In this newsletter Mike Bass chats about his key candidates for the Cape Summer Season.

Contenders

Pocket Power: Late starter this season due to problems. Holding up well so far. Will go Diadem sprint, Queen’s plate and Met.

Runs: 32

Wins: 16

Places: 12

Merit Rating: 119

Earnings: R 8,481,040

Breeding: by Jetmaster out of Stormsvlei by Prince Florimund

Owners: Shirtliff, Mr N M ; Webber, Mr A ; Webber, Mrs Rina

Blue Tiger: Versatile type that stays and sprints with the best. Diadem sprint, Queen’s plate and perhaps Met.

Runs: 26

Wins: 5

Places: 17

Merit Rating: 110

Earnings: R 720,080

Breeding: by Counter Action out of Manuka by Rainbow Dream (FR)

Owners: Braun, Mr E ; Shirtliff, Mr N M ; Viljoen, Mr G

Captain’s Secret: Strong, course type. But lots of ability. Seems to stay as well, so Guineas will be mission.

Runs: 7

Wins: 4

Places: 1

Merit Rating: 104

Earnings: R 288,180

Breeding: by Captain Al out of She's No Secret by our Casey's Boy (USA)

Owners: Ressell, Anthony Bryn ; Shirtliff, Mr N M

Gaultier: Sprints well and will go Merchants and Diadem stakes, but I think he sill be equally good up to a mile and will def go for Queen’s plate.

Runs: 23

Wins: 7

Places: 9

Merit Rating: 108

Earnings: R 715,100

Breeding: by Jallad (USA) out of Elegantly (USA) by Danzig (USA)

Owners: Shirtliff, Mr N M ; Truter, Mr K

Air Combat: Improved lately and doing very well. Will look at the lesser features 1600 – 1800 for the season.

Runs: 20

Wins: 5

Places: 9

Merit Rating: 101

Earnings: R 379,060

Breeding: by Jet Master out of Shoot The Booze by All Fired Up (USA)

Owners: Britz, Wally ; Kahan, Phillip ; Shirtliff, Mr G ; Shirtliff, Mr N M

Bill of Rights: Still doing very well. Seems to be sounder lately and will go for most features and the met.

Runs: 30

Wins: 6

Places: 14

Merit Rating: 105

Earnings: R 882,660

Breeding: by Saumarez out of Fine Series by Fine Edge (GB)

Owners: Baron, D ; Harris, Mr. J ; Smith, Mr Trevor

Diamond Quest: Doing very well and is versatile too. Go for most features over ground (1800 – 2400m) and met.

Runs: 43

Wins: 8

Places: 11

Merit Rating: 99

Earnings: R 1,127,035

Breeding: by Saumarez (GB) out of Discover Diamonds (AUS) by Marscay (AUS)

Owner: Leheup, Mrs Rose

Facing Federer: Still needs to be tried this season. If he is up to it will go for minor features. A big scopy horse – we should see the best of him soon.

Runs: 10

Wins: 2

Places: 4

Merit Rating: 80

Earnings: R 108,550

Breeding: by Windrush (USA) out of Floral Power by Dominion Royale (GB)

Owners: Ressell, Anthony Bryn ; Shirtliff, Mr N M

Fort Vogue: Improved much lately and will be tested this season. Big scopy horse, he shows a lot at home now that he has matured. If good enough, he will be aimed at the big ones.

Runs: 10

Wins: 3

Places: 4

Merit Rating: 85

Earnings: R 152,400

Breeding: by Fort Wood (USA) out of Vogue by Model Man

Owners: Jooste, Mr. Markus ; Shirtliff, Mr N M ; Van Niekerk, C J H

Golden parachute: Becoming a very smart stayer and will wee out the max trips. Will be aimed at the J&B Stayers.

Runs: 12

Wins: 2

Places: 4

Merit Rating: 83

Earnings: R 135,720

Breeding: by Montjeu (IRE) out of Maxamore (AUS) by Volksraad (GB)

Owners: Plersch, Rupert ; Scott, Mr D I ; Shirtliff, Mr N M

Judged Excellent: Making steady improvement and may be able to participate in some of the minor features.

Runs: 22

Wins: 4

Places: 7

Merit Rating: 93

Earnings: R 257,635

Breeding: by Jallad (USA) out of Gushing by Seceret Prospector (USA)

Owners: Bloomberg, Mr R ; Smith, Mr Trevor ; Visagie, Dewald (DJ)

Nevvay: Has earned a big weight in the features but will be in with a chance in the minor ones. Best trip is probably 1800m, although he won over 2400m in Durban.

