04/06/2007
Author : Mike Bass Racing
Equine Millionaire Sun Classique officially lines up for the Durban July
Sun Classique’s dazzling performance in the Grade 1 Woolavington at Greyville saw her obtain the title of Equine Millionaire and has guaranteed her participation in the Vodacom Durban July as Mike reports from the KZN yard on her recent performance and on next weeks runners in the Gold Challenge.
“Sun Classique got an unfortunate break at the start getting cut off which forced her to resume her regular role from running from the tail of the field, with stable companion River Jetez. Too see her finish in the fashion she did was a tremendous relief for me and reaffirmed the fact she truly is a World Class Filly. She certainly is back to her best, I think there will be a bit more to come from her now that she has really come in to her own over the longer trip. I think she will be an exciting prospect for the July this year, coming in with presumably about 52 kg and I have decided to go ahead with her July run and take our chances.
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I am also equally pleased with the performance of River Jetez considering she got carried out very wide at the top of the straight and Karl reported she would have gone desperately close had she not lost those few lenghts. I don’t feel she will get the better of Sun Classique again but I am very pleased with her progress in Durban and will be running her in the Garden Province Stakes on July day and in the Oaks at the end of the season. They both have taken their runs very well, which I am pleased about.
The Woolavington gave Sun CLassique her third group 1 in her short career and I am very happy for her owners Lionel and Caroline Cohen, and Warne and Wendy Rippon. I am also very privileged for the opportunity to train such an exceptional Horse for them. It is also a very special achievement for us as she gave the yard its 6th group 1 this season for which I have my team to thank for.
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With regards to the Gold Challenge next week, Pocket Power is physically doing very well but fitness wise probably not quite as fit as he should be owing to his muddled preparation. It was unfortunate we had to scratch him from his last run at Greyville as it appeared that he might have stepped on something on his way down to the start. With me not being there, the on-course veterinarian deemed it best to scratch him which left him without a prep run for the Gold Challenge which forced me to gallop him over 1400m at Clairwood with his stable companions Wonder Gold and Dunford. I gave him a good 10 lengths to fetch from them in the straight which he eventually overcame comfortably. I am very pleased with the work he has been putting up and hope all goes well for him in the Gold Challenge and ultimately the Vodacom July. He went into the Queens plate on a similar fitness level and I feel that even with a bad draw of 14 I expect him to be right there come Saturday. Hilgrove jumps from a better draw of 2 and he is very fit and well at the moment and I probably can’t do much better with him at present. He needs a good race to secure his July participation and I am confident he will do just that.
Cymbeline after her Winter Oaks win on the weekend will be joining me from my Cape yard along with Aquatint, Jallads Score, Carnegie Princess and Air Combat. She is showing to be a very promising and versatile sort and I will be nominating her for the Garden Province Stakes as well as the Oaks. Zooming Zellie is also doing very nicely and she will run in the weight for age Tibouchina stakes next week before she too will be nominated for the Garden Province stakes on July 7. I was a little disappointed in the Daily News where Man Ray was unable to get sufficient cover and was pulling a bit too hard most of the way leaving nothing to come in the straight. He is very well at present and I don’t think that is a true reflection of his ability but these things happen in racing. He is a similar type of horse to African Appeal who needs to be restrained as he pulls very hard. African Appeal, Dunford and Wonder Gold line up for the Cup Trial this weekend and I have nominated Lord Of The Mark as well but I am yet to see if he will make the line up.
I am pleased with my string at the moment and look forward to some competitive racing to close the Durban season”.
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