to comfortably hold off the attentions of a fast finishing Fursa with the Sean Tarry pair of Visuality and Myfunnyvalentine also running on strongly.

Byleveld was forced to ease out of a gap when Muzi Yeni aboard Blaze Of Mystery shut the door on him at the 500m mark but The Secret Is Out switched out smoothly and set sail for the line.

Blaze Of Mystery had the call inside the final furlong but The Secret Is Out gradually reeled her in as the leader came under pressure. The Secret Is Out took over 100m out as Blaze Of Mystery came up empty and it was left to SA Fillies Nursery winner and Dubai-bound Fursa, last coming through the junction of the courses, to chase home for second.

Marshall was lavish in his praise. “She has a wonderful temperament, nothing worries her and I don’t think we have got to the bottom of her yet.”

“She’s that good and she got herself out of trouble, just the sign of a very good horse. She’s very, very special.”

Andrew Harrison
Pictures: Nkosi Hlophe

 

 

Scottsville’s Festival Of Speed meeting is a day for both the purist and socialite as it always attracts a large and festive crowd, while it takes a top horse to win any of the four Gr 1 1200m events on the card.

Hopefully, with the moving of the far rail inward a few metres, horses will have equal chances no matter where they are drawn.

The Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint is as open as ever and every single horse has a winning chance. Class usually prevails in this race, although occasionally one slips through the handicapping net and punters have the luxury of both class and weight on their side.

The one who best fits both credentials is Barbosa, who has blossomed this season, and his Gr 1 Computaform Sprint third place was similar in style to his former stablemate Captain Of All’s third place in that race last year. The latter went on to win the Tsogo Sun and Barbosa can bring more success to trainer Dennis Drier, who will probably need another cabinet soon just to contain his Scottsville trophies.

Gulf Storm and Talktothestars are the two classiest horses in the field, so are selected for second and third respectively. Captain Alfredo is the young pretender, so could also finish in the quartet. Exelero looks well weighted on certain collateral formlines, so could also earn a cheque. However, it would not be foolish to include the whole field in the Pick 6.

Cuvee Brut, stablemate to Gulf Storm, represents the yard of Brett Crawford, whose SA Champions Season horses have proved in need of their first KZN runs this year. Crawford’s pair are both likely to show big improvement on their last runs. Captain’s Causeway is 1kg under sufferance, but his merit rating is likely capped. Both Captain Alfredo and Captain’s Causeway were given the maximum allowed raise for their respective first and second place in the Listed In Full Flight Stakes, but they probably both deserved to be given even more.

Ernie ran an honest third in the In Full Flight and is 3,5kg better off with Captain Alfredo for a 4,75 length beating, so will have his work cut out, although the officially “very soft” going that day could have exaggerated the winning margins. Ernie should now be at his peak and 1200m looks to be his best trip. Red Ray has the class, as proven by his second place from a tough draw in this race two years ago, but connections have admitted he will only be about 80% fit.

Seventh Plain is one of the dark horses, as one who oozes class, but is coming off an interrupted preparation. He was doing good late work in the In Full Flight Stakes and should have improved a lot from that run. Guiness also has a lot of class, having, like Seventh Plain, won the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion as a two-year-old, and he should also improve on his last run, which was his comeback from an overall disappointing campaign in Cape Town.

Splendid Garden did not have an ideal preparation into the Computaform Sprint, yet still ran a fine fifth, despite jumping from a tough draw. He is thriving at Summerveld and is a runner if behaving himself at the start. Tiger’s Touch will need to improve on the form she has shown off her current 104 merit rating. African Ruler is an up and coming sort who was raised one point after finishing second in the Gr 3 Man O’ War Sprint over 1100m at Turffontein and this is now a lot tougher.

Carry On Alice in the City Of Pietermaritzburg Fillies Sprint will be the meeting banker provided she is herself, and trainer Sean Tarry has been concerned by the below par form of his Randjesfontein yard at present, so it is not a given she will be. Lanner Falcon has blossomed and can pick up the pieces.

Princess Royal has come on a lot from her last run and is ideally course and distance suited. Joan Ranger is the dark horse as one who has won both of her sprints in fine style since proving herself suited to shorter distances. Real Princess won the Poinsettia over course and distance in eye-catching fashion after being squeezed at the start. They are selected in the order mentioned.

Horse Guards could give Drier his sixth win of the Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion in the last seven renewals. He was an impressive course and distance winner last time out. However, Always In Charge looks top class too. Oomph brings the unknown as he has obliterated all before him in the weaker centre of Port Elizabeth. Paperback Writer is another dark horse as a well bred sort who has shown plenty of speed and is now dropped to a likely more suitable 1200m. Red Rock strikes as being better than the form of his last run suggests. He did have to switch close to home in that last run. Seattle Singer is interesting as a consistent and improving filly with  a gender allowance.

The Allan Robertson Championship, following the scratching of the brilliant Cloth Of Cloud, could be won by the classy and superbly bred The Secret Is Out, who has impressed to date. Visuality caught the eye last time in a race which didn’t pan out well for her and is the dark horse. Zaakhira beat a moderate field impressively on debut and should improve further. Gr 2 SA Fillies Nursery winner Fursa ideally needs further, but should relish the tough course and distance. SA Fillies Nursery runner up Myfunnyvalentine could earn too.

