Author Archives: Brendan Pather

ws seventh plain

Breeders battle down to the wire

Posted on by

An interesting sideshow this week will be the race for the Breeders Championships. KZN kingpins Summerhill look set to wrest the trophy from reigning champions Klawervlei Stud and thereby land a milestone tenth national title.

On Saturday Glen Puller and Heavelon van der Hoven helped Klawervlei close the gap on Summerhill by winning the Gr 3 Final Fling Stakes over 1800m at Kenilworth with Harlem Shake, who became Warm White Night’s first stakes-winning daughter.

By close of play on Saturday Klawervlei on R19,782,625 were R610,187 behind Summerhill, whose runners had earned R20,392,812 in the season up until then.

The two biggest stakes earning opportunities on Super Saturday are in the Gr 2 R1,25 million eLan Property Group Gold Cup and the Gr 1 R1 million Mike and Carol Bass Champions Cup and Summerhill are the only one of the pair represented in either race.

The Dean Kannemeyer-trained Summerhill-bred five-year-old Kahal gelding Solar Star showed he will likely stay every inch of the Gold Cup 3200m trip when staying on for a 2,3 length fifth in the Gr 3 Gold Vase over 3000m on Vodacom Durban July day, despite having no cover the whole way. He will be better off in the weights with all four who beat him and is now drawn in pole.

The Summerhill-bred five-year-old Geoff Woodruff-trained gelding Arch Rival is by the stamina influence A P Arrow and is another with a fine chance, despite a wide draw of 14. In his last two starts he has won the Gr 2 Gold Bowl over 3200m and a Pinnacle Stakes event over 2450m, both at Turffontein. In the latter event he beat the ruling Gold Cup favourite Enaad by 0,4 lengths and is now 1,5kg better off.

No Worries (Nkosi Hlophe)

No Worries (Nkosi Hlophe)

In the Champions Cup over 1800m the Gavin Van Zyl-trained Summerhill-bred six-year-old Kahal gelding No Worries bounced back to form with two fine performances over 2400m, but then proved this had little to do with a step up in trip when running on strongly off the back of a slow pace to win the KZN Breeders Million Mile. He is drawn nine on Saturday.

Klawervlei might close the gap early in the meeting with their sole representative in the Gr 2 R300,000 Debutante Stakes. Vaughan Marshall has had a fine SA Champions Season, sending out 49 runners for ten wins, a strike rate of 20,41%, and included among them are two Gr 1s and a Gr 3. His runner in the Debutante is the Klawervlei-bred Philanthropist filly Flash Fire, a long striding sort who did not find the necessary extra from a high draw in the Listed Devon Air Stakes over 1400m on the Greyville turf last time out. Her previous two runs had also been over 1400m and yielded a win at Scottsville. She now steps down to 1200m, albeit from another tricky draw of seven. If breaking well she is a dark horse as she is not without speed.

Both Summerhill and Klawervlei have a runner each in the Gr 2 R300,000 Umkhomazi Stakes over 1200m. The Tony Rivalland-trained Visionaire gelding Count Von Count won the Eightfold Path KZN Breeders Juvenile 1200 in eyecatching style on the poly and from a good draw of three should  be able to use his fine turn of foot to good affect again. He will also have a 2kg weight advantage over the Sean Tarry-trained Klawervlei-bred Trippi colt Flying Myth, who beat the useful Rivarine on debut before finishing third in the Gr 3 Protea Stakes and then romping home in a Juvenile Plate event over 1160m at Turffontein. Flying Myth has a fine chance, but faces a tough draw of eleven.

