The failure of the Mike De Kock raider Muwaary in Saturday’s R400 000 Gr2 Selangor Cup clouded the Cape Guineas picture, but threw up a potential candidate for higher honours at the same time. The Joey Ramsden-trained Hard Day’s Night overcame a wide draw for a gutsy win under a top ride by Anton Marcus.
Anton Marcus has Hard Day’s Night all out to beat Victorious Jay and MJ Byleveld (Pic – Wayne Marks)
Hard Day’s Night was trumped by his astute trainer, a confirmed Beatles fan, as being better than rated and the youngster proved equal to the assessment when he ran out a courageous first stakes winner for his exciting young sire, Warm White Night.
Poorly drawn, and with the daunting Gr1 away form of the well drawn 16 to 10 shot Muwaary in the background, Hard Day’s Night was allowed to start at 6 to 1.
And with Marcus getting him over quickly to lead from his draw, he was to initiate a three feature race run of horses leading from gun to tape to win.
KZN visitor Sylvester The Cat fluffed the jump and lost any chance he may have had as Marcus took Hard Day’s Night up to lead, with the favourite Muwaary perfectly placed about 3 lengths off.
Hard Day’s Night continued to lead into the 350m marker but was tackled by a dangerous looking Victorious Jay in the middle of the track.
As Victorious Jay looked set to go on by, Marcus got stuck into Hard Day’s Night and he kept the handsome bay colt going to thwart a wave of challengers.
The pacesetter clung on to beat the luckless Victorious Jay by a head in a time of 98,03 secs.
The runner-up had every chance, but failed to take his big opportunity when it presented itself.
Nassa was the fastest finisher of the lot for third, just a half length off the winner.
Illuminator, who came in unbeaten in two starts over the sprints, also ran a cracker to finish his race off well for fourth.
The top seven finished within 1,25 lengths of the winner.
The favourite Muwaary had no answers when asked by Anthony Delpech, and he faded out tamely.
A few good men – Joey Ramsden and Anton Marcus – winning team
Winning jockey Anton Marcus was thrilled and pleased to have cracked another Group winner for his boss, Markus Jooste.
”It was testament to his heart and ability that the second horse went past him – he really dug down deep,” said Marcus.
Trainer Joey Ramsden confirmed that he had fancied his charge ‘to kill’.
”Markus and Ingrid been good to me. They dserve it. And well done to Kenilworth Racing for keeping the Selangor assocation going. It must be like banging their heads agains a wall,'” he quipped.
A R200 000 Cape Premier Yearling Sale Book 2 graduate, Hard Day’s Night was bred by ex-Highlands Stud based Tim Bootsma – the man who will take over the reins from John Slade at Maine Chance Farms.
He took his win tally to 3 from 6 starts, with 3 places and R376 375 in stakes.
Hard Day’s Night is a first-crop first stakes winner for Klawervlei’s Western Winter stallion, Warm White Night. He is out of the Indigo Magic mare, My Lady Bluff, who won once at 2000m.
A champion multiple Gr1 winning sprinter, Warm White Night is a half-brother to a Gold Cup winner and produced a winner from his very first runner when the filly Harlem Shake won for Glen Puller over a sprint at Kenilworth in December.
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Gr2 Selangor Cup (SAf-Gr2)
Kenilworth, South Africa, November 21, R400k, 1600m, turf, good, 1.38.03
1 – HARD DAY’S NIGHT (SAF), 60.0, b c 3, Warm White Night (SAF) – My Lady Bluff (SAF) by Indigo Magic (GB). Owner Mrs I Jooste & Mr M J Jooste; Breeder T Bootsman; trainer J Ramsden; jockey A Marcus
2 – Victorious Jay (SAF), 60.0, b c 3, Jay Peg (SAF) – Rub A Dub Dub (SAF) by Jallad (USA)
3 – Nassa (SAF), 60.0, b c 3, Dynasty (SAF) – Cosima Liszt (CHI) by Rich Man’s Gold (USA)
Margins: 0.20, 0.30, 0.20
