Bass-Robinson stable ready to hit the high notes
Ken Nicol
Being the first female trainer to win the Vodacom Durban July in your opening season as a fullyfledged trainer is a tough act to follow, but Candice Bass-Robinson is looking forward to the Cape season with the same quiet selfconfidence as she does when going about most of her business.
Of the stable’s three-year-olds there are two obvious stand outs. Dutch Philip was clearly the best sprinting Juvenile in Cape Town last season, and this Grade 3 Nursery winner will contest the Cape Classic at the end of October.
“After we see how he handles 1400m he may go for the Guineas, but he could turn out to be a sprinter,” was her guarded comment about this classy son of stable legend What A Winter.
The feeling about undefeated dual Listed sprint winning filly Magical Wonderland is similar. “She will run in the Grade 2 Choice Carriers but I can’t be certain she will stay the extra,” was the verdict on this exciting prospect.
Other youngsters singled out for an honourable mention include Grade 3 placed Virtue and Ben-Hur among the colts, while Dynasty filly Ontenterhooks, who won a sprint so impressively when making her debut last Wednesday, is another with a very bright future over much more ground.
July hero Marinaresco, of course, takes pride of place among their older horses, and will take the well-trodden “Pocket Power route” into the Sun Met, competing in the Grade 2 Green Point Stakes and Grade 1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate prior to that.
Nightingale was the stable’s other Grade 1 winner during the season, and the main mission for this mare will be the Grade 1 Paddock Stakes. After that a tilt at the Met is also on the cards, although the Grade 1 Majorca Stakes for fillies and mares on the same day is another option.
Winter Oaks winner Whose That Girl is another classy filly. She makes her comeback in a Pinnacle Stakes today before going on to the Diana and Paddock Stakes.
Horizon is definitely a colt to follow closely over the coming months. “He was very immature as a three-year-old and I think he will be far stronger this season,” was the verdict from his conditioner.
Since he was only beaten 0.65 lengths in the Vodacom Durban July after turning for home stone last and has an artificially low merit rating of 100 due to restrictions placed on the handicappers, one should pay attention to those words.
For those wondering what has happened to promising stayer Dorset Noble, the bad news is he damaged a tendon and will be out for the rest of the season, at least.
In terms of sprinting Grade 2 winner Live Life made big improvement last term and the filly can be expected to be a major player back at her favourite course.
Stable stalwart Tevez is now eight-years-old but the diminutive dynamo will still be competitive in the big sprints in what Candice confirmed will be his final season of racing.