In this issue we look at:
Power Month for Bass Racing
Candice's Column
Horse For Sale
Joke of the Month
Power Month for Bass Racing |
| 02/01/2007 Author : Mark Bass "A business magazine for people with brains and money" A Power month for Bass Racing
It certainly has been a successful month for the Mike Bass Stable notching up 2 grade 1’s, a grade 2 and numerous black type runners in what must be considered a dream run for the yard. Sun Classique kicked off proceedings with a scintillating performance in the Avontuur Fillies Guineas with a steam train finish from the back of the field to claim her first grade 1 success early in her career. Zooming Zellie, the promising Graham Beck Filly, earned small black type in the Listed Victress Stakes running into fourth position. She subsequently ran on Saturday in the Grade 1 Paddock Stakes running seven lengths back in 9th spot. We feel at this stage of her career she may not get the longer trip and she should prefer the 1400m – 1600m trip. Durban July Champion Dunford was far from disappointing in the Queens Plate finishing a very credible 5th position. He is a horse that has far exceeded expectations on numerous occasions but after speaking with his connections we concluded he will not be running in the Met this year as expected, instead opting to run him in an A division handicap on Met day, as he carries a bit too much weight in some serious company in the big one. The little “big” horse – Hilgrove has been startling this month. He comes from relevant obscurity although he showed consistent form as a three year old but has since come on in leaps and bounds and finds himself in the big league as a four year old. He is probably the most improved horse in our yard and although quite a small framed horse, he is a gutsy performer earning himself a black type finish a length back from Pocket Power in 3rd position in the Queens Plate and a terrific win in the Grade 2 premier’s trophy as well as a 3rd position in the Grade 2 Green Point Stakes. In Both the Queens Plate and Premiers trophy he came from last position with it all to do and we feel he has certainly made a name for himself and earned the respect he deserves in this division, and we are not surprised to see him start 6th favourite for the J&B Met.
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Hilgrove sports his sponsored blanket in the Grade 2 Premiers Trophy .
Barbara, Mike, Glyn and Candice .
Mike accepts the Trophy
Hilgrove is a home bred Casey Tibbs, proudly owned by Lady Lilford and has done his Sire proud by being the first Casey Tibbs to win a grade 2 race, proving that besides being your bread and butter Sire there should be a lot more to come from Casey Tibbs in the future. Saturday saw the inaugural running of the L’ Ormarins Queens Plate where all eyes were on the big Jet Master Pocket Power. Jeff Lloyd opted to drop him out from a bad draw while the pace was a good one set by Mosaic Find and Majestic Sun. Pocket Power, Hilgrove and African Appeal were some twelve lengths back at the turn for home. Pocket power was sent on his way down the middle of the track at the 400m marker and found himself in front sooner than expected. Silver Mist in the mean time delivered a superb challenge with Hilgrove tracking him a length back in the final 150m but he did just enough to hold out the challengers and clinch his first group one victory of his career. Silver Mist was a nose back in second position followed by Hilgrove, Ndabeni and Dunford. Admittedly Jeff sent him a bit too soon in the straight and he will have learned a valuable lesson come Met day as the two pair up again in the Cape Race of the Year. He has taken his run very well and Mike feels he will come on a lot from the run as he only had the three sprints in his preparations and might well have needed the middle distance trip a bit. He has pulled up well and we hope all goes to plan in the next 3 weeks. With a very favourable weight of 53kg in the Met he must be huge runner and possibly the first time the stable will be saddling a Met favourite so we hope all goes well. Congratulations to Owners Marsh Shirtliff and Mr Arthur Webber (who made the worth while trip down from .