Summerhill have a runner in both the Gr 1 R600,000 Thekwini Stakes and the Gr 1 Premier’s Champions Stakes, both over 1600m, while Klawervlei are not represented in either race. The Mike Azzie-trained Summerhill-bred Golden Sword filly Oasis Queen won over 1450m at Turffontein with second time blinkers on and then, despite odds of 25/1, finished a two length second to Safe Harbour over 1400m. She relaxed well in front in the latter event and being by Golden Sword, who won a Gr 3 over twelve-and-a-half furlongs, out of a National Assembly mare who has produced both a 2000m and an 1800m winner, she should enjoy the step up in trip in the Thekwini. She could be the dark horse from a plum draw.

In the Premier’s Champions Stakes the Tarry-trained Summerhill-bred Visionaire colt Africa Rising could be anything having caught the eye on debut when running on strongly to win over 1200m. He was backed in from 6/1 to 2/1 and beat the hard-knocking Rock Of Africa by 0,75 lengths and there was a further 5,25 lengths back to the rest of the field. The athletic sort is out of a Braashee mare, so might enjoy the step up in trip.

In the Gr 2 R400,000 Gold Bracelet over 1800m, Klawervlei are not represented while Summerhill have the Sean Tarry-trained Kahal filly Intergalactic and the Doug Campbell-trained Visionaire filly Lala. Intergalactic is course and distance suited and is the joint second highest merit-rated horse in the weight for age event, while Lala has a tough task being the joint second lowest rated horse.

In the Listed R150,000 Umgeni Handicap over 1200m on the poly Klawervlei have the widely drawn Charles Laird-trained filly Beloved Country, who will need to improve on her last run.

Klawervlei’s slim hopes of retaining the title appear to rest on them having an exceptional week in the minor meetings and doing well with their few big race opportunities on Super Saturday, while they will also have to rely on Summerhill failing in all of their many big race opportunities.

David Thiselton

Burger and Van Reenen to partner

Posted on by

Carl Burger, who had a quadruple heart bypass operation in Cape Town’s Vincent Pallotti Hospital a fortnight ago, had his left leg amputated below the knee on Thursday.

The Philippi trainer, surprisingly cheerful in the circumstances, said: “I will be in here for a while but I am going to have a prosthesis fitted in a couple of months and my heart is now strong again.

“In the meantime I am entering into a training partnership with Riaan van Reenen and the runners will be in our joint names from next Monday.”

Van Reenen confirmed the arrangement, saying: “Carl is going to need help – and what are friends for if you are not there for them when they need you?

“When Carl is feeling better, he can come and help me. It will help the horses too because having more of them means you can match them better when they work.”

Michael Clower

Mike Bass (Liesl King)

Bass can sign off in style

Posted on by

Mike Bass can sign off on an exceptional training career at Greyville next Saturday. Although Bass will still be in the background supporting daughter Candice Robinson, Helderberg Blue and Marinaresco will be his two official sign-offs and they can put the cherry on the top of what will be an emotional day, come what may.

Helderberg Blue contests the Gr2 eLan Gold Cup and forty minutes later Marinaresco the Gr1 Mike and Carol Bass Champions Cup, the race named in his honour.

Helderberg Blue faces a difficult task in the Gold Cup, a race where all 16 runners are in with realistic winning chances. A hot temperament has often got the better of Helderberg Blue and he may well boast a better record of just four wins if he had not been so difficult.

Just short of top class, he has calmed down as he has got older and can finally run up to his full potential as he steps out over 3200m for the first time.

Helderberg Blue (Nkosi Hlophe)

Helderberg Blue (Nkosi Hlophe)

Recent signs have been good. He started his Champions Season campaign with a warm-up over a ‘mile’ and then stretched to 2400m for only the second time in his career he finished just over a length back to the blinkered No Worries in the Highland Night Cup.

Since then he has been placed in both the Lonsdale, beaten half-a-length by Balance Sheet, and the July consolation behind Punta Arenas. He will be at his very peak come next Saturday and with a favourable draw he should have every chance.

Mike de Kock has five runners including the first four past the post in the SABC Gold Vase. Writing on his website De Kock said that Gold Vase winner Enaad was perhaps the best of the five, but did suggest that Weichong Marwing’s mount, The Centenary, was one to keep an eye on.

