Western Cape trainer Adam Marcus currently has his string in fine fettle, with five wins and the same number of seconds from the last 30 horses sent out. Punters in tune with Marcus’ hot streak of form were rewarded again yesterday when heavily backed favourites, Prince Alfred and Elegancia got the job done at Kenilworth.
“I’m delighted with the performance of my string at the moment.’ the young Milnerton- based son of riding legend, Basil Marcus, said. “We have to produce the goods with stock acquired under the radar because we don’t have the buying power as yet. So we look for lesser-bred but athletic types. My Dad has got the eye and is teaching me what to look for in a yearling at the sales. It’s great to have his experience in picking them.“ he declared.
Marcus the Elder was, of course, a world-class jockey who made a huge impact riding abroad after winning multiple championships in South Africa. He considers himself fortunate to now be passing on to his son the accumulated wisdom from those global travels, remarking. “I was lucky to have worked for good trainers – they taught me so much.”
Marcus really prospered during a lucrative stint riding in Hong Kong and underpins the stable’s purchases, holding shares in many of the 48 horses that presently make up Adam’s team. Marcus senior is in it as an owner purely for the enjoyment, yet derives special satisfaction seeing Adam making neat progress in an especially arduous profession.
“A good horse is a good horse anywhere, but Cape Town racing has real depth and is very competitive, so it’s not easy,” Adam acknowledged. It’s challenging taking on powerhouse barns that have up to three times more horses and huge spending power to snaffle potently bred youngsters. Marcus responds by showing great attention to detail in the yard and being extremely patient with his charges. Such sensitive handling increases the likelihood that horses will eventually realise their potential.
Using that conservative approach, Marcus has saddled 136 runners so far this season for 13 winners at a strike rate of 9%. Statistics for achieving placings are a laudable 55%, right up with the top conditioners in the country. This is testimony to Marcus only entering horses when ready and by choosing the right spots. He will not pitch a horse in unrealistically high, with Royal Badge’s victory in the Cape Summer Stayer’s the stable’s only Graded race success this term.
Instead, Marcus has been most productive at the lower levels, entering fit and contented horses exactly where they belong, then reaping the rewards. And when the next big horse comes around, father and son will work together to make it count, just as Basil did years ago when teeing champion, Jay Peg up for international stardom.