A Power month takes Mike to the Top

01/02/2007 Author : Mark Bass A Power month takes Mike to the Top   After our fantastic July day in 2004 with Dunford including 4 winners on the day, not in our wildest imagination did we expect to have a Met day like that of this year. The Met is no easy race which ever way you look at it, and being the first time we have saddled a Met favourite, the nerves really started to show in the suite prior to the race, as one of our passing patrons mentioned, you could cut the tension with a knife. However, in hind sight, I believe Mike did show signs of a minor air of confidence going into the race, after all Pocket Power was always going to be the horse they had to catch on previous form, but you just don’t expect it till it happens.   Penfold Park ran an absolute cracker from a wide draw to kick proceedings off, and so the day progressed from good to the best racing day yet for Mike Bass Racing. Secure followed suit from similar conditions to win the Schweppes Novice Plate and then the heat was on as Sun Classique had some redeeming to do after being caught out in the Paddock Stakes by a superb run from Badgers Gift. She ran on to win in true Sun Classique style from the back of the field and it was inspiring to hear that Jeff thought She was the best filly he had ever sat on. She has an exciting career ahead of her which will be discussed in the near future with her ecstatic owners, the Cohen’s and Rippon's. Penfold sports his sponsored blanket   Pocket Power, African Appeal and Lion Tamer looked the horses to beat in the parade ring as Candice pointed out, and as it was, they ran accordingly. Jeff rode a perfect race, as cool as ever, and everything went his way from the break to the pace. Our sympathy goes out to Glen Kotzen and the connections of Badgers gift on the unfortunate incident at the start which cost them their participation. As usual it was chaos to get to the track for the lead in as Carol lost her shoes, some lost their way and Marsh was blocked by security. Once the ceremony was complete it was time to start absorbing the glory. Marsh had no such luck in that regard as it was the turn of his champion Camden Park colt, Jay Peg to take up his position in the Grade 1 Investec Cape Derby in which he dually obliged to secure the Shirtliff Grade 1 double and the incredible feat from Jeff Lloyd in winning a grade 1 treble on the day. Good luck to Basil on his super success with Jay Peg.   What a moment for Arthur and Marsh! . Wonder Gold was as gutsy as ever and a welcomed bonus to take the tally to five on the day. With any such day, there are numerous people to thank, however I believe Mike has written an article in the press in which he has personally thanked all those concerned.   The celebrations were magnanimous afterwards and rumor has it Marsh and Warne Rippon got home at 10am Sunday morning so one can imagine the amount of liquor consumed between the two of them.   The great day at the Met has taken Mike to the number one position on the trainers log in the country so we hope we can hold on to it for a while and enjoy the moment while it lasts. .   The Bass Family   Our 5 to follow competition has ended and congrats to Paula Pereira who claimed the R1700 bonus win with second place going to Winton Europa and third place to Deon Nel, who always seems to be right there in this competition.   From 1 March we will not be continuing with our website tipping, instead will be posting all Mike’s race comments and horses section on the home page of the site which will be available to the general public, however we will be running our SMS tipping's and subscriptions as per usual.   The first sale of the year kicked off with the Equimark ready to run sale at Durbanville last week. Temperature's soared past 42° at the sales center and buyers turned up in droves which certainly proved that there is still plenty of money about for the right horses. 65 of the 72 horses entered were sold at an average price of R74 625.  The average for colts was just over R80 000, and just over R71 000 for fillies.  Total proceeds of the sale amounted to R4 841 000. For more sale news, take a look at the full article in our sponsor’s news section.   Mike purchased one horse at the sale which is a Gold Keeper colt out of Love For Eros (Foveros) For R90 000. He has been subsequently bought by Phillip Bamford and Lady Lilford. . Gold Man   It was great to see Diamond Quest run in Dubai, be it in a distance short of his best, but he put up a sterling performance to finish 3rd.   We were overwhelmed with congratulatory emails and sms’s which were greatly appreciated by the stable and which really mean a lot to Mike, so thank you.   Take care and have a great month.

Some Met Pictures

01/02/2007 Author : Mike Bass Racing     Penfold Park  Pocket Power Sun Classique                                                                                     Click here to view more pics on the website gallery

