Anton Marcus and Act Of War gallop on strongly to win the Winter Guineas (Pic: Bay Media)
The masterful Joey Ramsden wrote another personal chapter in the South African horseracing history books at Kenilworth on Sunday when he saddled the winners of two colts’ Guineas within the space of twenty four hours – for the same owners and ridden by the same jockey. His star Dynasty colt Act Of War returned from a break and made hacks of his opposition to win the R250 000 Tekkie Town Gr3 Winter Guineas.
Ramsden won the Gr2 KRA Guineas at Greyville on Saturday for Ingrid and Markus Jooste with the Australian-bred The Conglomerate, who was also ridden by Anton Marcus.
This was a repeat of his feat in 2012, when the then future international champion and present day Klawervlei stallion Variety Club won both of these Guineas – same horse, same jockey, same silks, as this weekend – except then the timing on the programme, with a fortnight split, allowed JR to win both with the same horse.
Joey Ramsden and Anton Marcus – a great combination on any day
Act Of War made his first appearance on Sunday following his shock defeat by Ertijaal in the Gr1 Investec Cape Derby on J&B Met day – and Ramsden pulled no punches in the post-race interview as he confirmed his opinion of the Derby collateral and suggested where anybody holding that formline as credible could conceal it!
Going off at 1-4, Act Of War was bounced keenly by Anton Marcus from his wide draw in the field of nine, and made all in workmanlike style, and without being pushed, to beat Sail For Gold and Royal Dreamer by 1,25 lengths in a time of 101,25 secs.
A highly credible performance from the front by a horse who is surely lengths better when ridden from off the pace.
With Mike Bass and Joey Ramsden saddling seven of the nine Winter Guineas runners between them, it is quite surprising that Act Of War was not stretched early on by one of his opponents – a contingency that was surely considered as a tactical option by the Bass quartet?
The Cape Guineas winner Act Of War, once suggested by champion jockey Piere Strydom to be a better horse than KZN champion Harry’s Son, was bred by Arc En Ciel Stud and is by Dynasty out of the four time winning Cordoba mare, Si Senorita.
He was a R550 000 Cape Premier Yearling Sale Book 1 graduate and has now won 7 of his 9 starts with 2 places for stakes of R1 644 250.
Derek Brugman – representing the Joostes
Both the trainer and the owner representative Derek Brugman were cagey about future plans for Act Of War.
“I have learnt not to run good horses from bad draws,” said Brugman.
It was interesting to hear how he and Anton Marcus had gone through their tactical options over and over again. Just goes to show – we may all have seen this as a 1-4 penalty kick and yet the battle room was working overtime behind the scenes.
As for Joey Ramsden – his refreshingly competitive, slightly edgy non-diplomatic straightshooting style is reminiscent of the Mike De Kock no nonsense approach.
And it makes for needle and great entertainment.
Despite a reduced head count these days, Ramsden continues to hold his own in the top five on the national trainer log – with a strike rate that ranks second only to De Kock.
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Gr3 Winter Guineas (SAf-Gr3)
Kenilworth, South Africa, May 3, R250k, 1600m, turf, good, 1.41.25
1 – ACT OF WAR (SAF), 60.0, b c 3, Dynasty (SAF) – Si Senorita (SAF) by Cordoba (USA). Owner Mrs I Jooste & Mr M J Jooste; Breeder Arc-en-Ciel; trainer J Ramsden; jockey A Marcus
2 – Sail For Gold (SAF), 57.0, b g 3, Sail From Seattle (USA) – Cobra Gold by Doowaley (IRE)
3 – Royal Dreamer (SAF), 57.0, b g 3, Rebel King (SAF) – Camden’s Jewel (SAF) by Camden Park (USA)
Margins: 1.25, 0.40, 0.20
