With Anthony Delpech side-lined, possibly permanently after his tragic and debilitating fall last season, and a dearth of opposition in the ranks, Anton Marcus has had free rein picking the plums in KZN.

Delpech kept the rivalry honest, but as a one-man business Marcus has no peers among our jockey ranks. A rider of undoubted talent and an astute student of form, no agents for him, and as any trainer will attest, if Marcus calls for a ride you know you may have done something right.

Marcus has booked himself a top book of rides on the Greyville poly this evening. Some may end up false favourites but he has a number of strong mounts for local trainers and visiting trainer Johan Janse van Vuuren has also tapped into his talent and the pair can make hay to night.

River Ayre (Candiese Marnewick)

The combination should get off to a winning start with El Sereno in the first although the gelding is deep in the red and probably not a betting proposition unless you are in to buying money. El Sereno has made steady improvement since making his debut back in May and came from way back to run second last time out. He looks cherry-ripe for this contest where Gordonstoun is the most likely threat. Duncan Howells was of the opinion that his charge was one-paced over the shorter sprint last time out and he can prove better over the extra furlong.

Marcus teams up with the Van Vuuren runner Torrey Pines in the fourth. The lightly raced filly is rated lengths superior to any of the opposition according to the merit ratings and should win as far as you can hit a golf ball.

Van Vuuren and Marcus could well be on track for a winning treble with Mademoiselle in the sixth. She finished a close-up second to River Ayre last time out and who has subsequently franked that form with another victory and is one of the fancied runners in the tenth at Turffontein tomorrow.

Mademoiselle takes to the poly for the first time and although she faces a mixed bag, 11-10 in the ante-post market looks a fair reflection of her chances.

Marcus looks to have picked another plum in the form of Antony Hotspur in the second. Alistair Gordon’s gelding has come back well after fracturing a bone his hock first time out. Recently rested, he was beaten two short-heads in his come-back run and with Marcus and a good draw in his favour he looks the right one in what is a competitive handicap field.

The opening leg of the Pick 6 is a tough race. Blinkers are not always a magic trick but they worked for Nathan Kotzen’s runner Virtuous who made major improvement last time out. That form has held up although the race is still wide open. The Grey Crusader has threatened for some time and the booking of Marcus has him favourite in the ante-post betting but the race goes a lot deeper than that. Captain Snell shows some promise and is a must include in all bets.

By Andrew Harrison