Ridgemont Highlands jockey Anton Marcus has ended the year with a flourish.
Six winners so far this weekend and with four decent rides at Greyville today, he could entrench his position at the top of the national jockey log after moving past long-time leader Muzi Yeni.
Marcus, who is riding at 31% win strike-rate, rode three winners at Greyville on Friday evening and another hat-trick at Kenilworth on Saturday.
Anton shares a moment with his trainer-nephew Adam after the good win (Pic – Chase Liebenberg Photography)
He rounded off the sunny Saturday and the year’s racing programme at the Southern Suburbs venue with a good win aboard the Jay Peg gelding Red Rascal – who is trained by his nephew Adam and is owned and was bred by his brother Basil – a former champion jockey and trainer for some years.
Red Rascal has now won twice from 9 starts.
He is by dual Equus Champion Jay Peg who was trained here by Basil Marcus and ridden internationally by Anton. Jay Peg won 4 Gr1 races in 3 countries and still holds the Dubai track record that he smashed in the Gr1 Duty Free. He was the only horse ever to win the Classic Quartet of the Gr1 BSA Guineas, Gr1 Investec Derby, Gr2 Selangor Cup and Gr3 Investec Cape Classic. With over $4 million stakes banked, he remains the highest earner in SA racing history.
Anton Marcus brings Red Rascal home to an easy win (Pic – Chase Liebenberg Photography)
Anton can get the Greyville card off to a flyer today when he partners Agent Murphy for the Hollywood Syndicate in the first. The son of What A Winter put up a smart barrier trial two weeks ago and the report back from Anton after the event was glowing. This is a small field of 6 runners and the Paul Peter trained Astrix looks like the one to beat, but he is going to have to lift his feet to beat Agent Murphy.
Marcus also has chances on Mysterious Omen in the second, Desolate Road in the third and Hero Quest in the sixth.
The first – also the Bipot opener – is off at 13h30.
The false rail is set at 9m.
