Marinaresco sights set on ‘July’

LAST season’s Champions Cup winner Marinarescon (pictured) has been sent to Durban early in Candice Bass-Robinson’s bid to make amends for the gelding’s near miss in the Vodacom Durban July and gain rich compensation for his winless Cape Town campaign.

Mrs Robinson said Marinaresco had a break after the Met – not on a farm but at home – and he went to Durban last week. His possible route could be the Drill Hall (May 6), Rising Sun Gold Challenge (June 10) and the July.

Some of the stable’s other KZN challengers have also travelled and apparently the trainer’s new private yard at Summerveld has made this possible.

She said: “Previously sending horses to Durban was a rush but we have our own place with Robert Fayd’Herbe there, the horses can go earlier and come to the Durban season gradually.”

Silver Mountain, runaway winner of last season’s Cape Fillies Guineas but only fifth in the Klawervlei Majorca and the Prix Du Cap, will also be making the trek but she is to be upped in distance. She explained: “The Prix Du Cap wasn’t one of her best runs. I am not sure she isn’t looking for more ground so we are trying her over a bit further.”

But a different travel plan is to be adopted for the Sceptre and CTS Sprint winner Live Life.

“We will get her fit and raid for the Poinsettia Stakes (Scottsville on April 30) and the City Of Pietermaritzburg Fillies Sprint.”