THE South African connection loomed large at Happy Valley last night with both Basil Marcus and Jeff Lloyd riding doubles.
Dual champion jockey Marcus customarily plunders these meetings on the dirt. He was on the mark with the Ivan Allan-trained pair Many Treasure and All-Winners in the second and sixth events.
Lloyd, understandably, took time to find his feet when first arriving from South Africa where he is their champion jockey. But he is warming to the task with every meeting and starting to get the mounts his considerable riding skills deserve.
His double came from spare ride Wind Traveller in the fourth and Valiant Red for new Jockey Club chairman John Swaine in the final event.
Marcus' double took him to 12 winners for the campaign and left him one clear of Tony Cruz. They fought out an enthralling duel for last season's championship and look set to do so again this term.
The never-say-die Marcus beamed: ''You can't argue with a double. I just wish I could ride them all the time, but when I don't, it's not for want of trying.
''Ivan [Allan] had both Many Treasure and All-Winners going well in the mornings, the question was how their races would develop - how much speed and pressure there would be. In the end, Many Treasure was able to lay up well enough and All-Winners, though pressured hard all the way, stuck to his task very gamely indeed.'' From last night's equitrack meeting the local racing circus turns to Sha Tin on Sunday and the eagerly-awaited reappearance of the David Hill-trained River Verdon.