3 minute read

Grant van Niekerk, not normally a jockey who likes to think too much about tactics beforehand, has been giving a fair bit of thought to how he and Marinaresco can floor odds-on shot Legal Eagle in the R1.5m, Group 1 WFA L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate (1600m) at Kenilworth on Saturday.

“The draw (ten out of 11) is a bit of a problem and it’s going to be tough to get a nice position,” he admits. “I am going to give him a chance but I don’t want to be too far back.

“Marinaresco loves to be switched off early when he doesn’t like a lot of pressure on him. But he finishes strongly so I am not going to change anything.”

The horse has less than half a length to find on Green Point running. Can he do it?

“I hope so. He is capable of beating Legal Eagle and he probably needed his run last time but he will be right come Saturday," he said.

“They went really fast in the Green Point and that brought out the best in my horse so I am hoping that they go a similar sort of pace. We will be fighting it out.”

In the R1m, Group 1 Maine Chance Farms Paddock Stakes (1800m) for fillies and mares Silver Mountain has almost a length and a half to find with Bela-Bela. What chance has she got of reversing the form?

“She is doing very well. Whether she will see out the 1800m I don’t know but she switches off in a race and she is going to be finishing very strongly.”

In both races the rising star is up against Anton Marcus, four times champion and rated one of the best jockeys in the world. What does van Niekerk make of his opponent?

“It’s very tough riding against him – he is different class. I don’t want to be too far off him this time because when Anton skips you it is hard to catch him,” he said.