Fairway's Turf Online

Marcus off the mark with Flying West

SINGAPORE, Jun 18, 2010

FLYING WEST on the way to give Basil Marcus his first win in
Singapore - SNTC photo

South African trainer Basil Barcus got off the mark in Singapore when FLYING WEST scored a first-up victory in the Class 3 - 1400m sprint at Kranji tonight.

It was the ninth runner for the former champion jockey-turned-trainer since sending out his first runner in Singapore last month.

Marcus paid A$120,000 for FLYING WEST (Flying Spur - Boardwalk Angel by Bletchingly) at the sales in Australia and the gelding started 2 times for him in South Africa for three wins and four placings.

Ridden by Sean Cormack, FLYING WEST settled second behind the pace from the start, hit the front 150m out and held on to beat the fast-finishing NEWFOUNDLUCK.

The win was a huge relief for Marcus who rode with great distinction all over the world during his days in the saddle. "The first win is always a huge relief for any trainer. I wouldn’t say he was a certainty but he was by far the best chance of a win I’ve had thus far," he said after the race.

RESULTS AT A GLANCE

1	CLASS 4 - 1100M (POLYTRACK)
1	Afriend	Baertschiger	J Powell	1
10	South Star	H Takaoka	Chavez	2
12	Queen Narcissus	D Kok	Saimee	3
3	Caiyaya	D Dragon	J Moreira	4

2	RESTRICTED MAIDEN - 1200M
5	Prussian Jack	D Hill	S Cormack	1
2	Constant Companion	D Hill	Chavez	2
12	Top Venture	T Kieser	T H Koh	3
7	Sinseven	S Burridge	V Duric	4

3	CLASS 4, DIV 1 - 1200M
4	Ace Armando	M Freedman	V Duric	1
6	Mary's Success	M Clements	B Vorster	2
10	Boyle	L Laxon	Saimee	3
11	Bing Is Best	Baertschiger	Chavez	4

4	INITIATION - 1100M (POLYTRACK)
5	Primera Espada	D Dragon	J Moreira	1
1	Api Api	S Chua	M Yap	2
10	Luckyatsuccess	M Clements	B Vorster	3
6	Steven	L Laxon	D Beasley	4

5	CLASS 4 - 2000M
4	Supreme General	Khoo	S John	1
1	Dontellthewife	M Clements	T R Barnabas	2
10	Daring Tourist	C Brown	Zaki	3
3	Alvito	D Koh	V Duric	4

6	CLASS 5 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
4	Super Rich	S Chua	Zaki	1
11	Nefertiti	J Meagher	M Firdaus	2
9	My Yearly Victory	M Yusof	A Feiruz	3
12	Hanauma Bay	H Takaoka	T R Barnabas	4

7	CLASS 3 - 1400M
5	Flying West	B Marcus	S Cormack	1
11	Newfoundluck	K C Yeoh	M Ewe	2
1	Best Bid	D Dragon	J Moreira	3
7	Dittatore	P Shaw	B Vorster	4

8	PROGRESS - 1200M
8	Eclair Fastpass	D Koh	D Beasley	1
7	Kaepeeyai	B Dean	Aslam	2
5	Shaolin Soldier	S Burridge	J Moreira	3
3	Surprise Surprise	S Gray	V Duric	4

9	CLASS 4, DIV 2 - 1200M
4	Kingtrap	D Hill	J Moreira	1
10	Sinthree	J Meagher	Chavez	2
3	Rising Expectation	B Dean	Soo	3
12	Kirin Arising	J Meagher	R Stewart	4