The July jockey musical chairs provided an interesting sideshow to the race itself. Delpech baled from Black Arthur to Bela-Bela. Zechner was on, then off, then on Abashiri. Piere Strydom had the biggest smile though when he ‘landed up’ with a ride that he may not have chosen had he had the pick – and won it.
Full marks to the July trainers for the transparency that prevailed around the jockey engagements.
Punters – and we in the media – are inclined to make assumptions and be influenced unnecessarily by what we deem to be strategic engagements. These are often more hit and miss than we would like to believe.
A playback from way back! Garth’s First. Foreign Gal wins under Anton Marcus
Like Anton Marcus is always on the ‘right’ Jooste horse – or when Garth Puller engages Marcus, then it’s ‘pay-pay’. Interestingly Marcus was aboard Puller’s first ever winner as a trainer when Foreign Gal won at Clairwood in July 2012.
Garth Puller (left) and his brother Glen
Four years on, and looking at the Greyville midweek card, one such plum jockey booking caught the eye!
The day’s topliner is an MR 95 Handicap run on the poly 1400m, and Garth has engaged Anton to ride the promising 3yo Purple Mountains.
The son of Var has his second run in KZN since relocating from Garth’s brother Glen at Milnerton. His form in the Cape Summer Season was eyecatching, if not spectacular, with decent efforts in the Cape Classic, the Selangor and to a lesser extent the Cape Guineas.
Purple Mountains has pulled a peach of a draw and with Marcus up he catches the eye . We asked the Summerveld trainer if we can bond the house.
“No, I wouldn’t go taking loans to back Purple Mountains. He is a lovely classy sort and ran a nice race when 4,05 lengths off the good galloper Heartland at Scottsville last time. That was a decent effort given the fact that he was off for four months. But he pulled up a bit ‘jointy’ afterwards and I have had to go a bit easy on him and treat him. We have done an IRAP and I felt that the poly is the right way to bring him back,” said Puller.
He added that Marcus would be the right kind of jockey to give Purple Mountains a positive ride and provide some feedback. “It’s a bonus to get Anton!” he laughed.
There are eleven others in the R98 000 contest and another jockey booking to grab some notice would be Morne Winnaar on Catkin for Joey Ramsden.
Martin Wickens and Gisela Burg – own and bred Catkin
Ramsden was instrumental in assisting Winnaar through his apprenticeship and the once slightly wayward (who of us haven’t been out of hand at a time?) young man has his first ride for his old mentor in some time.
Drawn wide at 13, Catkin has his second run at Greyville after a 7,25 length finish behind July day winner Sail South over the course and distance in mid June.
Dean Kannemeyer and Anthony Delpech have one of the best strike rates in town and they team up with the progressive Never Settle.
The son of Western Winter is a course-and-distance winner and was unlucky at his last start when hampered, but still getting within 2 lengths of Top Form.
He is a R2,6 million purchase and having won 3 from 9, he is headed in the right direction.
The fit Kiss Me Hardy – with Pat Lunn
The hardknocking Kiss Me Hardy campaigns out of Pat Lunn’s yard these days and would have been a decent place bet – were it not for his outside gate.
The son of Captain Al looks overdue for his sixth career win and is one to include.
Executive Power – a big runner
Mike Miller’s Executive Power is another smart 3yo and the son of Warm White Night’s last run now looks quite solid after Sail South won on Saturday.
He is proven on this surface and looks well above average with a very bright future.
He is the marginal choice to hold Never Settle and Purple Mountains – yes, we are suggesting an all 3yo fight for honours!