Second to Punta Arenas in the July consolation he said of the New Zealand-bred filly: “She is out of a Montjeu mare and I believe she will get the trip. Richard Fourie got off last time when she ran second to Punta Arenas and was very impressed with her. She’s a game filly and she looks like a stayer. I’m quite confident she will run well.”

De Kock considers Enaad, who is at 10-1, as very well handicapped. He said: “Enaad put up a very good performance in the Gold Vase and the only reason I wasn’t more confident was because I did feel he was suspect over the distance.

“He is now stronger, better and more mature and I would say he is the best of the five. However, he is drawn wide and that is a problem. I know the race is over 3200m and barrier positions are less relevant but for me, a bad draw is a bad draw.

“If you are well drawn you can often get a position for nothing but off a wide draw you always have to work to get a position. But a lot can happen over two miles.” Gold Vase winning jockey S’manga Khumalo retains the ride.

Dean Kannemeyer has a good record in this race and saddles three runners, including current ante-post favourite and the progressive Cape Speed.

The three-year-old has been in exceptional form of late, winning his last three on the trot, most recently the KZN Derby at Scottsville beating Deputy Jud. He too steps out over this trip for the first time but given his pedigree there are unlikely to be any stamina limitations.

Callan Murray will be crowned Champion Apprentice two days after the meeting and start his career as a professional jockey on a high if he can get home aboard the Weiho Marwing-trained Zafira. She finished a neck behind The Centenary two runs back and comes off a recent victory in a Pinnacle Stakes at Turffontein. She has only once finished out of the money and could be the surprise package in a race that has surprise written all over it.

VDJ slide fin2

Marinaresco [right] – Nkosi Hlophe

Marinaresco is likely to start at short odds for the Gr1 Mike and Carol Bass Champions Cup  and Bass will be on hand to dish out the trophy, possibly to himself.

Coming from the clouds when runner-up to The Conglomerate in the Gr1 Vodacom Durban July, the Tekkie Town Winter Guineas and Winter Classic winner has another tricky draw to contend with but is much better off at the weights in this event and is likely to be in warm order.

In the July Marinaresco pulled one marble inside of The Conglomerate but while Piere Strydom elected to go forward, Grant van Niekerk dropped his mount in which was always the plan.

In the final analysis Strydom managed to pinch enough of a lead to hold on to the line as Marinaresco had his measure three strides past the post. Tactics are unlikely to be much different this time around and many will be looking to see Marinaresco home in time to give Bass an emotional and rousing send-off.

Marinaresco was lumbered with an eight-pound penalty for his July effort but once again meets his fellow three-year-olds that ran in the July at level weights and all things being equal he should beat them again.

Exit Here was given a cracking ride by Weichong Marwing to win the Gr3 Cup Trial but Charles Laird was of the opinion that he was not quite good enough to contest the July. Given the July result he may have been left rueing his decision but he gets an opportunity here over the same course and distance.

Saratoga Dancer’s presence in the July field was met with derision in many quarters but he proved the neigh sayers wrong, finishing fifth, beaten two short heads for third. He too came from well off the pace and given that he is over his optimum trip he could finish even closer here. Craig Zackey retains the ride for Duncan Howells.

The luckless Ice Machine was touched off by Futura in this race last year and he could be likened to golfer Sergio Garcia, the most talented runner never to win a major. Time is running out for the seven-year-old and this could be his last chance.

Andrew Harrison

Current betting on the Gr2 eLan Gold Cup to be run on Saturday July 30:

9-2 Cape Speed

8-1 Helderberg Blue, Arch Rival

9-1 Master Sabina, Ovidio

10-1 Enaad

11-1 The Centenary

12-1 Balance Sheet, Kingston Mines, Solar Star, Zafira

14-1 Coltrane, Smart Mart

18-1 Stebbins, Kinaan

33-1 Fortune Fella

cape speed

Cape Speed early Gold Cup favourite

Posted on by

Bookmakers have priced up Cape Speed as the 9-2 favourite to win the R1.25 million eLan Gold Cup (Grade 2) over 3 200m at Greyville on Saturday 30 July.

