Marco van Rensburg to sit on Sheriff John Stone’s coveted seat
Jockey Rachel Venniker of South Africa leads Sheriff John Stone to victory in the Kenya Guineas at Ngong Racecourse on January 26, 2025.
Fracturing his arm at Fairview, South Africa, when Purple Operator went down, jockey Marco van Rensburg, 41, commenced a frustrating six-week recovery path to enable riding again.
Having broken a litany of bones over his career quarter century, Marco is a testament to the simple love of the game. As the only invitee for Sunday's Derby programme, Marco respects that accidents are part of a challenging package.
Luke Forest and Clifford Brown initiated the idea as integral proponents of Racing Rascals, 21 strong Syndication, to present Marco along to Ngong, for an armchair introduction to Sheriff John Stone.
We can't emphasise enough how Sheriff is appraised as the Ultimate Racehorse. Not visualising any booby traps to come along and pilfer his thunder. Act of Genius, Swayze and Liverpool will be contending for valuable places.
Marco has a stiffer task in the Civil Service Gold Cup, where Player X has to overcome advances from Russian Wonder, Assured, Coffee Break, and, Bedford.
Maybe John Jellicoe can execute a first-timer in the Breeding Futurity Stakes. If not, we are expanding our views towards Buster.
Be sure to dress up to the ninety-nines. There has to be extra-plus Derby atmosphere injected this year. Muthaiga Club are ever loyal with their packed tent, full of aficionados.
SELECTIONS
1.00 pm Pedasos, Molo River
1.35 pm Arlington, Joanna
2.10 pm John Jellicoe, Buster
2.45 pm Assured, Coffee Break
3.20 pm Carlisle, Pinamar
3.55 pm Sheriff John Stone, Act of Genius
4.30 pm Danbury, Mo Fire
1:00 Race 1 Race Day of the Season Handicap
Distance 1600m. A handicap for three year olds and over rated 15 and below at closing. Unrated maidens to be handicapped 2kg below the top weight. First time starters allowed 2kg.
1 ( 3- 2- 1) Pedasos (SAF) Van Rensburg 57. H 1
2 ( 7- 4- 5) Divine Date W. Matee 56. T 2
3 ( 1) Molo River M. Fundi 56. 6
4 ( 7- 3- 6) Sticky Ricket N. Karanja 56. T 5
5 ( 4- 8- 2) Trumpet Call Le. Sercombe 56. 3
6 ( 2- 6- 2) Allendale H. Muya 55. 4
FORM GUIDE: PEDASOS (SAF) (1/1) MOLO RIVER (6/4) ALLENDALE
(2/1) TRUMPET CALL (5/2) DIVINE DATE (3/1) STICKY RICKET (5/1)
1:35 Race 2 The Steward's Handicap Cup
Distance 1400m. A handicap for three year olds and over rated 29 and below at closing.
