Candice Bass-Robinson is now beginning to focus on the SA Champions Season in KZN after enjoying one of the best days of her career on Sun Met day, where she sent out two Grade 1 winners, Clouds Unfold and Russet Air.

She won the Vodacom Durban July in her first season as a licensed trainer, becoming the first female trainer in history to win the country’s premier horse race.

Sun Met day enhanced her reputation for big race preparation skills and also amplified how well she does with the progeny of former stable star What A Winter.

Both Clouds Unfold, who defended her crown in the Grade 1 Bidvest Majorca Stakes over 1600m, and Russet Air, who won the Grade 1 Cape Flying Championship, are by What A Winter.

Bass-Robinson said most of her SA Champions Season campaigners would be prepared at her home base of Milnerton before their first KZN races. They would be transported to KZN shortly before the race and then stay at Summerveld until the completion of their campaigns.

This approach worked with Marinaresco in 2016, when still trained by Candice’s father Mike, as he ran in the Cape winter series before running second in the July and then winning the Grade 1 Champions Cup.

The following season he arrived in Durban shortly before winning the Drill Hall Stakes and two runs later won the July.

Last season the same approach worked with Santa Clara, who was prepared in Cape Town before running a narrow second in the Umzimkhulu Stakes on April 7 and then winning the KRA Fillies Guineas on Champions Season opening night, May 3.

Freedom Charter was prepared in the same manner and won her first race in KZN on May 3 at Greyville, the Grade 3 Poinsettia Stakes. 

Bass-Robinson said, “They are used to Milnerton and it is not easy when the training tracks are completely different.”

She has booked 15 boxes at Summerveld for the winter but is not sure yet exactly which horses will be going.   

However, Clouds Unfold will definitely be one of them. 

The star filly’s campaign will start on June 13 at Greyville in either the Grade 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge over 1600m or the Grade 2 Tibouchina over 1400m. Her chief target is the Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes over 1600m on Vodacom Durban July day. 

Clouds Unfold was set to be one of the stars of the SA Champions Season last year but unfortunately broke loose one day at Summerveld and fell.

Bass-Robinson said, “She chipped the point of her hip. It was a serious injury and she spent three months doing nothing.”

However, the Majorca, which she won with authority, proved she has fully recovered.

Russet Air might avoid KZN and be aimed at the Grade 1 Computaform Sprint at Turffontein.

He will first take in the Grade 2 Diadem over 1200m on February 22 at Kenilworth where he will carry a 2kg Grade 1 penalty.

Bass-Robinson said, “He doesn’t really enjoy running around a turn and I think the Turffontein track will suit him.”

The horses being looked at to try and make it a fifth Bass-trained Vodacom Durban July winner overall (Mike won three and Candice has won one) are More Magic, Sovereign Spirit and Majestic Mozart. 

Bass-Robinson spoke of her success with What A Winter’s progeny.

She said, “I enjoy training them as they have good temperaments, they respond and do well and when you get a good one you get a really good one. We have bought a number because he throws nice specimens, they look like horses that will win. His best is still coming in the next two seasons because he is now not just getting numbers he is getting good quality mares too.”

Dutch Philip, Magical Wonderland and Snow Report are among the other good What A Winters that Bass-Robinson has trained. All three are Graded winners. 

What A Winter won the Cape Flying Championship twice and was an Equus Champion Sprinter twice.

However, as Clouds Unfold proves, he doesn’t only throw pure sprinters. 

Clouds Unfold is out of a Montjeu mare, which might explain it, or otherwise she has been influenced by What A Winter’s damsire Ahanoora, who like her, was a chestnut.

Ahonoora was a sprinter who progressed from handicapping as a three-year-old to Group company as a four-year-old and his biggest success was when being awarded the Group 1 William Hill Sprint Championship (The Nunthorpe) over five furlongs at York after an objection.

However, he exceeded all expectations at stud and proved capable of siring top class performers at a wide range of distances. He proved to be one of the most successful and important representatives of the Byerley Turk Line in the modern era and his best progeny include Epsom Derby winner Dr Devious, the Group 1-winning sprinter and successful sire Indian Ridge and he is damsire of the like of New Approach, Cape Cross, Azeri. Leroidesanimaux and Acclamation.  

By David Thiselton

Maybe Diva, Black Caviar and more recently Winks, have been the iron horses of modern day Australian racing. Their performances on the racetrack are legendary but the one thing that they all have in common is their age, sex and iron will.

This exalted trio raced to an age where most thoroughbred racehorses will have been retired to the breeding shed, hacking brigade or show jumping arenas. But with hardly a blemish on their form in an age where most fillies and mares – and males for that matter – will have been put out to grass and deemed past their sell-by date, they soldier on into equine immortality.

The Pat Lunn owned and trained – officially by Johan Janse van Vuuren – Ginger Biscuit hardly fits the bill as super star but in common is that she is eight years old and soldiered to her ninth career victory at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday.

The daughter of Admire Main, not a popular commercial stallion, was bought for R20k as a yearling and in seven seasons has clocked up 79 races and her ninth win.