Three-year-olds do not have a particularly good record in the Gold Cup but this son of Ideal World won the Grade 3 Derby at Scottsville which, under its new format, is now also not suited to three-year-olds. Trained by Dean Kannemeyer, Cape Speed has only raced nine times but has won five of those. He is also unbeaten in KwaZulu-Natal this season.

Cape Speed (Nkosi Hlophe)

Cape Speed (Nkosi Hlophe)

However, he will be trying 3 200m for the first time and has not won over further than 2 400m which was in the Derby where he beat Deputy Judd by a neck. He carried 55kg on that occasion and is only up 0.5kg in the Gold Cup. In-form Anthony Delpech takes the ride again and they will jump from barrier No 8. Kannemeyer also saddles Balance Sheet and Solar Star.

Geoff Woodruff has two runners and they are Arch Rival, who is joint second favourite with Mike Bass-trained Helderberg Blue at 8-1, and 9-1 shot Master Sabina.

Master Sabina won the SANSUI Summer Cup and is a class performer but he will be trying this distance for the first time and will carry 60kg. Arch Rival won the Grade 2 Gold Bowl over 3200m at Turffontein so he will get every inch of the journey. He went on to win a Pinnacle Stakes, beating Enaad who franked the form with a win in the Grade 3 Gold Vase over 300m at Greyville on Durban July day, by 0.40 lengths and will meet his rival on 2kg better terms.

Enaad, who is at 10-1, is one of five runners from the Mike de Kock stable and the former champion trainer is quite happy about the state of his runners. “I think he’s very well handicapped,” said De Kock. “He put up a very good performance in the Gold Vase and the only reason I wasn’t more confident was because I did feel he was suspect over the distance.

“He is now stronger, better and more mature and I would say he is the best of the five. However, he is drawn wide is a problem. I know the race is over 3200m and barrier positions are less relevant but for me, a bad draw is a bad draw.

“If you are well drawn you can often get a position for nothing but off a wide draw you always have to work to get a position.

“But a lot can happen over two miles (3200m).”

S’manga Khumalo, who rode him in the Gold Vase, takes the ride.

However, do not write off New Zealand-bred filly The Centenary, warns De Kock. “She is out of a Montjeu mare and I believe will get the trip. Richard Fourie got off last time when she ran second to Punta Arenas and was very impressed with her. She’s a game filly and she looks like a stayer. I’m quite confident she will run well.” TABnews

Betting for the Gr2 eLan Gold Cup over 3200m at Greyville on Saturday 30 July:

9-2 Cape Speed

8-1 Helderberg Blue, Arch Rival

9-1 Master Sabina, Ovidio

10-1 Enaad

11-1 The Centenary

12-1 Balance Sheet, Kingston Mines, Solar Star, Zafira

14-1 Coltrane, Smart Mart

18-1 Stebbins, Kinaan

35-1 Fortune Fella

Snaith eyes another Fling

Posted on by

Acrostar can give Justin Snaith his fifth Final Fling – and his fourth off the reel – at Kenilworth tomorrow when ability to act in the soft will be all-important.

If you look at the re-run of last month’s Ladies Mile you will see that she put up the best performance of the six that renew rivalry here. She was shuffled back early on and still had only two behind her as she turned into the straight. It was a well-nigh impossible position in a field of 16 but she ran on strongly to take fourth, only a short head behind Petty Officer and not much more than a length off Moonlight ‘N Roses.

“She loves the soft and I think she will run a big race,” says Snaith. Richard Fourie’s mount is the forecast market leader and favourites have won three of the last five.

