Sunny Days  

This is a quiet time of year for us, and for Cape racing in general, but we have had atypical success with our Juveniles lately, considering how generally sympathetic Mike is on his youngsters. Identifying juvenile talent is always a highlight for us, and generally Mike is confident in his selections and crop of two year olds this season.

From the raced colts Los Colmos and Ice Eagle have both caught the eye and Consensual, Rose Reserve and Empress Crown have all come out as first time winners amongst the Fillies, and there are many others that are showing early promise.

A few select juveniles have all been given their compulsory AHS injections and will be sent with their older contempories to enjoy the fairer weather of Kwa-Zulu Natal.

Amongst the travellers, naturally headed by Pocket Power , are:

Floatyourboat , Blue Tiger , Bill of Rights , Hilgrove , Meteor Shower , Journal , Blanchefleur , Consensual , Cymbeline , Los Colmos , Myst , River Jetez , Rub A Dub Dub , Secure , Sky Blaster , Zooming Zellie , Supreme Gold , and Swinger , although the final string has not been officially finalised yet.

Pocket Power has enjoyed a well deserved break but we have begun his preparations back home already. Assistant trainer Robert Fayd’Herbe has been lightly preparing the big gelding with a few enjoyable light canters on the sand before he heads off to campaign the big weight for age races in Durban.

Pocket Power

He is very full of himself at the moment and appears on track for another big season up North (Drill Hall, Gold Challenge and Vodacom July). He has not won out of Cape Town yet, despite a few game performances last Durban season, but now has a big point to prove to his critics thereof.

As for his future plans, they are all being played by ear, but there have been talks that after the KZN season he will have another crack at the J&B Met and there is a strong possibility that, all going well, after the Cape Season he will be sent to Hong Kong to have a crack at the QE11, if not probably Europe, but as mentioned earlier, one step at a time!

Mike spent the earlier part of this month in Dubai with Mike De Kock for two reasons, firstly to watch his former inmate and Champion Filly Sun Classique, and secondly to have a mosey at the Dubai set up with a small chance that he may have a crack in the Emirates himself.

Unfortunately the report back looks uninviting in the latter department, as Mike words sum it up:

“De Kock has dedicated tremendous effort in setting up his infrastructure over the last three years, and I believe it would play in our best interests to send him our worthy contenders in the future. His experience of the tracks and working conditions are invaluable and I feel it would be in our best interests to leave our Horses in his experienced hands.”

“The tracks look tricky and are not as good as one would expect, Mike does a lot of his work on the treadmill and it’s not easy to keep horses sound over there.”

Sun Classique has held the flag high for all South Africans with her Historic double in the listed Cape Verdi and Balenchine and now looks well set to impress in the Duty Free or Sheema Classic (undecided yet) on World Cup night for stakes in excess of 5 million dollars.

 Sun Classique

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Another match up we all can’t wait to see is between Asiatic Boy and the Champion of all Champions, Curlin, in the Dubai World Cup. One thing is for sure “Super Thursday” on March 6th is where we will all be tuned in.

The Equimark Vintage Sale takes place on Sunday 16 March with a record breaking 256 Lots. The catalogue looks particularly intriguing this year and the Sale looks set to deliver once again. The Vintage Sale has produced some outstanding results as history suggests, with the likes of  Sun Classique (half sister by Doowaley lot 3), African Appeal, Victory Moon and Mythical Flight (half sister by Captain Al, lot 102) to name but a few of their 21 Grade 1 winners to come off their Sales. Clearly one we cannot afford to miss.

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Elfenjer - Lot 3 - Dam of Sun Classique

Mike Bass has always been very active at this particular Sale, and if any parties are interested in shares or purchases from this Sale please advise us prior to the Sale and we will be glad to select on your behalf. For more info on purchasing or if you would like to submit your particulars as a share holder please contact us here .

Loyal sponsor to Mike Bass Racing, Graham Galansky from Betvic Sports has sold his company to Lance Michael Bookmakers in Gauteng. All current members with outstanding credits will be directed to Lance Michael’s website which will be up and running during the course of the month.

We would like to thank Betvic for their Sponsorship in 2007; it was a pleasure promoting their business. Our new sponsor, who has already been finalised, will be announced prior to commencement in April 2008.

The Equimark day for Fillies and Colts will take place on the 8th of March, which is the only feature race day we have to look forward to in the Cape this Month. Rose Reserve will be the stable elect amongst the Fillies, and bids to make it 2 from 2 for the daughter of Lake Coniston.

Rose Reserve

See you next month

MBR