Supreme Sunset (outside) and Athina go head to head (JC Photos)
The Mike Bass yard hit top form in the 48 hours from Friday into Saturday in three different racing centres. They delivered an unlikely giant-killing act in the R400 000 Gr2 Joburg Spring F&M Challenge run at Turrfontein on Saturday, but the man some know as Gandolf had to endure an agonising twenty minutes of boardroom deliberation after an untidy final 400m of the Highveld Spring Season opener.
S’manga Khumalo – bad luck or bad ride?
Bass won the feature at Fairview on Friday, and then scored Saturday doubles at Durbanville and Turffontein. Not a bad way to kick-start what has been a predictably quiet season to date.
The objection was lodged by Piere Strydom, rider of the second-placed Athina, on the grounds of interference in the latter stages and there were mixed schools of opinion (what’s new?) on a just and fair outcome. The fact that Supreme Sunset was unfancied at R31 a win on the tote would not have endeared her prospects to most punters.
With Mike De Kock’s unbeaten Australian bred Majmu a hot order to open her 3yo term on a winning note, the race started nervously for backers with Khumalo jumping slowly on the beautiful grey.
He eventually had her about eight lengths back on the rail as the race was run at an honest pace, with Virgo’s Babe leading the favourite’s stablemate Maayaat and Winter Star into the straight.
Mike Bass – on top of the world
Virgo’s Babe was still in front at the 300m as Sean Cormack punched Supreme Sunset alongside Athina to make her run with Majmu stuck on the rail with nowhere to go.
With the meters running out quickly, S’manga Khumalo attempted to steer Majmu out of trouble between Winter Star on the rail and Athina, with the courageous Virgo’s Babe blocking his direct exit.
But by the time the unbeaten De Kock champion spied daylight it was race over. Whether she would have had the acceleration to actually pass the older ladies up front is a question that will never be answered. There may also be mixed sentiment on the ride-but it was an untidy race.
In the meanwhile Supreme Power and Athina drew close together and after a bumping match, the Cape raider held the ascendancy to win by a head.
It was a great run by Athina, who cam only come on lengths with the benefit of the workout.
And who can blame Strydom for objecting? If the result had gone against the Bass runner, there is little doubt that Sean Cormack would have stomped the same path to the Stipes boardroom.
In the end , Supreme Power won a gutsy duel and ridiculed the handicappers and the punting public at large.
Her winning time was 88,24 secs.
Virgo’s Babe stayed on doggedly for third, a half length in front of the luckless Majmu, who fell out of the Place Accumulator.
Geoff Woodruff’s Arcetri Pink caught the eye with a late dash for fifth place after a rest.
Supreme Sunset was bred by Luke Bailes, in whose instantly recognisable yellow and red silks, she races.
She is quite a petite daughter of Western Winter of the four-time winning Royal Chalice mare, Supreme Duel.
This was her first stakes victory and third win overall, with 6 places from 12 starts.
She trebled her career stakes earnings, which now stands at R380 950.
Robert Fayd’herbe saddled the Turffontein double on a great weekened for Mike Bass Racing.
