First Gr1 Fillies Guineas Success For Ridgemont And Anton Marcus!
[Article from Turf Talk]
Jockey Anton Marcus reckons that Saturday’s Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas winner Front and Centre is probably even better than her sparkling, lauded performance at Kenilworth on Saturday.
Marcus, who booted Front And Centre home to a 1.50-length win over Silvano’s Pride, with Clouds Unfold a further length back in third, said that this was a “litmus” test for Craig and Ross Kieswetter and Ridgmont/Highlands’ filly. She passed it with flying colours, but she had a bit left in reserve.
“She’s a pleasure to ride, there was only two higher rated horses than her in the race. I think she is even better than today’s performance,” Marcus commented. “I live in Durban and in Cape Town I am made to look good riding horses like this,” he quipped. Trainer Brett Crawford said that Front and Centre had suffered a “hiccup” in October but that she bounced back well. “She is a filly of true quality,” he enthused.
Front and Centre was a R300 000 buy from the Cape Premier Yearling Sale. She’s by Dynasty from Alignment (Alzao), and is a half-sister to Ridgemont Highlands Gr1 winning sire Potala Palace (Singspiel), himself already most promising at stud.
Front And Centre took her earnings to R795 625, unbeaten in four starts, with an already fantastic paddock value after this first Gr1 success.