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)
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.
Marinaresco [right] – Nkosi Hlophe
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
