Dutch Philip ready for tough Merchants

Candice Bass-Robinson said Dutch Philip was ready for the Cape Merchants to be run over 1200m at Kenilworth on Saturday but believed under handicap conditions it would be a difficult race.

She said: “He has only had the one run but I think he has come on from it and won’t need it on Saturday. However, he has to give 2,5kg to a horse like Kasimir who has always finished close to him, so it is not going to be easy. It is a very open race.”

Dutch Philip has the Diadem over 1200m and the Grade 1 Cape Flying Championship over 1000m on his programme and will have a shout in both although 1000m is on the quick side for this classy son of What A Winter.

Bass-Robinson also has Tevez, Our Mate Art and Bernie in the Cape Merchants and she said: “Our Mate Art is doing very well. He has no proper distance as he doesn’t quite get a mile and is not an out and out sprinter but I am going to stick to sprints with him.

“Tevez is now a nine-year-old so you take what you get and he always runs well in the Merchants, but you can’t rely on him at this age. Bernie is under sufferance but I believe he is a fair sprinter. I think he will run well with bottom weight but whether he is good enough I’m not sure.”

Bass-Robinson would have given Majestic Mozart a big chance in the CTS Ready To Run Stakes over 1400m if it were not for his wide draw.

She said her Grade 2 Concorde Cup (1600m) contestant More Magic was “very well”, but feared he might be outclassed in a strong line up. –

Betting on the Grade 2 Cape Merchants over 1200m at Kenilworth on Saturday. 15-4 Dutch Philip 9-2 Kasimir 6-1 Bold Respect, Van Halen 12-1 Sergeant Hardy, Attenborough, Search Party, 14-1 Sir Frenchie 16-1 Tevez, Amazing Strike 20-1 Valbonne 28-1 and upwards others