Magical Marcus – Anton Marcus keeps Meadow Magic going to beat Beacon Flare in last year’s big race
Interest is mounting as first entry stage of Africa’s richest race on sand, the R600 000 Gr2 Emerald Cup, passed on Monday 2 September.
The thrilling finish to Saturday’s Gr3 August Stakes, where Weiho Marwing’s coupling Here Comes Billy and former Cape based Uncle Tommy ran first and second, was the perfect tonic to ignite interest in the Emerald Cup to be run at the Vaal on Saturday 28 September
The big sand race will be run for the ninth time.
The day will consist of a full programme including several feature races, of which the Emerald Cup is the highlight.
The six other features are the:
1 000m HAMPTON HANDICAP (Listed) R150 000
1 000m BANYANA HANDICAP (Listed) R150 000
1 450m EMERALD FILLIES HANDICAP (Listed) R150 000
1 800m VAAL RIVER HANDICAP (Non-Black Type) R125 000
1 000m SOPHOMORE 1000 (Non-Black Type) R125 000
1 000m SOPHOMORE FILLIES 1000 (Non-Black Type) R125 000
Entries closed for the Emerald Cup this past Monday and supplementary entries will be accepted until 11h00 on 9 September.
Declarations are due by 11h00 on Wednesday 18 September and a live draw will take place on the same evening.
The first eight finishers will receive a share of the R600 000 stake, with the winner banking a healthy R360 000 right down to the eighth horse, who will cover lunch expenses with R3000.
This Grade II race is run over a distance of 1450m on the Vaal sand track situated close to the banks of the Vaal River.
Previous victors include solid sand warriors like Meadow Magic, The Mouseketeer, Iron Curtain and Phunyuka.
In 2012 Mike de Kock clinched his second Emerald Cup victory as Meadow Magic, ridden by Anton Marcus, beat Beacon Flare by a neck. De Kock’s previous win was in 2005 with the Oppenheimer owned Hilti.
The race is a spectacular day out for the entire family. Entertainment is available for all ages and includes live music and activities for the little ones. Braai facilities are available right next to the racetrack.
Emerald Resort and Casino CEO Martin Rice said :
“Not only is The Emerald Cup one of our premier annual events, it has grown into one of South Africa’s most anticipated horse racing events on the calendar which traditionally attracts top quality competitors. It is also a great opportunity to showcase the local Vaal and Sedibeng municipality and enhance the flow of tourism to the Vaal region.”