Runs: 19

Wins: 5

Places: 6

Merit Rating: 99

Earnings: R 349,760

Breeding: by Western Winter (USA) out of Enchantress by National Assembly (CAN)

Owners: De Villiers, A ; Du Toit, JP ; Hoffman, Poen ; Jooste, Mr. Markus ; Mouton, Mr. J

Rushing Wind: Very laid back type. Has come to hand this season with a good WFA win over 1400m.If he continues to improve will aim him at the features, but are not quite sure yet what his optimum distance is.

Runs: 14

Wins: 3

Places: 7

Merit Rating: 100

Earnings: R 292,430

Breeding: by Windrush (USA) out of Nordic Vine by Northern Guest (USA)

Owner: Jooste, Mr. Markus

Test Pilot: Has been struggling a little with niggling unsoundness problems, but they seem to be coming right. He is doing well now and will be aimed at the feature of 1600 – 2000m this season.

Runs: 13

Wins: 2

Places: 8

Merit Rating: 98

Earnings: R 194,780

Breeding: by Jallad (USA) out of True Match by Model Man

Owners: Beck, Mrs. R ; Beck, Mr G ; Stud, Highlands

Thanks John: Big scopy type – taken a while to come to hand. Has improved lately and may be aimed at the features over ground (2400m) this season.

Runs: 10

Wins: 2

Places: 5

Merit Rating: 75

Earnings: R 161,720

Breeding: by Jallad (USA) out of Miracle Maiden by Elliodor (FR)

Owners: Riley, Mr B ; Shirtliff, Mr N M

Grisham: Doing well but has slight niggling problems which seem to hold him back slightly. He is better than his form shows and could feature in some of the minor stakes races this season.

Runs: 12

Wins: 2

Places: 5

Merit Rating: 92

Earnings: R 121,070

Breeding: by Kahal (GB) out of Pelican Brief by Piaffer (USA)

Owners: Bloomberg, Mr R ; Wilson, Mr Grenville

River Jetez: Six now but still athletic. Main aim will be the paddock stakes (Grade 1) and then either the Majorca or the met. Doing very well at present.

Runs: 26

Wins: 6

Places: 17

Merit Rating: 107

Earnings: R 1,546,160

Breeding: by Jetmaster out of Stormsvlei by Prince Florimund

Owners: Amm, Mr C ; Shirtliff, Mr N M

Love is in the Air: Had a slight hiccup but seems to be over it. Will be aimed at the Paddock Stakes and the Majorca.

Runs: 8

Wins: 5

Places: 1

Merit Rating: 95

Earnings: R 281,960

Breeding: by Jet Master out of Careful Step by Jungle Cove (USA)

Owner: Devine, Mr H & Mrs P

Temair: Always consistent and doing well. She is just off in the top fillies. Will be aimed at the Paddock Stakes and the Majorca.

Runs: 14

Wins: 2

Places: 10

Merit Rating: 95

Earnings: R 246,320

Breeding: by Tara's Halls (SNL) out of Rock And Roll by Rakeen (USA)

Owners: Singh, Anant & Vanashree ; Valor, Team

Seminole: has shown quite well to date and seems to be a very smart type. Will try the Odessa Fillies this week and the perhaps the Guineas if she stays. Her family are mostly sprinters, but Captain Al  seems to get them to stay a little.

Runs: 10

Wins: 2

Places: 5

Merit Rating: 87

Earnings: R 131,770

Breeding: by Captain Al out of Lupine Lady (SNL) by Wolf Power

Owners: Joey Fourie Trust ; Gary Player Stud Farm ; Kinnear, James

Sunsational: Doing well and should improve as she strengthens this year. Will go for minor features in the season.

Runs: 12

Wins: 3

Places: 6

Merit Rating: 90

Earnings: R 214,900

Breeding: by Windrush (USA) out of Summers Sweet Song by Model Man

Owners: Joffe, Graeme ; Joffee, GD ; Kahan, Phillip ; Mackenzie, Mrs S ; Rippon, Wendy & Warne

A day in the life of Pocket Power – it’s hard work keeping the champ on track

Captains Secret, aka, Benny The Bull (so named after the top Dubai sprinter) secured the Grade 3 Cape Classic for Mike Bass for the 5th time from the previous 8 occurrences.

The burley son of Captain Al quickened up well after a muddling pace turned into a sprint for home in the Cape feature on Saturday. “He felt like he might win it 200m out but he then unleashes a shocking turn of foot, and before you know it you find yourself well clear”, said jockey Karl Neisius. He is a very smart sort. Click here to view full article