Big 37 For 54!

Courageous Win. Hill Fifty Four keeps going to win the big one (Hamish Niven Photography)

Many thought that Hill Fifty Four had missed the one chance that he had to win the Met when running second to outsider Martial Eagle in 2013. But the son of Captain Al came out in a galloping mood at Kenilworth on Saturday to pull off a rather spectacular win in the R2,5 million Gr1 race over 2000m and run for the 37^th time under the J&B banner.

And the wonderful sport of horseracing proved again that it is one of life’s great levellers.

When those gates open it really is open season on the roll of the dice and being in the right position at the right time.

Employing the right man for the job helps too.Anton Marcus showed his genius in the saddle by coming out of the stalls with a plan from his draw in the dugouts of the Youngsfield Miltary Base.

It is unbelievable to note that Marcus actually went in here having last ridden a Met winner twenty years ago.

All The Way! Hill Fifty Four strides clear to win well (Equine Edge)

Timing Issue

He had only four scheduled rides on the day (he picked up a chance on Counts Rocket in the Derby) and left Cape Town with an eighty percent strike rate. Other than Happy Forever in the second, he was not on choice rides by any means either and there must be many punters wishing that they had only just taken the approximately 1400 to 1 Marcus quad and enjoyed the racing!

It is also debatable whether Anton Marcus would actually have even  ridden  Hill Fifty Four if his retainer with the Joostes hadn’t obliged him to partner the  5yo. There certainly were more choice rides on paper.

The organisers were caught offsides when a logistical problem with the jockey introductions led to the race being delayed slightly.

Hill Fifty Four  was gradually brought across from his wide gate and led early from No Worries and Royal Zulu Warrior, with  Punta Arenas more prominent than usual.

Happy Days. Anton Marcus chats to Tellytrack’s Fee Ramsden (Hamish Niven Photography)

Derailed

Capetown Noir was settled eight lengths back in midfield, but never got on to the rail.

Into the long home stretch, Hill Fifty Four drifted to the outside and looked beaten inside the final 400m. The pack were chasing down the inside and the midfield, and looked to be gaining  on the leader.

But Marcus never stopped riding and in one of the great pacemaking comebacks seen in a Gr1 in recent years, Hill Fifty Four found reserves of strength and energy.

Hard ridden, he went on with his effort doggedly and won by 1,75 lengths in a time of 123,93 secs.

Hill Fifty Four races in the Jooste silks and  his win  broke the Jooste best previous record of four Met second place finishes.

Power Players

The balance of power in the SA owner ranks was also demonstrated again by the fact that the winning owners have shares in the second and fourth finishers too.

For trainer Vaughan Marshall, Hill Fifty Four was a second  Met winner after La Fabulous in 1996.

Got The Lot! Hill Fifty Four was fancied by some (Kirstie Rutherford)

No Pace

Jockey Anton Marcus said that he had worked out that there would be little pace in the race and would have been happy to have been given a lead, if that is the way it had worked out. He said his mount had run all the way to the line.

Trainer Vaughan Marshall said that the passion of a Met win was the same as training a maiden winner and that he was thrilled.

He thanked his two ‘loyal servants’ Adele Alsop and MJ Byleveld. In a lovely twist, history shows that Marshall trained Hill Fifty Four’s sire to win the Cape Guineas.

A blanket could be thrown over the placed runners.

Improved

Trainer Geoff Woodruff had said that Yorker would run a vastly improved race, and he was spot on, with his charge running a cracking second.

Yorker’s jockey Robbie Fradd was charged with a contravention of Rule 58.10.2 as he  misused his crop by hitting the Sansui Summer Cup winner more than three times on consecutive strides in the closing stages.

Fradd signed an admission of guilt and was fined R500.

Badge Boys

It was good to see the ‘Badge Boys’ silks in a Gr1 finish again as Stan Elley’s Punta Arenas (1.95 lengths) ran on gallantly, and was one of the horses in the top three places tested by the Stipes.

He really is a big hearted horse who deserves a change of luck. Especially with the draw gods.

Sean Tarry’s Whiteline Fever (2,70 lengths) proved that he just about stays the 2000m trip by rallying well for fourth. He is surely overdue to win something decent this year.

The tote favourite Master Of My Fate (2,90 lengths) failed to spark after having every chance and this may have been a bridge too far in a tough season for the smashing son of Jet Master. He returned with an overreach wound on the left front heel and there is no doubt that he will be back in Champions Season. One thinks of the Drill Hall Stakes as an early target.

Every Chance

The Green Point Stakes winner Ice Machine (3,40 lengths) had every chance and just failed to make headway after trying his heart out.

The L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate winner Capetown Noir (3,90 lengths) could not get in to his preferred position on the rail and that magic kick that we saw in the big mile did not materialise.

Joey Ramsden’s King Of Pain (4,40 lengths) was never a threat and is developing into something of an enigmatic sort.

After the fuss during midweek about his injury sustained in the official gallops, Jet Explorer (4,80 lengths) did not kick on at all.

Made To Conquer! The fashionistas were out in force (Kirstie Rutherford)

Unsettled

Piere Strydom gave No Worries (4,85 lengths) every chance but the exertions of overcoming his wide draw meant the son of Kahal rounded off what must have been a largely frustrating Cape summer for Gavin Van Zyl.

Royal Zulu Warrior (4,95 lengths) had the best of the draw but was difficult to settle early and  never showed . He may not have stayed the trip.

Weiho Marwing’s Wylie Hall (5 lengths) failed to bring his Gauteng  form to the Met party and the experiment of a late raid did not work for Michael Leaf’s talented Redoute’s Choice colt.

The only filly in the race, Do You Remember (5,30 lengths) also lacked punch and made no impact.

The fancied Jackson (5,70 lengths) once again disappointed his legion of followers. There were no apparent excuses but he returned distressed and the Stipes requested that the Veterinary Surgeon examine him on his return to the unsaddling enclosure and to submit a report.

Arthur’s Theme

Lake Arthur (6,10 lengths) failed to give trainer Yogas Govender a dream double and he appears  to have stamina limitations.

Glen Puller’s gallant Surging River gelding Awesome Power (6,30  lengths) never really showed but should win his races when he goes back to the lower handicaps.

Dean Kannemeyer’s Silvano gelding Hot Ticket (7,80 lengths) may have found this test coming too early in his career. The good stayer would ironically probably have been far more comfortable in the J&B Jet Stayers run over the 2800m.

The Veterinary Surgeon was requested to examine the last placed Master Sabina (17,05 lengths)  on his return to the unsaddling enclosure and submit a report.

Klawervlei Quality

Hill Fifty Four was bred by the Gr1 Majorca Stakes sponsors, Klawervlei Stud.

He is the legendary Captain Al’s first Met winner and is out of the two time winning Sportsworld mare, Sports Dance.

Hill Fifty Four has now won 7 races with 7 places from his 19 starts.

He more than doubled his stakes earnings after his biggest payday to a healthy R2  654 310.His previous biggest win was the 2013 Gr2 Peninsula Handicap.

He also put a disastrous 2013 Durban July effort well behind him.

Wet Patch

The conspiracy theorists that were speculating about the Kenilworth track only being irrigated on one side of the course (and thus taken tactical advantage of by Marcus) were silenced by Kenilworth track manager Dean Diedericks who laughed when questioned about the watering.

“The irrigation is programmed and we follow a timetable. There is no truth in the statement that the track was watered unevenly. What I may do though is move the outside rail early next week,” he said in response to our enquiry.