Anton Marcus drives My Emblem up on the outside to beat Just Felicity (Brandon Morgenrood). The third placed Champery is out of frame in third (Pic: Bay Media)
After the Joey Ramsden rout of recent weeks, it was trainer Eric Sands turn to step up to the podium at Kenilworth on Saturday and produce a Jooste feature winner. This came in the form of the Favour Stud-bred National Emblem filly, My Emblem, who won a three cornered thriller to clinch honours in the R125 000 Listed Perfect Promise Sprint.
The all conquering feature run of the Joostes’ Springbok silks has been unbelievable and with Mayfair Speculators’ retained jockey Anton Marcus riding with plenty of vigour, it was not surprising to see them grab the double feature honours at a sunny Kenilworth.
The fillies’ sprint feature was reduced to a disappointing six runners, but what the race lacked for in quantity, it made up in entertainment value and quality – with the top three finishers dominating proceedings.
We predicted that the two ’boutique’ yards of Sands and his neighbour Greg Ennion would dominate matters and so it turned out.
Eric Sands – trained first and third
Eric Sands’ coupling of the unbeaten even money favourite Champery and the consistent My Emblem dominated the betting, with plenty of interest in the speedy Ennion charge, Just Felicity – a dream racehorse buy at R40 000 on any day!
The latter showed the way against a tight rein, tracked by My Emblem and Champery.
These were the only three that mattered as they approached the 350m marker with Brandon Morgenrood delaying the need to draw his stick as his mount’s natural pace held sway.
Marcus got stuck into My Emblem as she went for Just Felicity with Champery moving up on the outside.
At the 50m mark, the three raced abreast, and it was anybody’s cheque.
With just two short heads separating the trio, My Emblem stuck her head down under a powerful Marcus drive where it counted most, to beat the gallant Just Felicity, with Champery beaten into third.
The winner, who started at 5-2, clocked a time of 74,22 secs.
Brandon Morgenrood- two feature seconds behind Marcus
Marcus proved the nemesis of Cape heavyweight jockey Brandon Morgenrood, who had to be content with the runner-up berth in both features on the afternoon.
Just Felicity looks to win a good few more, as does the Querari filly Champery, who looked very dangerous late on.
My Emblem has now won twice from her four starts with two places and took her stakes earnings to R146 750.
The Favour Stud-bred filly is by National Emblem out of the twice winning Captain Al mare Me ‘n You and was purchased by Mayfair Speculators for R280 000 at the CTS Lanzerac Ready To Run Sale.
Her year younger brother was sold for R550 000 on the Cape Premier Yearling Sale earlier this year.
Dean Kannemeyer and veteran rider Karl Neisius were the most succesful trainer-jockey combination on the afternoon with a nice double.
