Hill Fifty Four, second in last year’s Group 1 J&B Met, went
one better to gain redemption in one of South Africa’s most important races while earning his
first victory at the highest level on Saturday at Kenilworth.
It was apparent that no one wanted the lead through the
early stages of the 2000-meter race, but once placed there jockey Anton Marcus gave Hill Fifty Four an
enterprising ride. Cantering along through easy opening splits, Marcus guided his mount wide
after swinging into the straight, losing a few positions as those in behind began to gather
momentum.
That proved no matter for Hill Fifty Four, however, who came roaring back in the
closing stages to regain the lead and post a confident victory. The result was a family
affair, as Hill Fifty Four was bred by Klawervlei Stud — owned in partnership by Hill Fifty Four’s
owners Ingris and Markus Jooste — and is by its resident leading sire Captain Al, who was
trained by Vaughan Marshall.
“Its just a wonderful feeling, and to have trained this
horse’s father and won the Guineas with him — it’s a very special moment,” Marshall said. “I
discussed it with Anton and everything just worked out according to plan, so I was very happy
during the running.”
“I knew there wasn’t much speed in the race,” Marcus explained. “I knew there were
two horses who probably wanted to sit in the first quadrant, and possibly only two
horses that potentially could lead.
“Vaughan didn’t tie me down — either way if someone else had
lead I would have been very happy to take a sit. I just felt that last time I sat a bit
long on him when he ran fourth behind Master of My Fate.
“It’s been a while in between drinks — the
last time I won this race was in 1993,” Marcus added. “I’ve had about six or seven seconds in between, so
I’m just elated to win it for Vaughan, and more importantly just a credit for (Markus Jooste).”
The winner of three straight races over the 2012/13
season, including the Group 3 Algoa Cup and Group 2 Peninsula Handicap, Hill Fifty Four tried Group 1 company for the
first time in this race last year when he just missed out to Martial Eagle.
Third behind Beach Beauty in the Group 2 Drill Hall next out, the five-year-old
gelding failed
to hit the board in his last two outings of the season, finishing sixth in the Group 1 Gold
Challenge and a lackluster 19th in the Group 1 Durban July.
Hill Fifty Four resumed with a flat-footed 11th in the Group 2
Green Point on November 23, but improved to be second to Master of My Fate in the Group 2 Premier Trophy
on December 14. He finished fourth behind that same rival,
who checked in fifth in the Met, when looking to defend his title in the Peninsula
last out on January 11.
Prior to the Met, Beach Beauty was at her best once again while collecting her second-straight Group 1 and
fourth overall in the 1600-meter Majorca. While the champion provided a few tense moments in midstretch, she ultimately
showed her age has not worn on her, forging to the front and drawing clear for yet another
emotional victory.
Breaking widest of all from gate 13 here, jockey Sean Cormack guided the
modern-day darling of South African racing into a stalking
position a few paths off the rail before the field hit the first turn. Traveling in that
position throughout, Beach Beauty appeared to lack a swift turn of foot at the top of the lane, but a
sustained rally got her to the lead in midstretch, and the plucky bay drove clear for the victory inside the
final furlong.
“I get speechless — I actually get very emotional when I ride this filly,”
Cormack said. “I don’t care how good they are, it was impossible to overcome her draw, and she just
does it. She got caught a little bit flat footed, but by the time she got into stride it was
just sort of race over.”
Owned by a syndicate formed to honor a late friend, Beach Beauty
recorded five group victories through her first two years on the track, but that first
Group 1
victory eluded her until almost a year ago when she scored in the Group 1 Paddock. A stab at the Met last year resulted in a respectable third-place finish, and
the six-year-old daughter of Dynasty bounced back to
take the Group 2 Drill Hall next out.
Second in the Group 1 Gold Challenge thereafter, Beach Beauty
wrapped up the season with a victory in the Group 1 Garden Province on July 6. Resuming with
a victory in the Group 2 Pinnacle on October 26, she finished third in the Group 2 Green Point
on November 23, but returned to defend her title in the January 11 Paddock last
out.
“The more they come and throw everything at
her, the more she just proves herself,” trainer Dennis Drier said. “She’s just too good. We’ll go back to Durban and
see where we go from there.
“We’ll chat to the syndicate, and once again thanks to them.
Without them, I would never have had Beach Beauty, so well done to all of them. What can I
say — it was a great ride from Sean. I said to him, ‘You know her better than I do, I’ve done the
work at home, over to you,’ and he passed with flying colors.”
The group action got underway in the Group 1 Cape Derby when Legislate
captured the 2000-meter contest. The Dynasty sophomore finished out of the money just twice in his
seven-race career prior to Saturday, but emerged a Group 1 winner by upending race favorite Captain America.
Traveling in rear throughout, Legislate wove his way through
rivals at the top of the lane, broke clear in midstretch and quickly distanced himself from the
pack. Captain America emerged for a late challenge, but it was too late, as Legislate was
already too far gone.
Graduating in his third
outing over this course last September, the Justin Snaith trainee strung together three runner-up efforts
thereafter, including the Group 2 Selangor Cup on November 23. The bay was last seen finishing a flat 10th in the Group 1
Cape Guineas over this track on December 21.
Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com