Racing: Strapper will be in hot seat next time Marcurous lines up

By BARRY STREET

Samantha Spratt was by far the most excited strapper at Ellerslie yesterday after leading in Marcurous for a stylish win in a $30,000 listed sprint.

The Takanini apprentice is Marcurous' regular rider but could not take the mount in the Novotel Ellerslie (formerly Newmarket) Handicap because of a suspension.

Pukekohe jockey Lee Rutherford did a first-class substitute role, kicking 3-year-old Marcurous straight to the front in the listed 1200m from an extremely difficult No 12 draw.

Two other well-fancied speedsters, Our Beekay and Bahira, threatened to finish the stronger, but Marcurous kicked again to score by a length and three-quarters.

The win was Marcurous' sixth from only nine races and thrilled his co-trainers, Colin Jillings and Richard Yuill, who fully appreciated the hardship of his barrier position in a group or listed race.

"That was quite a run from that far out [at the start]," Jillings enthused when declaring the gelding a definite starter in the group one Sky City Railway Stakes on New Year's Day.

"They weren't slow horses he beat, either."

Jillings also confirmed that Spratt would be back as Marcurous' rider in the $250,000 second leg of the Lion Red Auckland Cup double.

"She has a 100 per cent record on the horse. So, yes, she'll ride him in the Railway.

"I'd like to think he'd draw a good bit handier next time, though, because the opposition will be stronger."

The rivalry Jillings was referring to includes star lower North Island sprinter Tit For Taat, the Graeme Rogerson-trained Australian gallopers Century Kid and Fair Embrace and two other transtasman invaders, Sir Breakfast and last year's Railway runner-up, Super Impressive.

Our Beekay's connections seemed likely yesterday to switch from a Railway attempt to the $18,000 open 1400m at Ellerslie on Saturday.

"I recommended that 1400m would suit him much better than 1200," Melbourne jockey Greg Childs said after finishing second yesterday on Our Beekay.

Third-placed Bahira, from the Paul O'Sullivan stable at Matamata, will also bypass the Railway.

"Her main mission is the Thorndon Mile [on January 25] at Trentham," Paul O'Sullivan explained.

"We decided on that after she finished fourth and was a good thing beaten in the Cuddle Stakes at Trentham last month.

"Today's race seemed like a good lead-up to the Thorndon, but I didn't expect her to start favourite. She's a miler, not a 1200m horse."