Features contest

Mike has good back up for the features this year in the form of the very consistent Sprinter’s Blue Tiger and Gaultier who will be contending the major sprints. Consensual and River Jetez will naturally be our prime candidates to challenge the fillies features. River Jetez has come on heaps with age, and her form in the Cape this season stands her in great stead going forward. We are hoping that this season she can pick up a grade 1 along her way, she certainly deserves too.

The 2006 Gold Cup Champion Diamond Quest has also joined our Durban lineup. He arrived from the UK after being rested from his earlier UK campaign where he suffered an injury.  Its good to have to have him back with us and we are hoping to regain some of his earlier form, although given his age and circumstances, it may be a tough ask, but he looks well and must have a shout.

The only 3 three year old geldings to make their way to Natal are Thanks John and Rushing Wind. Thanks John is lightly raced, having won his second start impressively before pulling a muscle behind in his next start. He has matured into a lovely scopy horse and is doing very well. He will however need time and will probably be at his best as a 4 year old. Rushing Wind and Facing Federer are both sound types and will not really be suited to the Durbanville track or the Kenilworth old course. They are both long striding horses that take awhile to get going and won’t act in the wet going. They will most likely contend a few of the handicaps and hopefully one or two of the features towards the end of the Durban season. Robert Fayd’Herbe leaves today the 31^st to Durban and will be assisting Mike for the season.

Cape Season

March has been a quiet month with only four winners to come from the Cape yard. The stables main contenders are set back with horse sickness injections, and Cape racing has been reduced to just one meeting per week. Love is in the Air returned after a rest to secure consecutive victories, and she looks like she may be a promising filly in the making. We will aim her at the Cape Winter Oaks at the end of May.

Grisham, Fort Vogue and Test Pilot will in all probability be our main contenders for all 3 legs of the Winter Series and will be joined in the last two legs over more ground by the ever improving Saumarez gelding Bachelor of Arts. The 2400mt Derby being His main mission.

This month we also bade farewell to Mike’s assistant Danny Cobbold who left with her husband Paul to further his career in Port Elizabeth. Danny was an important member of the Mike Bass team for 9 years. She is a brilliant assistant and really became part of our family. She will be missed by everyone and we wish them well in their endeavors in the Eastern Cape.

Bettina Bonhage has joined our yard on a temporary basis.  She previously worked with Eric Sands and we are pleased to have her join our team.

Before Mike relocates to Durban for the season he will be attending The TBA National Yearling Sale in Gauteng from the 3^rd of April. Amidst a global flagging economy, current sale figures worldwide have been considerably down on previous years and there is understandable cause for concern among trainers, breeders and organisers that this years Sale may be very hard hit.

This Interbet 5 to follow competition will be launched in two weeks time where selections will be posted live on the website and via email. This season’s edition is packed with new features and some really awesome prizes so be sure not to miss this year’s comp.