The Durban July plunge on Marinaresco continues with a vengeance following his win – with scarcely believable ease – in the Winter Classic at Kenilworth on Saturday, writes Michael Clower.
Marinaresco – big hope
Eight days ago he was as big as 28-1 but now you will be lucky to get more than 10-1.
Indeed Betting World slashed him from 18-1 to 8-1 joint second favourite with Abashiri on Saturday evening. Black Arthur still heads the market for the great Vodacom race, albeit easing from 7-2 to 9-2, while Friday night’s 1900 winner Solid Speed has been cut from 22-1 to 10-1 and runner-up St Tropez from 50-1 to 14-1.
Grant van Niekerk, beaten a short head on 55-1 shot Smanjemanje in the 2012 July, reckons this could be the one to put the record straight and said: “He gives me goose bumps. He is probably the best I’ve ridden, he is still maturing and he will be a big runner in the July.”
Mind you, it wasn’t all plain sailing. Marinaresco saw too much daylight early on and fought for his head with a race-losing intensity. “At one stage I was three wide and I panicked a bit,” said the jockey, echoing the nail-biting anxiety of those who backed the favourite down to 17-20. “But then I managed to get in and he switched off.”
Grant Van Niekerk – just a salute
Van Niekerk cruised up with a double handful a furlong out and never had to ask his mount any sort of question. Indeed he was easing up well before the line – doubtless mindful of what the handicappers will do when they discuss it in video conference today – and put out his left hand, palm up, in a gesture that had the riders in the stands scratching their heads in bemusement.
“It was just a salute,” he said but the stipes took exception as well as R1 000 of his R14 000 percentage.
There are 40 above the Mauritzfontein-bred Silvano gelding in the July log but a five point increase – the official margin was less than half a length so it’s hard to see him getting more – would take out 14 of them. The selection panel have two wild cards at their disposal and Mike Bass’s last hurrah would surely present an impossible-to-ignore case, particularly carrying the famous Marsh Shirtliff colours.
“He’s got to get a run now and he comes in nicely (at the weights). He’s a little machine,” said the trainer who was winning his eighth Winter Classic.
“He’s only 15.1 or 15.2 but he has an amazing turn of foot,” added daughter Candice.
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