The Mike Bass-trained dual Gr 1-winning Trippi filly Inara was one of the most notable Vodacom Durban July scratchings at the second declaration stage yesterday (Monday) and this followed her disappointing fifth-place finish as favourite for Saturday’s Gr 1 Woolavington 2000.

Bass said Inara had been found to have “a nasty swelling” on her back leg on Sunday, having been run into from behind in the Woolavington at about the 1600m mark, but she was otherwise fine and he believed the chief reason for the below par effort was her stamina capacity.

He said, “There are not many Trippi fillies that can stay the 2000m but I thought beforehand that she would based on her Paddock Stakes win over 1800m.”

Inara also stayed on strongly from near the back of the field to finish runner up in the Gr 2 KRA Fillies Guineas, which suggested she would get the 2000m at the same  track.

However, Bass is now of the opinion that she is better over shorter, so duly scratched her from the July yesterday morning and is likely to  aim her at the Gr 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes over 1600m, which is one of July day’s main supporting features.

By David Thiselton