News from our Sponsors

01/02/2007 Author : Mark Bass Some News from our Sponsors     Equimark Equestrian Sales     Ready To Run Sale 25 Jan 2007     Business was brisk at the Equimark Ready To Run Sale held at Durbanville on Thursday 25th January.  This was the first thoroughbred auction of 2007 and it certainly proved that there is still plenty of money about for the right horses.  Including the small horses-in-training section, 65 of the 72 horses entered were sold at an average price of R74 625.  The average for colts was just over R80 000, and just over R71 000 for fillies.  Total proceeds of the sale amounted to R4 841 000.   Top price was achieved by Lot 52, a colt by Captain Al consigned by Equimark as agent, knocked down for R320 000 to owner Gary Almanza.  Named Captains Star, the colt is a half brother to impressive recent KZN debut winner Caesour’s Star and has Gr 1 Computaform Sprint winner Blushing Star as his second dam.   Former leading Zimbabwean breeder Geoff Armitage and his son James have recently relocated to the Western Cape and their Sandown Stud was responsible for the sale’s second most expensive horse when Lot 32 was knocked down to Gauteng trainer Paul Matchett for R180 000.  This colt is by Goldkeeper and is the full brother to Jazz Band (5 wins) and Musical Lark (3 wins).                  Joey Ramsden’s Goodhope Racing had to fork out R170 000 to buy Lot 47. Named Russian Alliance, this Count Dubois colt is the first foal of a twice-winning Jallad mare.   The best price achieved by a filly was R170 000, which was paid for Lot 41, a daughter of National Assembly.  One of the large consignment sent to the sale by Veronica Foulkes’ Normandy Stud, this filly is the half sister to Stakes placed performers Taming Of The Slew and Otter Trail.    In all, twenty horses achieved six figure prices.  One notable feature of proceedings was the spending spree embarked on by former jockey Gavin van Zyl.  Now busy setting up shop as a trainer at Summerveld, Van Zyl spent a total of R740 000 on seven horses, four of them in the six figure price range.  He may well have picked one of the plums of the sale when he paid R140 000 for Lot 62 Europa, a half sister by Count Dubois to eight times winning sprinter Byblos out of a half sister to champion Golden Loom.  Clearly, Van Zyl had no qualms about the quality of stock on offer!   Snaith Racing had to fork out R160 000 to take home the only Jet Master on the sale, Lot 18 Anlin, a half brother to five times winner Flauntthestorm.   Fortunately for the Snaith team, perhaps, the sale took place two days before Jet Master’s son Pocket Power won the J & B Met!   As yet unproven sires also had their moment in the sun and Gauteng trainer Dominic Zaki had to go to R150 000 to acquire Lot 53 Sickle Moon, a colt from the first crop of Al Mufti’s dual classic-winning son The Sheik.     All of which suggests that the South African  bloodstock market is in healthy shape and we are doubtless in for another year of brisk business at the various sales.   The next Equimark sale will take place at Clairwood Racecourse, the KZN Premier yearling Sale on Sunday 4th March 2007. See you there !!   Maverick Magazine       About Maverick Maverick is a business magazine for people with brains and money. For the people who can afford to think differently. For the filthy rich and those on their way there. For people searching for new frontiers. For proudly capitalist South Africans. These are some of the descriptions you may have seen on various Maverick covers. Why do we keep changing this description? Because each one is true. Because Maverick never stops evolving. And because we can.     Maverick is a magazine for business people who lack the herd instinct. Our readers have no time for accepted wisdom; that may explain why they are, generally, so much more successful than non-Maverick readers. To serve these readers, Maverick itself threw common wisdom out of the window right from the start.     In fact, Maverick was specifically constructed to break the rules. Business people are boring, right? Codswallop. The business people we know are fascinating characters who do amazing things before breakfast every day. They wheel and deal, they win and lose. They throw themselves heart and soul into projects and yes, we have seen some of them shed tears when it all goes wrong. But we aren't telling who they were. Even if business people aren't that boring, business stories are boring, right?Rubbish. The business world brims over with engrossing stories that demand telling. Villains and heroes, intrigue and backstabbing, creation and destruction. These are the stories that Maverick tells, and we refuse to tell them in a boring way. Some are fun, some are depressing, but all are interesting. And if you want a spade to be called a spade, then look no further. Then there is the old chestnut about the requirement for business magazines to look like something the cat dragged in. Because the boring business people would be horrified if the boring business stories are presented in anything other than a boring way. Here at Maverick we don't see the point in creating anything ugly. Our readers demand a good looking magazine, one they won't be ashamed to be seen reading. We are happy to oblige, and we guarantee that you won't find a fairer business magazine anywhere in the land. That makes Maverick a pretty, witty magazine about interesting people and their business. That, however, is not enough. The only worthy mission for any business publication is to make its readers better business people. Happily, we believe that the Maverick approach provides the best chance at enlightenment. Every article is designed to be readable and built to be enjoyable. That is why our readers tend to read pieces that are outside of their normal areas of interest, and there we achieve our goal. You learn more from looking at other people than from starring in the mirror. We hope you enjoy it. Subscribe to the Magazine through Mike Bass Racing For only R247.50. You too can get the next 12 issue of Maverick delivered to your door. That is a 25% discount on what you'd pay in stores, and you avoid mixing with the common, non-Maverick readers who too often hang around in retail outlets     National Alamo Car Rental .       One of South Africa’s premier Car Rental Groups established in1947. Please make use of our discounted rates by booking your vehicle through our website   Overview The entire shareholding in National Car Rental South Africa lies with Combined Motor Holding Ltd, a company listed on the JSE since 1987. 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Joke of the Month

01/02/2007 Author : Tammi Eastland   Joke of the Month:   A man was at the country club for his weekly round of golf.   He began his round with an eagle on the first hole and a birdie on the second.   On the third hole he had just scored his first ever hole-in-one when his cell phone rang. It was a doctor notifying him that his wife had just been in a terrible accident and that she was in critical condition in ICU.   The man told the doctor to inform his wife where he was and that the he'd be there as soon as possible.   As he hung up he realized he was leaving what was shaping up to be his best ever round of golf.   He decided to get in a couple of more holes before heading to the hospital.   He ended up playing all eighteen, finishing his round shooting a personal best 61, shattering the club record by five strokes and beating his previous best game by more than 10.   He was jubilant.... then he remembered his wife.   Feeling guilty he dashed to the hospital. He saw the doctor in the corridor and asked about his wife's condition.   "I hope you're proud of yourself!"   "While you were out for the past four hours enjoying yourself at the country club, your wife has been languishing in the ICU! It's just as well you went ahead and finished that round because it will be more than likely your last!"   "For the rest of her life she will require 'round the clock care. And you'll be her care giver!"   The man was feeling so guilty he broke down and sobbed.   The doctor snickered and said,   "I'm just muckin' with you. She's dead. What'd you shoot?"