The former champion trainer is expecting a much improved effort from last year’s winner Cat And The Moon who was found to be in post-race distress after finishing way down the field and blinkers, fitted for the second time but not used here, are believed to be the reason. “As I put them on she became quite distressed,” Snaith recalls. “She has shown her best form with Craig du Plooy riding.”

Gift Of Rain, his third runner, hasn’t a prayer on ratings but she is a real Irish bred in that she loves the soft so don’t be all that surprised if she runs on into the money.

According to adjusted ratings there is nothing to choose between five – the top Snaith pair, Moonlight ‘N Roses, Fear Not and Petty Officer – and the sahorseracing computer has Cat And The Moon winning from Acrostar with Harlem Shake third and Jetano fourth.

Mike Bass, who has won three of the last 13, supplemented Sublime Lady as well as Moonlight ‘N Roses but it is the latter who makes more appeal. She has won in the soft and in the Ladies Mile she finished strongly in a manner that suggested she will relish the extra furlong.

Petty Officer loves to bowl along in front and, while this can make her vulnerable close home, she goes in the ground and should not be far away.

Fear Not has to overcome a 15 draw and, even with Andrew Fortune in the irons, that is a major handicap.

Joey Ramsden is in the sort of form that makes anything possible and Jetano, who started favourite for the Winter Oaks, would not need to improve all that much to pose a real threat.

Michael Clower

Our Destiny (Nkosi Hlophe)

Following Our Destiny

Posted on by

Scottsville has an eight race meeting tomorrow and it looks to be a competitive card, although punters have a fair chance of fishing out a few winners.

In the first over 1400m, Captain At Sea will relish the step up in trip having stayed all the way to the line over 1200m last time despite not having a smooth passage. He has a tricky draw of seven but does not look to be the type who will over race. Royal Yevahn ran well last time on the poly over thus trip despite being a bit hampered in the straight and the form of that race has worked out well so he could be a factor, although a wide draw is a concern. Geste is by Querari and is a half-brother to the useful Sabadell and he wears blinkers on debut from a tricky draw of nine. Gregorian Chant has been a touch disappointing in two KZN starts over 1200m, but as a full brother to the promising three-year-old Baritone he should get better with age and with a step up in trip.  Galtero has run two fair races over 1200m, but the wide draw over the step up in trip is a concern.

In the second over 1400m, Intercept stayed on quite well from a good draw on debut over course and distance and has a good draw again. Dusk Beauty showed fair pace on debut over 1200m at Scottsville but had no answer to the winner and was comfortably beaten into fifth by 4,3 lengths. Being by Dynasty together with a good draw should help her stay the increase in trip. The form of Dunhallin’s debut over 1400m on the poly has worked out well, although she was well beaten and does now have a wide draw to overcome. Mostarda wasn’t disgraced on debut over 1200m and should appreciate the step up in trip, but she has a wide draw to overcome. Royal Agree was outpaced on debut, but stayed on and will appreciate the step up in trip. Momo is by Ideal World and is a half-sister to sprint handicapper Harrison, who won second time out over 1200m.

The third is a weak event over 1000m. Saber’s Beads has been a touch disappointing since showing good pace over 1200m here on debut and the yard said he would be fit enough returning from a layoff. Wavebreaker is a nice looking horse and is an interesting first-timer, being by Sail From Seattle and a half-brother to the classy Disa Leader, while Delpech is an eyecatching booking. Shoot The Bull has pace and the blinkers have helped, so he could go close considering his two good seconds in fair times over course and distance in his last two starts. At Variance has good pace and has gone close here from 1000-1200m so should run well fresh after a three month layoff. The Yogas Govender yard have worked around Roy’s Ark’s soundness issues and although “race rusty” he is fit and well and Govender reckoned he “would not disappoint”, so he could go close. Lucky Barb has shown good pace over course and distance twice, including when narrowly failing on debut, and will appreciate the step back to this trip.

