CANDICE BASS-ROBINSON

July was a month where Ashburton trainer Duncan Howells had one of the best runs of success in his career with his runners winning 13 races and others finding the placings on 21 occasions. Normally it would be a performance worthy of the award.

However, there is no achievement greater in South African racing than winning the country’s premier event, the Vodacom Durban July. In this case it was also unique in that Candice was the first woman trainer ever to win the race and adding to that, it was in her first season as a trainer.

Candice has had to fill one of the biggest pairs of boots in racing, those of her father Mike Bass, and her achievement in winning Africa’s Greatest Horseracing event, the Vodacom Durban July, with Marinaresco is testament to her talent and dedication and more than worthy of this honour.

Well done Candice & her entire team.