Scottsville has been flunking the numbers test with field sizes in recent weeks and only 21 horses ran in half of Sunday’s eight race programme. One can only wonder if we should be getting excited about the local 2yo winners in advance of the tougher tests in the months ahead.
Anton Marcus and Rob’s Jewel are on their own at the finish
The signs are not good and even though the forthcoming Champions Season is likely to paper over the cracks, some serious long-term thinking is required from the powers-that-be and local stakeholders.
Trainer Mike Miller was to the fore, winning two of the three features on the afternoon, and his 2yo Rob’s Jewel certainly looks a candidate for better, although he beat little to win the R120 000 non black-type Sentinel Stakes.
The race was run in the same order as they were to finish as Anton Marcus kept Rob’s Jewel at his task as he led Skip The Red and Laventelhaan, with the slow away Gio Ponti’s Legacy way out of his ground.
Despite showing signs of running green, Rob’s Jewel ran away from his three opponents and the 1,75 lengths winning margin may have flattered the runner-up Skip The Red.
Gold Circle CEO Michel Nairac owns a share in the winner
The winner registered a time of 57,58 secs for the 1000m.
Gio Ponti’s Legacy made up some ground on debut to run last of the four, but got to within four lengths of the winner.
Anton Marcus said that he was excited to get the call for the engagement as his mount was the standout horse on the programme.
The winner was bred by Robin Muir from Argonaut (who also sired the winner of the Listed feature on the day) and is out of the very fast five-time winning Albarahin mare, Barahin’s Jewel, who raced for Dennis Drier in the pink and yellow of the Muirs.
He has now won 2 races with 1 place from 3 starts and took his earnings to R132 500.