Lunn is a man of few words but Keagan de Melo, successful with a top class ride on Mythos in the second for Dean Kannemeyer, expanded a little.

“Very gutsy,” he said when quizzed post-race by Paul Lafferty, one-time assistant to Lunn in the days of yore. “When she comes to the course you can always rely on her to finish in the first three. Today she won and is a bonus and she truly deserve it. She is very consistent and I just enjoy riding her.”

Serino Moodley is fast making a name for himself as a solid and reliable rider and although in the past he has fallen foul of authority for his over enthusiastic use of the stick, he still managers to get his mounts in the right place at the right time. With legendary jockey Michael Roberts in the background giving advice, it’s not surprising that he is maturing. He scored on the Roberts-trained rank outsider Forever Amber on the first but was more kind to punters in the seventh as he steered Guru’s Pride to an easy win, bursting through late to win as he liked.

 It is not often that a jockey is priced up favourite for seven out of eight races on the card – and probably eight had his mount not been scratched – but Anton Marcus is in warm demand in KZN by all trainers. Although when he calls for a ride, you can knock two or three points off the bookmaker’s odds regardless of the form.

But being favourite and winning are two different scenarios and in South Africa where conspiracy theories abound for little more reason than a punter has ‘done’ his cash, opinions can get heated.

There have been a few ugly scenes of disgruntled punters verbally abusing, trainers, officials and jockeys at the past two Hollywoodbets Greyville meetings, and while one can admire their passion, their poor behaviour cannot be condoned. There are other avenues of complaint to the stipendiary stewards – views legitimate or not.

By Andrew Harrison

L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate hero Vardy is being given a lengthy break following his tough time in the Sun Met when he was nearly brought down as he clipped the heels of Hawwaam early on.

Adam Marcus said: “He got roughed up, and he went a bit quiet on me for a few days. It’s the first time that has happened to him and he is not a straightforward horse. He has a delicate mouth for a start and things have to go his way. I put him on a soft feed, got him relaxed again and he began to freshen up once more.

“He is not going to go to a farm. He will stay with me so that I can keep an eye on him. He can be very playful and I have lovely paddocks at my yard.”

The Durban season is on the agenda and he could run in the big one despite the doubts about him getting the trip. “The Vodacom Durban July is a big option,” says the four-year-old’s trainer. “Nothing is set in stone at this stage but it is the prestige race of the season. That apart, he will go for some of the other big races.”

Stable companion Twist Of Fate, who ran his usual honest race to take fourth in the Met, was third in last year’s July for Joey Ramsden and will also be going to Durban. “He came through his race beautifully and he loves Greyville,” said his trainer who celebrates his 31^st birthday in eight days’ time. “If Twist Of Fate can go into the race with a nice weight he will be a very big runner.”

Saturday week

Justin Snaith has already declared four for Saturday week’s Kenilworth Fillies Nursery – S’Manga Khumalo rides December winner Favorita, Richard Fourie will partner Met day Listed race third Stuck On You and Bernard Fayd’Herbe has been booked for Trickster although no jockey has yet been decided on for Trippin The Stars. Met day Listed race winner Erik The Red (Fourie) has been declared for the Cape Of Good Hope Nursery.

There has been some criticism of the decision to transfer these two Grade 3 races from their traditional June slots, and the critics point to the small entry of 13 in each, but both races have often struggled to get a decent-sized field in the past. The colts’ race has had a field of only five three times in the last seven years and it has not reached double figures since 2008 while the fillies race has averaged only seven in the past eight seasons.

The races were moved because Kenilworth Racing wants to put up as impressive a show as possible for those at next week’s Asian Racing Conference. With the Prawn Festival meeting expected to attract a crowd at least equalling that of the Sun Met, the delegates’ reports home should be extremely favourable – something that can only benefit our industry in the long term.

By Michael Clower

The Vaal stages an eight race meeting tomorrow and it looks to be competitive so the exotics are probably the best way to approach it.

In the first race over 1200m the three that make most appeal are Putins Promise, Bergerac and Bassam. Putins Promise had to be pushed along most of the race last time over this trip but finished strongly, so is probably looking for further but he could mow them down late. Bergerac had a tough low draw in a big field over 1160m on Charity Mile day but was nevertheless backed in to 18/10. He was tired by the end but was not disgraced in fifth, beaten 5,25 lengths, and he should have improved, although he has gone 103 days without a race. Bassam showed fair pace last time over 1200m and on formlines there is not much between him and Bergerac. Qutro Passi showed pace on debut in a fair field and was not disgraced so could earn. Intothemystic hasn’t run for 173 days but has shown signs of ability and has blinkers on. Doublethink and Opening Gambit are two others who are hard to ignore.

In the second race over 1000m Elusive Woman ran a fair 4,75 length second to the promising Varina over this trip in just her second start and she looks the one to beat. Great Stratz stayed on quite well over this trip on debut and was also exactly 4,75 lengths behind Varina in that race so there is nothing in it. There are plenty of first-timers in this race but the one who makes most appeal is the Sean Tarry-trained Ecastatic, who is by Gimmethegreenlight out of a mare who finished second in the Grade 2 Ioi Tombe Challenge.

