Dreaming Of A Princess

Multiple Gr1 winning trainer Adam Marcus only turns 32 next month. But the Milnerton-based conditioner is not shy to tell the world that winning the Met ranks high on his professional bucket list.

The 3yo Flower Alley filly Princess Calla lines up at the historic 2000m starting point on Saturday 30 January and will be his second runner in the Cape flagship.

It’s no easy task carrying the burden of an instantly recognisable and widely respected name in a highly competitive industry where veterans rule the roost and gung-ho youthful exuberance is seen as over the top optimism.

But since starting out with a handful of horses in 2012, Adam has shaken off the pressure shackles to become his own man, running a highly successful boutique yard, where ‘hands on’ is the name of the game.

His Dad Basil started the Marcus Racing operation in 2003 after a prolific winning career as a jockey for 30 years around the world – including championship titles in Hong Kong and Britain.

He smiles when we suggest Dad has a ‘two length’ start in the Met stakes, having won the race in 1982 with Foveros and again in 1987 aboard Model Man – two years before Adam was born.

“I don’t think that training Met winners is any easier than riding them! But we are going out to do our best with a really class filly – and I believe that, while the race conditions have changed over the years, the fairer sex have a solid proven record in this great race.”

Adam has a point – going back over the 21^st century honour roll we see names like the 3yo Oh Susanna (2018), Smart Call (2015), Igugu (2012) and River Jetez (2010). That’s just under a 50% strike-rate over the last decade.

So why Princess Calla, and how did Adam manage to secure the services of crack lightweight, Grant van Niekerk?

“We were obviously restricted in terms of jockey choice under the travel protocols. But we sat down and made our list of who we’d really like to have, if we could! Grant was contacted and offered the engagement  – he got back to us within a matter of days to say he would love to ride her. He has been there and got the t-shirt, as it were, with Drakenstein’s outstanding 3yo filly Oh Susanna, who also carried 51,5kgs. So it’s a pleasure to have him aboard.”

Adam points out that their original game plan with Princess Calla was the Paddock Stakes route into the Majorca on Met day.

But when Queen Supreme bounced clear at the 250m marker, Princess Calla was run off her feet in the 1800m Paddock Stakes and stayed on remarkably well for a 2,30 length third behind the De Kock star.

“As she is coming along in leaps and bounds with every outing, we felt it a better option, rather than trying to take on top-class milers in the Majorca from a potentially bad draw, to take on 2000m horses where there is a little more time, as it were, to overcome obstacles.”

A multiple Gr1-placed daughter of Flower Alley, Princess Calla will be having only her sixth start and her trainer is adamant that she will enjoy the 2000m,  and is a powerful filly who is getting mentally stronger with each run.

“She is a lovely physical specimen and while I know that she lacks experience, she is coming along with visible mental progress in each run. The 2000m will be right up her alley, and with the handy weight, she ranks a definite runner.”

As regards tactics and pace, Adam points out that Princess Calla is uncomplicated and versatile.

“It goes without saying that in this level of race, a true pace is preferred. True-run races produce true results. Princess Calla has shown in recent runs that she can be switched off, or run right up there with them. So Grant will have options at his disposal, and again the light weight adds to her arsenal,” adds Adam confidently, and he is not complaining about the 1 draw.

He goes on to talk about Jet Dark’s sensational victory in the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate earlier this month as a serious wake-up moment for the true strength of this season’s 3yo crop.

“I think they are an exceptional bunch this term and that was another factor in leaning owner Mario Ferreira and Manager Des Gonsalves towards having a tilt at the Met.”

When asked who he fears the most amongst his opposition, Adam suggests that Do It Again had to be something of a ‘standout’ on his recent L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate run.

“The reality is that with the likes of really top-class horses like Do It Again, Rainbow Bridge, Golden Ducat and Belgarion, they invariably are producing the goods every time. But they are not improving, and that what makes Princess Calla an exciting ‘wildcard’ option here. She is on the up. She is going 2000m for the first time. She is supremely fit. It’s a privilege to have her flying our flag and I am really looking forward to the race.”

Adam won’t have many other runners on the day, but mentioned his Frankel colt Juan Carlos, who steps out in the Gr3 Politician Stakes.

“There aren’t many races for a staying type of 3yo so I thought that this race will tell us where we stand with Juan Carlos and the Cape Derby at the end of February. He is a lovely horse and will improve with racing,” he concluded.