Red-letter Sun Met for Marcus

Sun Met day 2019 was both a memorable and an emotional experience for jockey Anton Marcus.

Not only did the former champion jockey win the Sun Met celebrated with G.H.MUMM on Rainbow Bridge, but also the two CTS R5-million sales races on Cirillo and One World respectively at Kenilworth on Saturday.

More significantly, when Rainbow Bridge made his late charge to victory it marked the significant milestone of 100th Grade 1 victory in South Africa alone for the highly experienced rider.

While it was wonderful to win all three R5-million races on the day, capturing the Sun Met on Rainbow Bridge was a fairytale victory because this was the horse the late Chris Gerber believed would win him the Sun Met.

“It’s special. I’m sure Chris (Gerber) is looking down on us. I couldn’t have asked for a better day,” said Marcus.

“I had my reservations as to whether Rainbow Bridge would see out 2000m but he proved me wrong.”After being well beaten by Do It Again in the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate, Rainbow Bridge was allowed to go off at 17-4 as the former went off a solid 15-10 favourite.

Head Honcho was many peoples’ favourite outsider, and in something of a shock managed to beat Milton to pace-making duties.

Made To Conquer and last year’s winner Oh Susanna raced handy, but the filly was rather unsettled early on.

Rainbow Bridge was two thirds of the way back about 10 lengths off the gallop, with Do It Again near the rear a further four lengths behind as they turned for home.

Head Honcho skipped clear as they entered the straight, and halfway up still enjoyed a healthy advantage of about three lengths.

The early effort started to take its toll though, and Rainbow Bridge began to assume prominence as they entered the fi nal 200m.

He ran on strongly under a trademark driving ride from Marcus, and sailed on by in the closing stages to win by 0.75 lengths.

Do It Again also finished stoutly down the inside to just get the be er of a gallant Head Honcho on the line, but never looked like beating Rainbow Bridge this time.

Undercover Agent was fourth and Legal Eagle fifth.

As usual Rainbow Bridge was sweating up in the preliminaries, but it made no difference to the outcome.

“It’s only when he gets on the fl oat that he gets worked up. It was a great ride from Anton,” said veteran trainer Sand.

Both CTS races were won by the respective favourites and scored easy wins for Marcus.

First off , popular Pick 6 banker Cirillo made no mistake as he romped to victory in Race 4 at Kenilworth, the R5- million CTS 1200.

Well-weighted fi lly Temple Grafin set a brisk pace, but cried enough around 400m out.

Marcus had ridden the 15-10 favourite confidently up handy, and when he pushed the button around 200m out he surged clear of outsider Elusive Trader, who had briefly looked like causing an upset.

After that it was over as a con-test, and he cruised in by an effortless 3.50 lengths. “He was the class horse in the race. ”He’s very speedy at home, and I wasn’t worried by the drop to 1200m,” said trainer Sean Tarry afterwards.

Just over half an hour later One World (2-1) virtually made all to win the CTS 1600, proving his Cape Guineas run was all wrong.

Market rival Twist Of Fate came forward to challenge half-way up the straight but not for the first time One World found more when challenged, and went away again to score by over a length.

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