In the third race over 1000m the first-timer Slalom Queen makes plenty of appeal. She is by Querari out of Blizzard Belle, who broke the Fairview course record over 1000m, so she should have plenty of speed. The only winner in this Juvenile Plate field is Garden Party, who won on debut over 800m back in November. He now has to give the other males 3kg and the females 5,5kg. The only other horses to have run are Sultan’s Daughter and Valyrian King, so with the first-timer rule Pick 6 players can be garunteed to get through by just including those three. However, Slalom Queen is also worth including for those who want to double up.

In the fourth race Makara caught the eye as a juvenile and made a good comeback on January 7 after a nine month layoff. She can get of the mark here, although it is competitive. Allez Les Bleu is a solid sort who has pace and stays on so she could be a threat. Potency is an interesting first-timer being a R425,000 Captain Al filly and a half-sister to the classy Lazer Star, who won her first four races including the Grade 3 Magnolia Handicap and the Listed Swallow Stakes and she later won the Grade 2 Spring Fillies and Mares Challenge. Western Vision has run three good races and also has a chance. Roman Royalty is an eyecatching sort and he did not appear to stay a mile last tie so is interesting back at this trip.

In the fifth over 1200m Leading Fast has been given a lenient looking opening handicap mark after an easy win over this trip. However, it’s never easy first time out the maidens and a few others warrant consideration, including Royal Lily, who has faced some of the best of her crop without ever being disgraced and now runs in a handicap off a mark which has come down from a high of 98 to 86. Encryption was drawn wide last time over this trip on the Vaal Classic track and was just 1,25 lengths back at the line.  Malteza is knocking hard and The Fifth Wave was not disgraced last time against the cLassy Sarah at level weights, but she consequently copped a five point raise. Glowtoria is another one to consider. 

In the sixth over 1400m. Oden was not disgraced in a strong field in his penultimate start over 1475m and then stayed on well over 1100m last time so this trip should be down his alley. He is selected s a banker in the PA, although the trip might still just stretch him so going wide is the suggestion for the Pick 6.

In the seventh race the suggestion to go thin despite it being competitive as there have to be some budget saving legs. Written In Stone might have a slights tamina doubt on pedigree but on running style he should get this 1600m trip from a good draw of two. He has fair crusing speed and always runs on late in races over 1200m up to 1450m and in his only attempt at this trip he was drawn very wide. He can handle a four point raise for his win last time. War Jewel has faced two good sorts in his last two without being disgraced and runs off a one point lowered mark. Norland is hard knocking and must be included despite being given another two point raise for his close second last time.       

In the last race a chance is taken on getting through with just two horses Duke’s Game and Crank It Up, who bot look to be improving sorts who will be distance suited, although the first mentioned has a good draw and the latter is drawn wide.

By David Thiselton

Liverpool Champ has not been out of the money since being ‘run over’ by Justfortheepenny prior to shedding his maiden but Gavin van Zyl obviously believes that the gelding is better than his last two starts would suggest.

Not too many horses are capable of backing up their maiden win but Liverpool Champ did just that when beating the consistent Techno Captain first up in a handicap.

Since then, Liverpool Champ has got himself on the wrong side of the handicappers as his handicap rating was pumped up from an 86 to a current 91 rating courtesy of a second-placed finish to Merlin From Berlin in spite of giving the winner 3kg.

The mechanics of the MR system are a mystery to most but Liverpool Champ, blinkered for the first time, does look capable of registering his third victory and defying top weight of 61kg.

Anton Marcus has ben loyal to Brett Crawford’s colt Baby Shooz after a facile maiden win. The son of Jackson has since been touched off in two races over 1600m and the step up to today’s trip of 2000 on the Hollywoodbets Greyville poly may be what he is looking for.

Greek Sword and Walterthepenniless are others to consider along with the filly American Princess who was a fast-finishing second over course and distance last time out but Marcus has deserted in order to partner Baby Shooz.

Garth Puller could hold the key to the fifth where he saddles Noemi and First Sighting.

The latter has been priced up favourite by Track & Ball

after her close-up third behind Mai Tai and the presence of Anton Marcus in the saddle along with first-time blinkers will also have trimmed some of the odds. However, stable companion Noemi may prove a better proposition. She is over her best course and distance and with a 4kg claimer up should be right there.

Lady Legend is young and improving filly that Wayne Badenhorst – who has since joined forces with his sister Barbara, now Kennedy and former KZN assistant to Dean Kannemeyer – felt was good enough to contest a Highveld feature. It was a trip in vain as Lady Legend faded out behind the smart Mill Queen, a fancied runner in the Gr2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas at Turffontein tonight, but she recouped expenses with a game win next time out on the Greyville turf.

With Gareth Wright on the injured list, Calvin Habib takes over in the saddle from a pole position draw. T&B are quoting 11-1 in the ante-post market but that will all change after the scratching of ante-post favourite Marsanne who spiked a temperature over the weekend.

By Andrew Harrison