Under a masterful ride from Anton Marcus, Exit Here booked his place in the Gr1 CTS Cape Guineas with a tactical victory in the KZN Guineas Trial at Greyville yesterday.
Marcus is at his most lethal when allowed to dictate matters and he played the field on the brake from the jump as Charles Laird’s runner notched his fourth consecutive victory.
Not a cheap buy, prolific owners Alesh Naidoo and Markus Jooste pushed to R1,1 million at the Cape Thoroughbred Yearlings Sales to acquire the son of Jay Peg, but after yesterday’s victory things are looking up.
Rikitikitana was the talking horse of the race in spite of Exit Here having reeled off three straight, much to the surprise of Laird. “I’m surprised that he was written off. He had the best form and he’s a fighter. He hasn’t reached (his potential) it yet. He’s not a horse that shows much at home but as I say you don’t win at home, you win at Greyville.”
Exit Here (Nkosi Hlophe)
Marcus echoed Laird’s sentiments. “The penny still hasn’t quite dropped. He shows absolutely nothing at home and if you had seen his work on Tuesday you would not have backed him in a maiden.”
But all credit must go to Marcus. He set his own fractions and when first challenge by Beluga and then Rikitikitana, Exit Here kept finding and eventually drew off to win as he liked.
Duncan Howells was bitterly disappointed that Saratoga Dancer didn’t make the field for last week’s Charity Mile after the handicappers, in a rare show of charity when not needed, they failed to raise the gelding’s merit rating that would have seen him into the race instead of first reserve
The Sansui Summer Cup was planned but after yesterday’s hard-fought victory in the seventh over ten furlongs, Cup pretentions were shelved.
“He was so well for the Charity Mile that I had to run him. But I think it was his class that got him through today and I think the Turffontein 2000m would be beyond him.”
Exit Here and Saratoga Dancer restored some sanity to what proved a day of upsets with the two Apprentice Handicaps the culprits.
Four-claiming Ntokosi Gumede has not had many opportunities but if he needs any racing tutelage it cannot come from better than veteran Garth Puller, one of the legends of the South African turf. In what always looked to be a difficult race, Gumede produced Rumbullion with a wet sail to nail favourite Kolinsky.
Puller was critical of the handicappers, echoing what has long been a gripe among trainers. “I know handicapping is a difficult job but rating young horses up in the eighties after their first win is tough.”
From an early rating of 82, Rumbullion raced off a MR of 62 yesterday plus a 4kg claim.
“With money so tight owners can’t wait a year-and-a-half for their next win,” said Puller.
Hevlan van de Hoven replaced Xavier Carstens on rank outsider Lady Cougar in the second of the apprentice races and the pair torpedoed the majority of Pick 6 tickets. In a driving finish, with short-heads separating the first four, the mare got up to shade Fantasy Art, Secret Warning and Bermuda.
By Andrew Harrison
