Oblivious to the world’s eyes firmly focussed on Meydan this past week, a Durban July winner is whiling away his retirement days within a stone’s throw of the ecstatic madding crowd that screamed Japanese star Ushba Tesoro home in the twenty-seventh running of the Dubai World Cup
Sporting Post photographer Chase Liebenberg cracked the nod to cover his second Dubai World Cup and tells how he stumbled on the fact that a Durban July winner was living out his days in the UAE – and then not in a random paddock somewhere, but practically in the city!
Chase Liebenberg meets July hero Trademark (Pic – Liesl King)
Chase writes that he was wondering who the former July winner could possibly be? After all, many of the winners from the past couple of years are accounted for and we know where they are living out their days.
He was stunned to hear that it was Africa’s Greatest Horseracing event’s 2001 winner, Trademark! Chase was only around 7 years old when the Bass champ won the big race!
Piere Strydom and Trademark win the 2001 Durban July
The former Mike Bass trained son of Goldmark, who was bred by D Cohen & Sons, is living out his days at the ripe old age of twenty seven at Dar Al Khail a facility owned and run by the Dubai Racing Club.
The incredible facility for rehoming and rehabilitation of ex-racehorses is managed by Heather Copland. The facility is currently surrounded by towering skyscrapers and is located near the Red Stables of Dubai-based Doug Watson, who cracked a victory on World Cup night with Isolate in the Godolphin Mile.
When seeing Trademark I couldn’t believe my eyes at how well the old chap looked.
We arranged for him to come outside for a small group of media to meet and greet the champion and what a professional he was!
He stood perfectly for everyone to see him and didn’t even bat an eyelid.
I work for the Bass Racing operation and it was rather special on a personal level seeing him and having the opportunity to have a photo with him.
Trademark really landed up being a dream horse and a true globetrotter.
He was originally trained by Mike Bass out of his Milnerton yard and owned by the Mike Barfoot and Tony Kerkman.
Chatting to Carol and Mike Bass, they recounted that Trademark was a straight forward, sound horse who was very intelligent. One of those horses who could practically read and write.
Trademark – 2001 Queen’s Plate hero with Bernie Fayd’herbe up
Candice Bass-Robinson also remembered him being a simple horse to train. If anything he carried his head very low down to the ground while working, and one would think he’d fall over – but thankfully he never did!
During his career under the Bass flag he won many feature races including the Durban July in 2001 with Piere Strydom aboard and the Queen’s Plate with Bernard Fayd’herbe.
After being sold to Dubai he was trained by Satish Seemar. He never added a win to his belt while in Dubai but raiding in the United States he was victorious in the 2003 Gr2 Bernard Baruch Handicap and the Gr2 Fourstardave Handicap at Saratoga.
Trademark looks quite bored – but he has been there and done it! (Pic – Liesl King)
The well-travelled gelding returned to Dubai under the care of Satish where he continued to race until the age of nine, when he eventually retired to Heather.
As a golden oldie he will see out his days at Dar Al Khail.
For more information on Dar Al Khail contact Heather at [email protected]
