Staying On! Roman Wall (Anton Marcus) stays on best to win the Listed Easter Handicap
The Sean Tarry trained Roman Wall registered his biggest career win to date when storming home to grab the first cheque in the R135 000 Listed Easter Handicap run over 2000m at Clairwood on Sunday.
Roman Wall is owned by three of the most powerful men in the game but he has always carried the burden of his R2 million price tag with discomfort.
But based on what jockey Anton Marcus had to say about his apparently improved staying prowess in the post race interview though, he could yet pick up another cheque or two in the longhaul events this season.
They say that when one owns a horse who stays, one always has a chance. Whatever that means, it could yet be shown that the often supported and hyped Roman Wall may warrant following by the optimists, after his smooth win in this Listed feature.
Roman Wall was quickly into his stride, but was eased back as the nuggety grey Penhaligon went off to lead from Kolkata, A King Is Born, Tribal Dance and Big City Angel .
Penhaligon continued to cart them along at a moderate gallop in front of Kolkata and Tribal Dance with Big City Angel edging closer as they went around the long bend.
Penhaligon folded into the straight as Big City Angel stormed into the lead down the centre under his light weight, but appeared to tire. It may well be that his young jockey misjudged his mount’s fitness as he went what appeared to be a good few strides earlier than would have been anticipated.
In the meanwhile Marcus took Roman Wall down the inside rail and the handsome chestnut found all the way to the line to win going away at 3 to 1 by a length in a time of 121 secs.
Caymen Island ran on best of the rest at any price for third place.
Winning jockey Anton Marcus said that he had gotten Roman Wall wrong in his original assessment, and said that he appeared to be developing into a good stayer. He added that it had helped the cause that the race had been run at the ‘right tempo up front.’
It was Roman Wall’s second good win of 2013, following his success in the NBT Thombothi Stakes over 1900m at Greyville in mid February.
Roman Wall provided breeder Gavin Schafer with his second success of the weekend after Slumdogmillionaire had won the Gr1 Horse Chestnut Stakes on Saturday.
Roman Wall is by Count Dubois out of the once winning Fort Wood mare, Chica.
He cost a hefty R2 million on the National Yearling Sale and registered a fifth win with 9 places from his 24 starts. Roman Wall took his personal earnings to R402 850.
The 5yo could well still be a factor in the Champions Season staying features.
Gold Circle Executive Graeme Hawkins officiated at the prizegiving and said that the day gave an exciting foretaste of the season that lay ahead in KZN.
Hawkins said that they stood on the threshold of a wonderful season. He welcomed the visiting trainers and said that ‘everybody would soon be in town.’