David Thiselton

Scottsville hosts the popular Festival Of Speed tomorrow with the running of four Gr1 sprints headed by the Gr1 Tsogo Sun Sprint. It is a wide open handicap with any number of runners in with winning chances. Vaughan Marshall’s runner Exelero does not have the best of draws but he has a handy galloping weight and found his best form over the course and distance last time out.

Runner-up that day was Captain Alfredo who franked that form by winning next time out. He took an eight-point jump in the ratings which could hamper his chances come tomorrow but he and trainer Dean Kannemeyer are both in good form.

Red Ray makes a return and has only had one run overseas since finishing second to Normanz in this race two years back. He jumped from the worst of the draw that day and Joey Ramsden was adamant that with a better gate he could well have caught Normanz. Red Ray’s form must be taken on trust as little can be read into the riding arrangements. Anton Marcus will have battled to make the weight on either of Seventh Plain, now with blinkers, or Guiness.

Top weight Talktothestars appears better over shorter but is tremendously game while Captain’s Causeway was chasing hard behind Captain Alfredo and with his light weight will be a threat.  African Ruler faces his toughest test but with a light weight and a good draw is another to consider in a difficult race.

The shock withdrawal of Gr1 SA Nursery winner Cloth Of Cloud because of a respiratory infection has left the way clear for a Vaughan Marshall feature double as he saddles the progressive The Secret Is Out.

The Secret Is Out is a full sister to 2012 Allan Robertson winner All Is Secret also trained by Marshall and both were by supreme stallion and Marshall-trained Captain Al. The Secret Is Out has had the benefit of a win over the course and she did it in style which makes her a big runner.

Zaakhira was a facile winner on debut in good time so could be anything while stable companion Fursa won the SA Fillies Nursery and has won over further so will not be troubled by this trip.

Blaze Of Mystery is unbeaten over course and distance and won comfortably last start so also has a shout.

Marcus will have had the pick of the Jooste runners in the Gr1 Gold Medallion so Always In Charge looks the ‘right’ one after his easy maiden win. However, Act Of Loyalty won well under Weichong Marwing and the winning distance is deceiving as he won much more easily than the narrow margin would suggest.

The unbeaten PE sensation Oomph has his first run for Mike Azzie and will be tested in this field. PE horses have done well at this venue so Oomph must be included in all calculations but he will be put to the acid test tomorrow.

Horse Guards comes from a stable that has won four of the last five runnings with Dennis Drier looking for his sixth Medallion win with Horse Guards. The son of Horse Chestnut has won both of his starts in good fashion and given the stable record in the race must have a great chance. Riverine and the filly Seattle Singer are others to consider.

Carry On Alice looks the banker on the card as she defends her title in the Gr1 City Of Pietermaritzburg Fillies Sprint, a race she won last year and she is still in scintillating form. She will be hard to beat. There should be very little between Lanner Falcon and Real Princess given their last run but the former was having her first outing since January and should strip fitter which could see her turn the tables. Princess Royal is always on the verge of a boil-over but she gets on well with Anthony Andrews and she too should have come on from her effort behind Real Princess and Lanner Falcon.

Andrew Harrison

Make It Raine – the farmers’ prayer (and that of the racecourse manager!) – is a topical tip for the Place Your Bets Handicap at Kenilworth tomorrow and she could be worth waiting for.

The Australian-bred sprang a 25-1 shock first time but she won with authority and it was no great surprise to see her favourite when she reappeared in a handicap last month. But she proved expensive and was beaten into seventh. Apparently, though, there was more to it than simply an experience-lacking first run out of the maidens.

‘She had to stand in the pens for quite a long time and she started playing up. She reared and Corne Orffer nearly came off,” relates Ridgemont manager Craig Carey. “She then missed the break and had to be chased up. That didn’t really work out but she has been going very well and I am expecting a big run.”

The Brett Crawford-trained filly is joint top weight, with Bernard Fayd’Herbe up, but she is likely to head the market again and she appeals strongly.

Prize Peg, who would otherwise be an obvious danger, is running for the first time for three and a half months. “She reared in the pens, hurt her back and had to be scratched (on April 5),” explains Mike Robinson. “She is working well but she hasn’t had a grass gallop so she might need it.”

Crawford’s Ring O’Var has strong claims in the first but preference is for Whose That Girl whose disappointing run last time may have been at least partly accounted for by being slightly shin sore afterwards.

The Snaith stable believe that well bred newcomer Figure Of Grey will need further but their Red Light Girl may make a winning debut 35 minutes later. “She just might need it but she is quick,” says Chris Snaith. The consistent Moulina has form good enough to win if Bernard Fayd’Herbe’s mount does proves to be in need of the outing.

Table Bay gets the vote in the 1 400m Juvenile Plate but watch out for stable companion Dancer who is much better than his disappointing Somerset run would lead you to believe. “Nothing really showed up,” says Joey Ramsden’s assistant Ricardo Sobotker, “but we have freshened him up for this.”

Hernando’s Promise is also better than the bare form of his last run would suggest because he clipped heels when second favourite against older horses.

Navasha has started either favourite or joint favourite for her last three starts and has gone close each time. She holds Come On Inn and should finally justify her market support in the mile maiden.

Michael Clower