Jockey brings in Joyful Spirit and Desert Storm for trainers
In-form jockey Anton Marcus was at it again yesterday, helping out as former Hong Kong champion trainers Ivan Allan and David Hill as both continued their emergence from a lull.
Both trainers have begun to fire in recent weeks and Marcus was in the saddle as Allan's Joyful Spirit won the Kap Shui Mun Handicap over 1,650 metres on the dirt after Hill-trained Desert Storm was successful in the Class Four over 1,600m.
'It's great and I hope it keeps going,' smiled Marcus, whose form has been impeccable and he has rarely left a meeting without a win in recent weeks.
Allan said he had always been keen to try Joyful Spirit on the dirt but the lack of races for higher grade horses had put the appointment off until now.
'He is one of the best workers in the stable on the dirt and he has all that US blood,' Allan said. 'I was sure he'd handle it but there just weren't any suitable dirt races for him.'
Joyful Spirit has been a horse Allan prefers to hit the front late in races due to his tendency to loaf when clear and he gave Marcus the usual instructions yesterday.