Mike Robinson’s Blarney Bay will go very close at Kenilworth on Tuesday
Phillipi trainer Mike Robinson has done supremely well with the 5yo Nysaean gelding Blarney Bay, who may be the closest thing to a banker bet on Tuesday’s Kenilworth card. While up in class, he looks very well handicapped carrying just 50kgs courtesy of the claim of promising apprentice Xavier Carstens.
The disappointment of the lack of support for the scheduled juvenile feature at Kenilworth this past Saturday is in sharp contrast to the well patronised eight race programme lined up for punters on Tuesday.
At least one banker will be necessary to structure a viable Pick Six and it is good to see a trainer standing up and giving punters the confidence.
Consistent
Mike Robinson as formed a stron bond with Blarney Bay (Bay Media)
Blarney Bay was a consistent two time winner from 20 starts when he was relocated three months ago following his former conditioner Stephen Page’s move to Australia. In three starts for his new yard, he has won twice and ran second last time out when giving 5kgs to the promising 3yo Paolo.
An indication of the way he has improved lies in the statistics. His rating has soared in no time from a humble 67 to an 83. In an exclusive interview, Robinson sketched the background of a runner that faces probably his stiffest career test to date when he lines up to face eight rivals in the MR 95 Divided Handicap run over the Kenilworth summer course 1400m.
Carstens Rides
Blarney Bay will be ridden for the first time by the promising young apprentice Xavier Carstens, who recently registered his first career stakes winner for the yard on Hot Affair in the Perfect Promise Sprint.
“He has been thrown in the deep end here for sure, but he has done very well and I must feel confident. He is a more relaxed galloper these days and is beautifully muscled and in peak condition. I decided to bring him back to the 1400m as I feel he will cope better against this class,” said Mike Robinson.
We asked him how he was planning to run the race.
“MJ Byleveld has ridden him in all his three starts for me. He has given us feedback which indicates that Blarney Bay likes to be left alone to run his own race out front. So I will probably tell Xavier to do the same. It makes sense and, while I never underestimate my opposition, he is carrying little weight and he can dictate matters.”
Ride The Storm
The Blarney Team after a recent win (Bay Media)
Will the young apprentice cope with the ride?
“Yes, I have no doubt. He is a talented rider and he is a pretty straightforward horse to ride. Stephen had his problems with him as he had quirks earlier on but Malan du Toit has worked on him and I suppose he has also matured,” he responded.
Who do you feel you have to beat? “On the handicap he appears to hold them but naturally one is always weary of the higher merit rated runners. Especially those who could bounce back to their earlier better form,” he suggested. Robinson added that there were no major plans for Blarney Bay and that he would be taken through the handicaps and allowed to win his races.
Balance
Of the rest, Mike Bass’ Hammie’s Dynasty is a capable sort who is just battling to put it all together. A cautionary may lie in the fact that he was considered good enough to take his chances in races like the Drill Hall Stakes, the Cup Trial and the Greyville 1900 last Champions Season. He has fallen down the MR ladder and would only need to run to his best rating to have a chance.
Naturally jockey MJ Byleveld may have a tactical edge over Blarney Bay, due to his intimate knowledge of having ridden him. He partners the Albert Hall gelding, South Kensington. The 5yo is a multiple course and distance winner and has a serious place chance running fresh off a 12 week break.
Under Control
Justin Snaith’s four time winner Greys Inn Control returns from a break since Met Day when he ran unplaced under topweight and from a poor draw in a handicap mile. He is well drawn and Richard Fourie may take the fight to Blarney Bay and go out to cross swords up front.
That could well be an interesting sub plot and hopefully one that ends favourably for Blarney Bay’s backers. It looks very tough for the rest. Blarney Bay is the choice and he certainly has plenty in his favour.
