Summerhill salutes BASIL MARCUS!

Basil Marcus
(Heather Morkel)

Charl Pretorius FreeracerIt’s been just over four years since Basil Marcus saddled his first winner, Katherine, on 24 August 2004. Basil Marcus has gone from strength to strength and Mick Goss of Summerhill Stud this week paid tribute to the former jockey whose fierce dedication and hard work are the two main attributes to his success.

Basil Marcus has trained several Summerhill graduates in his short career, among them his first top horse Majestic Sun, Deal A Double, Savannah Beat (two wins for Basil Marcus and five for Gavin Smith and recent Grade 1 Gold Cup winner, Dubai-bound Desert Links. The trainer says that Don’t Tell Titch is perhaps his best horse from the 2006 Ready To Run Sale and that there are several nice ones “on the way’’ from last year’s sale, including a couple sired by National Emblem.

“There is so much more involved in being a trainer,’’ said Basil Marcus yesterday. “Training is a longer and more complicated journey, but it gives me more satisfaction than being a jockey ever did!’’

Basil Marcus said he has relied on Summerhill for tough horses that train on. “I can sum up the Ready To Run Sale in one word, and that is ‘Value’. The sale is getting stronger every year, but the value is always there!’’