Our Destiny (Nkosi Hlophe)

Our Destiny (Nkosi Hlophe)

In the fourth over 1200m, Warm Night Alice went close on debut from a high draw in a similarly weak field and is now probably drawn on the right side according to trends. Electro Diva has some fair form in Cape Town over this trip and could go close in this uninspiring field. Queen’s Diamond was close to Warm Night Alice over course and distance last time out and has another low draw.

The fifth is a Pinnacle Stakes race over 1200m and Our Destiny is an up and coming sort who impressed last time here over 1100m and she could follow up, although she is officially 2kg under sufferance with the best weighted horse. Elusivenchantment was beaten only 2,55 lengths in the Gr 1 City Of Pietermaritzburg Sprint over course and distance and has Delpech up, although the high draw might be a concern. Miss Varlicious is drawn on the right side over an ideal course and distance and is the best in at the weights. However, she now has to give weight to Elusivenchantment, who beat her comfortably in the City Of Pietermaritzburg Sprint, and Our Destiny also beat her comfortably last time. On the other hand this is her third run after a layoff.

The sixth is a MR 92 handicap over 1600m and Arctica is an interesting runner from pole position having won from handy positions over 1400m in his last two starts, when seen to still be travelling comfortably at the line. He has a six point merit rated raise to overcome, but Delpech keeps the ride. Greek Legend has disappointed over further since catching the eye in a win over this trip, so might appreciate the step back to this distance. Topweight Sylvester The Cat returns to the course and distance of his good win in March and is drawn well.

The seventh is a MR 72 Handicap over 1600m and Pirogue has improved lately so can go close with Delpech up from a fair draw. Royal Zulu Guard should be running on from a pole position draw over a suitable trip off an attractive merit rating. Whitley Willows proved last time over this trip at Greyville he is off a competitive merit rating and has a fair draw.

The eighth is a MR 76 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1950m and Ruby Gem was unlucky in her penultimate start over course and distance and the blinkers have come off after she over raced in them last time when not disgraced over 1900m at Greyville. She has a fine chance here with Delpech up from a good draw. The hard knocking Nina Katrina has a good draw for a change over a suitable trip and Anton Marcus is aboard. The consistent Vogue Idea is interesting tried over this trip as one who stays on over 1600m. She has a tricky draw of eight so might be dropped out before running on.

David Thiselton

Bass reflects on a great career

Posted on by

There will be many racing stalwarts involved in the Super Saturday meeting at Greyville at the end of the month, but the toast of the town will be possibly the finest of them all, the great Cape Town-based trainer Mike Bass.

Bass will be officially retiring at the end of the season and the Gr 1 Champions Cup will be fittingly named in honour of him and his wife Carol.

Bass took a moment to reflect on his career yesterday and his most prominent owner of recent years, Marsh Shirtliff, also paid heartfelt tribute.

Bass said it would be the end of a long chapter, but he did not expect much to change as he would still spend plenty of time around his beloved horses down at the family’s Milnerton yard.

Officially he hands over the reins to his daughter Candice Robinson and the rest of the yard’s loyal and “tremendous” staff”, who include his son Mark (Marketing and Website) as well as Carol (Accounts and Personality).

Mike said with typical modesty, “They will probably do a better job than me.” If that does become the case it will only be due to the lessons they have learnt from one of the country’s finest horseman.

Shirtliff’s familiar blue, pink and white colours have become associated with the Bass yard. Both the colours and the yard were taken to a new level by the great Pocket Power.

Shirtliff recalled his entry into the yard. He had been at a Cape Sale and approached Mike about training a horse he had been advised on and duly bought. Shirtliff confessed he had also liked one of the horses Bass himself had bought, but explained his advisor had been of the opinion the horse would knock his hocks at full gallop. Bass dismissed the latter opinion and thus Tobe Or Nottobe became the first Shirtliff-owned runner in the Bass yard. The Caesour colt won his first seven starts, including the Gr 1 Cape Flying Championships over 1000m at Kenilworth. His first defeat was over a trip a touch too far in the Winter Guineas, when finishing third to the subsequently named Equus Horse Of The Year Winter Solstice. At stud from limited opportunity Tobe Or Nottobe produced 37 winners from 85 runners.