1 ( 2- 2- 2) Arlington S. Wachira 62. 3
2 ( 4- 1- 5) Darling Me N. Karanja 60. 7
3 ( 5- 6- 2) Grand Surabi Van Rensburg 59. T 2 (SAF)
4 ( 5- 4- 5) Twyford K. Ngugi 58. 4
5 ( 4- 1- 2) Dalkeith H. Muya 55. H 6
6 ( 3-w- 3) Joanna R. Wako 55. 1
7 ( 8- 5- 4) The Gambler Le. Sercombe 53. T 5
FORM GUIDE: DALKEITH (1/1) JOANNA (2/1) GRAND SURABI (SAF)
(5/2) DARLING ME (3/1) ARLINGTON (4/1) THE GAMBLER (5/1)
TWYFORD (6/1)
2:10 Race 3 The Breeding Futurity Stakes
For the Mervyn Ridley Trophy Distance 1000m. A terms race for two-year-olds only. To carry 56kg. Fillies 54.5kg.NO RIDING ALLOWANCES
1 - Aqua Solai M. Fundi 56. 2
2 ( 1) Buster Le. Sercombe 56. 7
3 ( 3) Harbour Master H. Muya 56. 5
4 - John Jellicoe Van Rensburg 56. 1 (SAF)
5 - Chuckles W. Matee 54. 3
6 ( 2- 3) Krystyna J. Muhindi 54. 6
7 ( 4- 1) The Enigma P. Kiarie 54. 4
FORM GUIDE: JOHN JELLICOE (SAF) (1/2) THE ENIGMA (1/1)
BUSTER (5/4) HARBOUR MASTER (6/4) KRYSTYNA (7/4)
CHUCKLES (3/1) AQUA SOLAI (5/1)
2:45 Race 4 The Civil Service Trophy
George Drew Challenge Series Distance 1600m. A term's race for three-year-olds and over. Three-year-olds to carry 55.5kg and four-year-olds & over 58kg. Mares and fillies allowed 1.5kg.NO RIDING ALLOWANCES
1 ( 1- 4- 2) Assured (SAF) W. Matee 58. H 7
2 ( 1- 1-w) Bedford M. Fundi 58. 1
3 ( 1- 5- 3) Beeston Le. Sercombe 58. T 6
4 ( 1- 1- 4) Coffee Break J. Muhindi 58. 5 (SAF)
5 ( 2- 1- 1) Cranleigh P. Njogu 58. 2
6 ( 1- 1- 1) Player X (SAF) Van Rensburg 58. 3
7 ( 2- 1- 3) Strider H. Muya 58. 8
8 ( 1- 1- 1) Russian R. Wako 56. 4 Wonder (SAF)
FORM GUIDE: COFFEE BREAK (SAF) (1/2) ASSURED (SAF) (1/2)
PLAYER X (SAF) (1/1) STRIDER (6/4) CRANLEIGH (7/4) BEDFORD
(2/1) RUSSIAN WONDER (SAF) (3/1) BEESTON (4/1)
3.20 Race 5 The Spanish Cup
Distance 1800m. A handicap for three-year-olds and over rated 24 and below at closing.
1 ( 2- 2- 5) Carlisle Van Rensburg 57. 4
2 ( 6- 4- 5) Easterly J. Muhindi 56. 2
3 ( 1- 4- 4) Lewis P. Kiarie 56. 1
4 ( 6- 1- 3) Madame Zee R. Wako 55. 5 (SAF)
5 ( 1- 5- 4) Pinamar (SAF) Le. Sercombe 52. 3
FORM GUIDE: LEWIS (1/1) CARLISLE (5/4) PINAMAR (SAF) (6/4)
EASTERLY (2/1) MADAME ZEE (SAF) (3/1)
3:55 Race 6 The Kenya Derby
Distance 2400m. A terms race for three-year-olds only. To carry
57kg. Fillies 55.5kg.NO RIDING ALLOWANCES. There will be a parade before this race.
1 ( 2- 1- 2) Act of Genius W. Matee 57. 2 (SAF)
2 ( 2- 3- 1) Antwerp J. Muhindi 57. 1
3 ( 2- 1- 7) Kenny H. Muya 57. 5
4 ( 1- 7- 7) Liverpool Le. Sercombe 57. 3
5 ( 1- 1- 1) Sheriff John Van Rensburg 57. 4 Stone (SAF)
6 ( 1- 5- 1) Swayze P. Kiarie 57. 6
FORM GUIDE: SHERIFF JOHN STONE (SAF) (1/3) ACT OF GENIUS
(SAF) (1/1) SWAYZE (2/1) ANTWERP (3/1) LIVERPOOL (4/1)
KENNY (5/1)
4:30 Race 7 On the Heels of Champions Maiden
Distance 1200m. A maiden race for three year olds and over at starting. To carry 58kg.Mares and fillies 56.5kg. First time starters allowed 2kg.
1 ( 2) Danbury M. Fundi 58. 3
2 ( 6) Merope (SAF) S. McGarvey 56. 1
3 (w- 3- 4) Mo Fire Le. Sercombe 56. 2
FORM GUIDE: DANBURY (2/1) MO FIRE (3/1) MEROPE (SAF) (4/1)