Do It Again the perfect partner as Anton Marcus wins record fifth Durban July
Report: South Africa, Saturday
Greyville: Vodacom Durban July (Grade 1 handicap) 1m3f, turf, 3yo+
Anton Marcus rode into the record books by winning South Africa's most famous race for the fifth time when steering the three-year-old Do It Again – a son of Sir Henry Cecil’s dual Champion Stakes winner Twice Over – to a 9-1 victory over stable companions Made To Conquer and Elusive Silva.
Piere Strydom and Anthony Delpech have both won the race four times – as did the legendary Tiger Wright in the 1940s and 1950s – but Marcus played down his achievement, saying: "I don't place too much store by records. They're just something you put up on the wall."
However for trainer Justin Snaith, who also had the fifth, African Night Sky, it set the seal on a season that has seen him regain the trainers’ championship.
This was his third July win and Do It Again was one of several horses he rode on Wednesday when stable staff at the Summerveld training centre staged a three-hour strike for more money.
Snaith said: "He was the only one of my five July runners I rode work that morning but when you ride them yourself you get a feel and I knew he was right."
Made To Conquer was London-born Jeff Lloyd’s 27th and final July ride. He flies back to Australia on Monday and he is due to retire at the end of the month.
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Published on 8 July 2018inInternational
Last updated 13:21, 8 July 2018
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