In an interview earlier in the week, Gavin van Zyl was confident that the winner of yesterday’s umThombothi Stakes (Non Black Type) at Scottsville would come from one of his four runners – he included son Chesney’s pair in the mix – but was uncertain of the right one.
Punters were not fazed however, as Marchingontogether was backed as if the result was already known. He duly landed the plunge, although hard-pressed to the line by ‘stable companion’ Blackball.
Marchingontogether had solid credentials before lining up in the Gauteng Guineas earlier this month where he finished with just three behind him.
But with blinkers removed, the son of Pathfork was settled mid-field by Warren Kennedy before moving though in the straight to win smartly. The year-older Blackball made a race of it but came up nearly a length shy with the filly Flichity By Farr running a cracker in her come-back from a break in third.
Anton Marcus seldom goes home without a winner, most often two, and he collected another double yesterday.
The first came for Shane Humby whose Mr Fitz looked the best bet on the card and lived up to his billing. Runner-up on debut behind Last Of The Legend, a winner in good company next time out, Mr Fitz franked that form with a solid performance that bodes well for the colt’s future.
There are few more passionate owners in racing than Rob Haswell, retired Municipal Manager of Msunduzi (Pietermaritzburg), but he was missing in action yesterday – work commitments – as Marcus rode a copybook race on Cumulus in the White Horse Function Room Handicap. Showing early pace, Marcus sat for as long as possible before asking Nathan Kotzen’s gelding for and effort and Cumulus responded smartly, finding another gear to motor to a convincing victory.
Milnerton-based trainer Piet Steyn, after winning a race at Kenilworth on Saturday, made a passionate plea for owners to support the smaller trainers, without them he reasoned, racing would be doomed. However, racing has a habit of ploughing the same furrow regardless of consequences.
The most popular winner on the day, no matter the lengthy odds, was the Gary Rich-trained Connect Me – spectators and fellow trainers alike warm in their congratulations. Rich, son of July winning trainer Dessie (Lightning Shot), operates a small string with the help of his daughter Tessa, and they get the best out of what they have.
Steyn put it bluntly to Racegoer writer Michael Clower. “In a year or two’s time we are going to end up with only four or five trainers in Cape Town, and racing can’t survive on that. They have got to start to support the smaller trainers. I know you can’t tell people where to put their horses but come and look at Milnerton and see how many empty stables there are.
“It’s a disaster and it comes from agents, breeders and the whole clique. It doesn’t matter how good you are – if you are not in that flow you can forget about it.”
Possibly an early warning for us in KZN!
By Andrew Harrison
