Newsletter - Monthly News

Interbet Mobi site

Since Interbet have launched their new mobile website and tote facility, I can’t tell you how positive the response from owners and the public have been. Interbet have grown leaps and bounds through their aggressive marketing approach and deservedly so, they have a superior product to punt!

With their new additions, Interbet have surly become the most holistic sports betting facility on the market today. They offer the best odds bar none, their tote facility and mobi site are dead simple to use, and the fact that all the horses are displayed on their mobile site make mobile betting an absolute delight. We cannot recommend their services any higher and if you are not an Interbet user already I suggest you give them a try, I assure you won’t look back.  Check it out at http://www.interbet.co.za/mobi/mobi.htm

The Interbet/MBR 5 to follow competition kicks off with the 7th edition on commencement of the Cape summer season’s first group 1's, the WPOTA Diadem stakes on 19 December. We had more than 400 entrants last time; the prizes are great, its good fun and its free to enter.

Be sure to get you selections in, the nominees will be available on the websites' next week.

Blue Tiger and Rushing Wind –  good summer season prospects

The versatile grey Blue Tiger, behaved beautifully in the running to win his 5^th career start in a conditions event at Kenilworth on Saturday. The usually head strong son of Counter Action settled well on the rail under MJ Byleveld and ran on gamely to get the better of the crack 3 year old Villandry, and the very consistent Casey Cool, who ran a blinder from the rear to finish a half length back in second.

Belinda Haytread has done a superb job at home to settle the 5 year old entire who will contest the main features of this upcoming season.

Speaking to Mike, he suggested a programme that includes loads of possibilities. Either the Green Point stakes, as Pocket Power will not be taking this route this year, or the Diadem stakes to kick off his programme, before contesting the Queens Plate. Mike has also pinpointed him as a realistic possibility for the J&B Met in January.

Blue Tiger is out of the Rainbow Dream mare Manuka, who’s dam Countess Kiwi produced the cracking filly Wainui – A winner of 11 from 1000m to 2000m and who added the Gr1 Queens plate, Gr1 SA fillies sprint and Gr1 Merchants stakes to her sparkling racing credentials.

He is also a half brother to Compass Point, dam of Equus champion 3yo and Guineas winner Pointing North. His phenomenal pedigree makes him a stallion prospect himself should he gather bold black type along the way. He is owned by Marsh Shirtliff, Greg Viljoen and Etienne Braun.

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Blue Tiger

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Rushing Wind bagged the first group 3 of his career when running on strongly to get the better of Polished Steel in the Matchem Stakes in a closely contested affair.

He has been sidelined since his return from Durban where he incurred a spider bite, so he has done exceptionally well for a hurried preparation to win this race.

He returned with a close up second in a sprint and it was asking a lot to win to win feature race from so far back two weeks later.

He has a very relaxed style to him, preferring to come from off the pace in his running. Although a sprinter miler we do believe he may be very effective over the sprint distance and so we’ve eyed the Merchants next month as his next priority at this point in time.

We don’t want to over rate him at this stage as we don’t know how good he is going to be, but a performance like this does generate excitement and he is certainly one to look out for in the future.

He is by Windrush out of the Northern Guest mare Northern Vine, and owned by Markus and Ingrid Jooste.

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Rushing Wind

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Candice accepts the award for Rushing Wind

Mike Bass was awarded Cape Champion trainer for the 3rd consecutive year running at the WPOTA awards ceremony held at Kenilworth race course last night. This is Mike’s 7th championship title from the past 11 running’s and accomplished a sterling feat of finishing second on the National log this year.

So often in the past, these evenings have proved to be most boring and mundane but last night’s proceedings  had an affable and pleasant vibe and the evening proved most enjoyable, so well done to the WPOTA and Cape Breeders Club for staging a most pleasurable occasion.

The awards themselves yielded no surprises from that of the national equivalent. Pocket Power was crowned Horse of the Year, older male of the year, and middle distance champion for the third year running. Big City Life was awarded 3 year old Champion male for his outstanding achievement and could be considered a touch unlucky to have bumped Pocket Power to deny his clean sheet. Champion filly Lady Windermere clinched three awards on the evening for her outstanding season.

Champion breeder was awarded to D Cohen & Sons after the stud finished second on the National Log, while Cohen also clinched a second award as role of owner for Emblem Of Liberty for older champion female.

Highlights of the evening:

• Andrew Fortune - honoured twice for his incredible feat in winning the National Jockey Championship. It was also announced that much interest has been shown from top production companies to create a movie on this great character.
• Karl Neisuis – Cape Champion Jockey for the 7th occasion. 53% runners to places and is just shy of riding his 3000th winner. He still holds the record for the most winners ever ridden at Kenilworth!
• Mike Bass – For a man of few words produced a brilliant speech.  Amongst his many thank you’s he quipped how the Cape trainers always give the upcountry trainers a good drubbing!
• It was also announced that Mike Bass will be honoured as one of the Greats of South African racing in a ceremony held during this years Cape summer season.
• Hassan Adams – Owner Of The year. An incredible passion for racing and commitment to the game. Very well deserved.
• Aldo Domeyer- Cape Champion apprentice. We highly rate Aldo as a horseman, not only for his ability on track but for his gritty determination to succeed (I wonder where he gets that from?) and fantastic attitude towards the game. Well done Doey and well done to all the nominees and winners. 

Lowlight of the evening:

• Marsh Shirtliff awarded Horse Of The Year for Pocket Power and not granted an opportunity to speak!

The full Results are available on our website.

Website Down

It appears the beast has raised its head again, and we have incurred a virus to the Mike Bass Website again! It does not look too serious at this stage and the situation looks to be under control. For safe measure we have removed the website temporarily for a few days. We apologise for the inconvenience.