The advisor who had nearly cost Shirtliff the chance of owning Tobe Or Nottobe made up for it at a subsequent sale by singling out Pocket Power. Bass also loved the horse immediately and so began the career of one of the all-time greats of the South African turf.

 

Picture: Pocket Power and Mike Bass (Liesl King)

Picture: Pocket Power and Mike Bass (Liesl King)

Pocket Power was from the first crop of the late great Jet Master and could not have found his way into a more suitable yard, because as Shirtliff pointed out, “You know when you have a horse with Mike you are in for the long haul. He is the ultimate horseman, he gives them time and tends to know what they need and they don’t break down early. Even Pocket Power with all his niggles could have gone on to win more races, but we felt he deserved to retire at the age of eight.” Pocket Power’s nine Gr 1s included the Vodacom Durban July and Rising Sun Gold Challenge as well as a record four Gr 1 L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plates in succession and three Gr 1 J&B Mets in succession.

His Bass-trained and Shirtliff part-owned full-sister River Jetez defeated Pocket Power in his fourth Met when she was a six-year-old. She went on to win a Gr 2 in Dubai and run second in a Gr 1 in Singapore and third in a Gr 1 in the USA. Mike de Kock was in charge of her overseas and he also helped the former Bass-trained Sun Classique win a Gr 1 and two Listed races in Dubai. Sun Classique remains the highest earning South African-trained filly in history.

Bass means a lot more to Shirtliff than just being a trainer. He recalled his first impressions of the people-shy Bass being as one who was much more at home with his horses than his patrons, although he said he had “loosened up” latterly and he himself had never found him difficult to talk to.

He said, “He is only about four years older than me but has become almost like a father figure because he reminds me so much of my own father. He is a thorough gentleman, a mensch, you will never hear him swear, never has a bad word to say about anybody, and he never loses his rag.”

The press also felt at ease with Bass. Three things were usually assured when visiting his ring at either Clairwood or Milnerton; firstly you would be made to feel welcome; secondly you would come away knowing a little more about the most fascinating and complex of all animals, the horse, as he loved to share his immense knowledge; thirdly you would usually leave chortling, partly due to his dry sense of humour and also due to his inimitable quirks. He gave away his old school tutorship in the game by knowing young horses only by their pedigrees and this often extended into their racing careers. A typical interview could have gone as such: Bass: “I think the grey horse will run well, what’s his name?” Journalist, “Blue Tiger.” Bass: “Yes, that horse is doing very well.”

Bass said there were plenty of memories and outstanding horses to look back on in his 40 years as a licensed trainer and he added, “It has been great fun.”

He has to date trained 32 Gr 1 winners and between them they have won 50 Gr 1s, including three Julys and five Mets.

Bass paid tribute to his wife Carol, who is loved by all her meet her and hence her title as yard “Personality”. He said, “She has been very supportive and is always enthusiastic, I don’t think she’s missed a meeting in all my years training.”

The popular couple’s farewell at Greyville on July 30 will have sincere emotions attached from everybody in the industry and it would be most fitting if Marinaresco can convert likely favouritism.

David Thiselton

Picture: Pocket Power and Mike Bass (Bass Racing)
Step Up lead in (Jul 16) - Candiese Marnewick

Ready for the step up

Posted on by

The Vaughan Marshall-trained two-year-old Horse Chestnut colt Step Up put his hand up as a runner in the Gr 1 Premier’s Champions Stakes over 1600m on Gold Cup day when winning a Juvenile Plate over the same course and distance comfortably on Saturday under MJ Byleveld.