Pocket Power with proud owners and Mike Bass The draws did not get much better for us in the Grade 1 Paddock Stakes where Sun Classique made her bid for consecutive group 1 features along with Secure and Zooming Zellie who was slightly better off at the Jump. Once again the decision to drop her out was on the cards as Jeff dropped her straight in from the Jump but was soon caught 3 wide for most of the early stage. Badgers Gift dictated a run of the mill pace, and come the home straight she was on her own and produced a superb start to finish win and a first grade 1 for up and coming Jockey Richard Fourie. Sun Classique showed her usual game finish through the field but on this occasion the 12 length deficit proved her undoing but finished a very respectful second place followed by Kimberlite and Royal Fantasy in fourth position. All said and done a touch disappointing for the connections but it was agreed that Badgers Gift ran an absolute cracker of a race full of merit and we would like to congratulate Glen Kotzen on a sterling performance in the feature, training the winner and 3rd placed horse Kimberlite. The six year old mare just seems to get better notching up her 8th career win and will surely culminate in a very handy stud value at the end of her illustrious career. We would like to take this opportunity to thank our sponsors National Alamo Car Rental, Maverick Business Magazine, Equimark and Cutter & Buck Clothing for their continued support and we wish you much success in the New Year.
It has been a good season for trainer Mike Bass, one which has taken him into the new year as no 1 on the countries training log, a fraction in front of Champion Mike De Kock, for how long who knows but we can only enjoy the ride. On that note we would like to wish all our Owners, Breeders and punters a successful 2007 Happy New Year, may 2007 bring health, wealth and winners to all!!
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Candice's Column |
| 02/01/2007 Author : Candice Robinson
The year has come and gone so quickly. We all had a quiet but good Christmas and New Years eve as we race right through the festive season and can’t really afford the hang over’s. Hoping everyone had a good festive season and wishing everyone a fabulous New Year and many winners for all the owners and punters out there. What a season it has been for us, we really have been firing on all cylinders and the stable has been on a real high for the past couple of months. As you know in racing these times can be short lived so we are enjoying every moment while the going is good. The season ended with a bang as Pocket Power clinched the Queens Plate in what was our 3rd grade 1 win this season. He proved his class, as many were not too sure how good the Winter Series form was but Silver Mist who ran a short head 2nd also proved that it was a very strong form line. He took his run very well and we look forward to his run in the Met. The official Met draw will be done next Tuesday in the parade ring at .
Pocket Power and Silver Mist .
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Queen's Plate Ceremony . Hilgrove ran a cracker, finishing a close up third and I think he has also climbed up in most people’s estimations. He too took his run well and will be on target for the Met. .
Anton Shepherd and Pam Lilford .
Premier's Trophy Ceremony
Sun Classique was certainly not disgraced on Monday in the Paddock Stakes by finishing a good 2nd to Badgers Gift. Unfortunately the draw got the better of her this time round, as she had too much ground to make up on the winner who went from start to finish to win well. It is great to have most of our owners out from the Trevor is now on his annual holiday and Tracey Pienaar who has been with us for about 6 months now will be going on maternity leave in the next week or so. She is due to have her baby in the beginning of February so we wish her the best of luck. We also have a new edition to the team, in “Roxy “ Mark’s new Basset Hound puppy, who is now 10 weeks old. She is absolutely adorable but takes a fair amount of baby sitting as the ears don’t work too well (very selective hearing).
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We had a very enjoyable evening last month at Stardust in Rondebosch at the Jockey’s Christmas party. It was an evening of theatrical dining as the waiters are all performers or students of the art schools and during the evening they serve and entertain you. We had a tasty Mediterranean meal and a great lot of fun was had by all. I can highly recommend it as a good fun evening. Their web site address is www.stardustcapetown.com for more info and pictures from the evening. Diamond Quest has arrived in .
Trademark - Durban July Champion . Brother Bernhard Fayd’Herbe is doing very well in Hong Kong, Macau and is currently lying second on the Jockey log with 24 wins , 17 seconds, and 11 thirds, placing him a close second behind the current leader from Brazil , Jockey F Durso with 27 wins. There is a 2 year old colt (half brother to Downpour) for sale on the web site under horses for sale – racing. He has been in for about 2 weeks now and will start cantering this week. He is doing nicely and looks to be a fair sort. Things are ticking over nicely in the yard at the moment, the horses are all well. We have 28 juveniles in now and they are all coming along well, we will be getting a new batch in this week. Time really flies, we have not finished getting our 2 year olds in and it is already nearly sale time again. Gold Circle are building more stables for us so hopefully they will be ready this month we can get the rest of our babies in as we are a little tight for boxes at the moment. Mike Bass Racing.com’s My Place and Jenny Haytread once again took all the honours at the lower grade championships at Glenellen farm in Finally wishing everyone a great 2007!!!
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