SEVEN-YEAR-OLD bay gelding Marcus Antonius by Roman Ruler out of Sky Mystic will face a stern test while carrying the weight of representing the Christ Church-based Hopefield Stable in Saturday’sSandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup.
The Liz Deane-trained horse has been plagued with problems from his first race on local soil throughout his career, which has seen him accumulate five wins from 22 track appearances.
Unplaced in his previous two Gold Cups, Marcus Antonius has won twice over the Gold Cup distance albeit against weaker opposition. He made a grand return from injury in February last year, when he upset two 2017 Gold Cup runners in stablemate Daunting David and Knight Rider.
That effort left fans wondering why he was not a first choice pick for the stable in last year’s event.
He eventually took his place in the starting gates in the Spa Sprint, a distance which proved too short for him despite gaining third place behind speedsters Wild Cat Tea and Lucky Adventure.
Following another third place effort, Marcus Antonius’ form then went south as he ran a distant last in his first 1 800 metres run of last year, won by Infrared.
To add insult to injury, he fell in the Diamond International/Crown Of Light Boxing Day Stakes over 1 570 metres, going down in the paddock bend on Boxing Day.
Having made a quick recovery from that misfortune, he was well positioned in the four-horse Coolmore “Home Of Champions” Stakes field at the end of January, only to fizzle out at the back.
In Shining Copper and Sir Dudley Digges, who represent the United States of America, and two-time defending champion Dorsett, Marcus Antonius has a tough challenge.
Should Marcus Antonius pull off this hijack, it will give owner Sir David Seale another Gold Cup win to add to those of Bentom, triple winner Sandford Prince, Chou Chou Royale, Dancin David and Aristodemus.
Race day rider Anderson Trotman, has won the Gold Cup astride Aristodemus, having earlier taken the 2005 edition for the stable and on Feet On Flames, while Marcus Antonius’ trainer Deane’s first success in this race came back in 2007 through Whiskey For Me. She is responsible for Hopefield Stable’s last pair of wins in 2012 and 2013. (LY)