Bass-Robinson is hopeful season will 'unfold’ well
CONSOLIDATING: HAS SOME TOP THREE-YEAR-OLD FILLIES WHO ARE WORTH FOLLOWING
Stable launches its Cape Season attack this weekend at Durbanville.
After two successful seasons since taking over the reins from her father Mike Bass, Candice Bass-Robinson again has a number of classy horses who should show up well in the coming months.
She consolidated her position as one of our premier conditioners in the 2017-18 season by taking fifth spot on the final trainers’ table, one position below the mark achieved in her debut campaign.
Most traditionalists see the Cape season beginning with the WSB Matchem and WSB Diana Stakes which take place this Saturday.
The yard has a healthy representation, with defending champion Our Mate Art, Horizon, and Bernie lining up in the colts race.
Their representation in the Diana is even stronger, with recent Grade 3 Champagne Stakes winner Freedom Charter and undefeated three-year-old Lesedi La Rona taking their places.
On a pleasant Monday morning at Milnerton she spoke to us about her more prominent stable inmates, while her horses worked, jockeys and grooms milled around, and patriarch Mike Bass looked on with an expert eye.
Older females:
FREEDOM CHARTER: Doing well after winning a Grade 3 race, and the 1400m of the Diana Stakes on Saturday is her best distance. Not far off the very best, and always puts in a good effort.
MAGICAL WONDERLAND: Top sprinting filly who will go for the Southern Cross and Sceptre Stakes, and probably the Cape Flying Championship.
ONTENDERHOOKS: Dynasty filly who won well on her comeback run last week. You can expect her to have a good season, and she is one to watch.
Three year old fillies: CLOUDS UNFOLD: We think a lot of her, and have high hopes. She hasn’t been around the turn yet, but should get a mile, and if so will be a Fillies Guineas contender. She was supposed to race in a Fillies Progress on Saturday, along with a few others of mine, but frustratingly the race was scrapped.
LESEDI LA RONA: Unbeaten filly who has lots of talent, and we will have to see what trip she goes. She also runs in the Diana Stakes on Saturday, and is another with top class potential.
NOUS VOILA: A lovely big strong filly. With her huge action she didn’t enjoy the wet going during the Cape winter, and we haven’t seen the best of her yet.
SANTA CLARA: A smart filly, and half-sister to Horizon. Not far off my best ones, and will win her races.
VARSITY LOVER: she shows quite a bit, and won her only start impressively. She should get a mile (1600m), but we will see. She could be anything.
GO THE DISTANCE: A light framed, leggy filly who has scope. Maybe just off the top ones, but certainly above average.
Older Males: TEVEZ: He will go through the season, and then almost certainly be retired. He will run in all the big sprints, and is still capable of popping up on the right day, even at nine years old
ROCKET COUNTDOWN: He did well in KZN, and will be aimed at the Sun Met. A very consistent horse, who is likely to make his seasonal debut in the Green Point Stakes.
BERNIE: He runs in the Matchem Stakes on Saturday, and is likely to compete in the Sprint features.
DORSET NOBLE: He injured a tendon when winning the EP Derby impressively last May. He’s now back in work, but is a heavy horse, and we will have to tread carefully with him.
DUTCH PHILIP: He didn’t enjoy his time in KZN, and is definitely better down the straight. He has been gelded since, which he has taken well, and will be a contender for all the big sprints.
OUR MATE ART: Also had a dismal KZN season that you can put a line through. A funny horse who doesn’t seem to have a best distance. But his comeback over 1000m was encouraging, and he should go well in the Matchem on Saturday, which he won last year.
HORIZON: Very talented, but has been plagued with various soundness issues throughout his career. Also runs in the Matchem, but needs further.
Three year old males:
MAJESTIC MOZART: He has only run twice, and won impressively second time out. A nice colt with lots of good assets who will improve. He runs at Durbanville today, and that will give us a better idea of where we are with him.
RUSSET AIR: He ripped his pastern rather badly after winning, and was off for ages.
We will be taking our time with him, but he is a very nice horse.
FABIAN: He has been gelded, and reappears in a Progress Plate on Saturday. He is a decent type, and time will tell if he is a Grade horse.
SOVEREIGN SPIRIT: looker and good mover.
He will be better as a late three year old and a four year old, but that’s not to say he can’t make a name for himself in the coming months. A lovely