There was a measure of veiled irony in the reality that a horse named Paterfamilias – latin for ‘father of the family’ – won on the occasion of a watershed announcement by the Bass family at Kenilworth on Saturday.
Paterfamilias (Grant Van Niekerk) comes home powerfully to beat Gold Onyx (S’manga Khumalo) in the Premier Trophy (Pic- Wayne Marks)
The 6yo Trippi gelding Paterfamilias’ facile victory in the R400 000 Gr2 Premier Trophy stamped him as a serious J&B Met prospect – and also hailed a medium-term ceremonial changing of the guard for one of the institutions of Cape horseracing.
Mike Bass has been training winners since his daughter Candice was just two years old and her deceptively casual announcement in the Premier Trophy post-race interview that she would be taking over the reins from her legendary Dad might have passed largely unnoticed – given the fact that the blonde horsewoman has been the public face of the family business for many years already.
Mike Bass and Candice Robinson
She knows her oats and the assurance that Mike will be staying on in a guidance capacity will be of great comfort and value in the years ahead – and ensure a seamless transition of a process twenty years plus in the making.
The feature celebrations punctuated a purple patch for the Bass yard after the recent exploits of the magnificent 3yo Silver Mountain – and would have been a great confidence booster (do they need it?) on the eve of the Grand Parade Cape Guineas this coming weekend.
The injury-prone Paterfamilias also reached a satisfying personal milestone – believe it or not, his first feature – and the cherry on top of something of a bizarre relationship with the Premier Trophy.
He ran third in the 2013 running behind the outstanding Master Of My Fate and in his very next start – the 2014 Premier Trophy – ran unplaced behind Dynamic.
But after Paterfamilias’ recent flying third when close up to champions Captain America and Futura in the Green Point Stakes, the Bass’ looked to have found the right race on his third-time lucky attempt at the Premier Trophy.
And so it proved, with the well fancied 14-10 shot coming home powerfully to thwart a late bid by senior citizen Gold Onyx, who simply thrives in the Cape.
The winning margin was probably quite flattering to the ring rusty Gold Onyx – the official margin being 1,25 lengths with a time of 114,77 secs recorded.
The winner’s stablemate Helderberg Blue also showed up nicely, staying on stoutly in third a further length back.
Trainer Joey Ramsden must have surely been tearing his hair out at the traffic that blocked every single run his charge, the 15-2 shot, King Of Pain attempted. The grey gelding ran 5,35 lengths back with only Royal Dreamer behind him – but ignore this run.
Grant Van Niekerk – excited about season ahead
Jockey Grant Van Niekerk said that he knew that there would be no pace in the race.
“I was perfectly placed and we weren’t going fast. They were clipping heels. But he took off when I found a nice gap and he pulled me through. I am excited to ride him for the future – make a note of this horse for the Met,” he said confidently.
Assistant trainer Candice Robinson said that Paterfamilias had suffered two tendon injuries.
“Every race that we win with him is a blessing – he won well today – and he really has got the ability. If he comes out of this in one piece, and there is no reason he shouldn’t, he will run in the Met. And we will just hope for a better draw this time,” she said.
Good luck Candice!
Paterfamilias has won 6 races with 5 places from 24 starts and stakes of R612 015.
The Klawervlei Stud-bred 6yo was no cheapie – being purchased by three big name owners in Bryn Ressell, Marsh Shirtliff and Markus Jooste for R2,1 million on the National Yearling Sale.
He is a son of Trippi out of the six-time winning Badger Land mare, La Patoneur.
Paterfamilias’ J&B Met Hollywoodbets odds of 40-1 are bound to be slashed after this workmanlike performance.
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Gr2 Premier Trophy (SAf-Gr2)
Kenilworth, South Africa, December 12, R400k, 1800m, turf, good, 1.54.77
1 – PATERFAMILIAS (SAF), 58.0, b g 6, Trippi (USA) – La Patoneur (SAF) by Badger Land (USA). Owner Messrs M J Jooste, Bryn Ressell & N M Shirtliff; Breeder Klawervlei Stud; trainer MW Bass; jockey G v Niekerk
2 – Gold Onyx (NZ), 58.0, br g 8, Black Minnaloushe (USA) – Egoli Lass (NZ) by Kaapstad (NZ)
3 – Helderberg Blue (SAF), 58.0, b g 5, Jet Master (SAF) – Our Table Mountain (USA) by Fusaichi Pegasus (USA)
Margins: 1.25, 1.00, 0.75
