Scottsville has proven a happy hunting ground this week for the Hollywood Syndicate and after Uncle Charlie’s good win on Wednesday, the progressive What A Winter colt Agent Murphy shed his maiden at the same venue on Sunday.
Agent Murphy had met a slightly more progressive horse on the day in the form of Joburg visitor Astrix on his Greyville debut at the end of last year.
Anton Marcus drives Agent Murphy to victory as Mr Minister chases hard (Pic – Candiese Marnewick / Gold Circle)
Having come on with the benefit of that experience, Anton Marcus had the odds-on favourite Agent Murphy in touch for much of the 1000m trip. In the final stages he came under fire from the speedy Mr Minister (the Judpot filly enjoyed a 5kg weight pull), who had run two places previously.
But despite the pressure, Agent Murphy did not disappoint punters and he went on to win smartly by a quarter length in a time of 57,68 secs.
A R200 000 National Yearling Sale buy, Agent Murphy was bred by the Eastern Cape-based Ascot Stud and is a son of Equus Champion sprinter What A Winter out of the unraced Al Mufti mare, Al Bella. He has earned over R136 000 in his two starts to date.
Jockey Anton Marcus said that he expected Agent Murphy to win far easier than he did, and joked that he would have blamed trainer Alyson Wright who rode Agent Murphy every morning – and who ‘molly coddled’ him.
Devin Heffer accepted the R50 000 BSA Added Value Stakes Bonus on behalf of Hollywood and said that the win was well-timed in advance of Sun Met week, where SA’s leading bookmakers would be active – handing out complimentary publications at Cape Town International Airport on Thursday and Friday to welcome visitors and also hosting a Met panel discussion at Hollywood Vasco on Friday evening.
