Decisive Win. Astro News (Anton Marcus) comes clear to beat Gold Onyx and Roman Wall in the Michael Roberts Handicap
The inconsistent but smart on his day chestnut gelding Astro News completed a terrific weekend feature treble for our newly crowned champion sire Silvano, when he took the honours in the R135 000 Listed Michael Roberts Handicap run over 1750m at Scottsville on Sunday.
The annual Michael Roberts raceday is a unique gesture by the local racing operator to honour one of its greatest sons. This really is a notable event in an industry that generally treats its traditions and legends as if they never actually existed.
The eleven time SA champion jockey is widely regarded as our all-time greatest jockey, and received a belated acknowledgement from the broader racing industry when he became the first legend capped in the inaugural Legends Of The Saddle Award at Emperors Palace last November.
Popularly labelled “South Africa’s best export since Gary Player”, Roberts left South Africa in March 1978 for his first riding spell in the United Kingdom.
In winning the coveted British Jockeys Championship in 1992, Michael Roberts added his name to those on the list of racing’s rare icons including Sir Gordon Richards, Lester Piggott and Pat Eddery.
Roberts has won Sunday’s feature race himself as a jockey and trainer, but did not saddle a runner this year.
The twelve strong field got away on terms but Coy Boy was very slow away.
Gothic led the field around the bend and into the home run as Serissa and Mercurial Brave chased to take over. Astro News tucked away five lengths off the action with the fancied Gold Onyx a few lengths further back.
King Of Torts and Gold Onyx looked dangerous inside the final 300m as Astro News wound up for a late challenge down the inside.
Anton Marcus bounced Astro News into the lead at the 200m marker and it was clear that he was going best as he drew off to beat Gold Onyx by 2,25 lengths in a time of 104.48 secs.
The mercurial Roman Wall ran on nicely for an improved third, ahead of the slow starting Coy Boy who ran a cracker after losing many lengths at the jump.
The Mike De Kock trained Mercurial Brave appeared to have every chance and was prominent, but faded and was tailed off last.
Winning jockey Anton Marcus , whose first feature win this was for 2014 (and third winner overall ) was full of praise for trainer Charles Laird :
“It was a tremendous training feat bringing him back from PE into the Summer Cup and then this race. I really thought he had his work cut out, but he was more than equal to the challenge. It is imperative that he gets the right tempo in his races to allow him to drop his head. It was a good win all round,” he said.
Astro News’ groom Moses also received a trophy, while trainer Charles Laird was absent.
Astro News was bred by Oldlands Stud and sold for R200 000 on the National Yearling Sale.
He is by Silvano out of the seven time winning Dominion Royale mare, Orange Moon.
Silvano also sired the winners of the Cape features on Saturday in Omaticaya and Silver Holly.
Maine Chance Farm’s resident Silvano has continued from where he left off after being crowned champion sire in South Africa for 2012-13.
The son of Lomitas sired five Grade 1 winners during the season, including Durban July hero Heavy Metal, who scored on the same weekend as Group 1 Deutsches Derby winner Lucky Speed.
In winning the title, Silvano took over the crown from perennial champion Jet Master who died in 2011
His son Astro News has now won 6 races with 15 places from his 38 starts.
He took his career earnings to R935 325.