The intuitive Marshall bought this Horse Chestnut colt for a mere R50,000 at the CTS Emperor’s Palace Select Yearling Sale last year, despite her Joshua Dancer dam being a half-sister to dual Gr 1-winner Crimson Waves. Marshall then put a syndicate together which includes his son Steve.

The imposing colt has won two of his four starts to date. His first win was also over 1600m at Greyville, albeit on the polytrack.

Step Up lead in (Jul 16) - Candiese Marnewick

Step Up lead in (Jul 16) – Candiese Marnewick

In his penultimate start Step Up was caught hopelessly wide from a high draw in the Listed Gatecrasher Stakes over 1400m at Greyville and pulled throughout.

Marshall was correct in saying before Saturday’s event a line could be drawn through that run.

Byleveld, who was not aboard in the disappointing previous race, settled him beautifully in the box seat on Saturday from a good draw and he quickened effortlessly to win  by 3,5 lengths.

A downside to the form is that The Boxster, who is quite an exposed maiden, finished second although he did obviously appreciate the step up in trip.

On the bright side Step Up’s time was three seconds quicker than the fillies equivalent race, which was won in eyecatching style by the Dennis Drier-trained The High Life, who is also by Horse Chestnut. The High Life resembles her great sire and made up considerable ground in the straight under Sean Veale to just get up, although as a maiden (who had actually won a race which was later declared null and void) she did have a 3kg advantage over the winners. Despite the impressive display The High Life does not hold an entry in the Gr 1 Thekwini Stakes. The High Life was purchased for R150,000 at the National Two-year-old Sale.

David Thiselton

 

marinaresco

Bass’s Champions Cup

Posted on by

Mike Bass will be looking to end his training career on a high when he saddles Marinaresco in the race named in his and his wife’s honour, the Gr1 Mike and Carol Bass Champions Cup to be run at Greyville next Saturday.

Coming from the clouds when runner-up to The Conglomerate in the Gr1 Vodacom Durban July, the Cape Winter Guineas and Winter Classic winner has another tricky draw to contend with but is much better off at the weights in this event and is likely to be in warm order.

In the July Marinaresco pulled one marble inside of The Conglomerate but while Piere Strydom elected to go forward, Grant van Niekerk dropped his mount in which was always the plan.

In the final analysis Strydom managed to pinch enough of a lead to hold on to the line as Marinaresco had his measure three strides past the post.

Tactics are unlikely to be much different this time around and many will be looking to see Marinaresco home in time to give Bass an emotional and rousing send-off.

Marinaresco was lumbered with an eight-pound penalty for his July effort but once again meets his fellow three-year-olds that ran in the July at level weights and all things being equal he should beat them again.

Exit Here was given a cracking ride by Weichong Marwing to win the Gr3 Cup Trial but Charles Laird was of the opinion that he was not quite good enough to contest the July. Given the July result he may have been left rueing his decision but he gets an opportunity here over the same course and distance.

Saratoga Dancer’s presence in the July field was met with derision in many quarters but he proved the neigh sayers wrong, finishing fifth, beaten two short heads for third. He too came from well off the pace and given that he is over his optimum trip he could finish even closer here. Craig Zackey retains the ride for Duncan Howells.

The luckless Ice Machine was touched off by Futura in this race last year and he could be likened to golfer Sergio Garcia, the most talented runner never to win a major. Time is running out for the seven-year-old and this could be his last chance.

Mike de Kock is going all-out in the R1.25-million Gr2 eLan Gold Cup with five entries, including the foursome who filled the first four places in the Gold Vase over 3000m on July Day.

The De Kock quartet finishers were led across the line by Australian-bred gelding Enaad, who chased down the leading pair to win by a neck from Smart Mart, Kingston Mines and Kinaan. With such a strong team it is likely that the same tactics could be adopted in the 3200m marathon.

De Kock’s fifth entrant is the mare The Centenary, runner-up in the Delta Air Lines 2200 also run on July Day.

Andrew Harrison