Star Trippi filly Inara came out firing on all cylinders and notched an outstanding fourth career Gr1 victory with a workmanlike win in Saturday’s slow-run R1 million Laurie Jaffee Empress Club Stakes
The Mike Bass team pulled off a superb raiding feature double at Fairview on Friday with their long-time colleague and friend Justin Snaith having to play second fiddle in both races
Milnerton based Mike Bass took three runners to the Eastern Cape for the Friday meeting and after Limpopo River had been beaten into second in her maiden effort earlier on, the veteran didn’t miss with his next two producing a welcome feature double
It is often said that jockeys are the worst judges. But that maxim came slightly unstuck at Kenilworth on Sunday when Mike Bass’ retained rider Grant van Niekerk produced the Trippi mare Lanner Falcon with a sustained late run…
Despite enjoying some of the most beautiful coastline in Africa, life’s not always a beach for Port Elizabeth-based owners and trainers. And when Mike Bass comes to town on a cherry-picking escapade with a decent big centre stakes performer, it’s pay-pay
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
The question of the determination of champion status for trainers and jockeys in the regional awards were discussed by Paul Lafferty and James Goodman on Monday evening’s Winning Ways show
Lanner Falcon has always had plenty of ability, but has bumped some really good sorts – like when she chased the smart In The Fast Lane home in the Gr1 Avontuur Estate Cape Fillies Guineas of her year.
“This is the only race that really annoyed me. I was shouting from the 2000m marker to tell my colleague to step on it and not let the leader enjoy such a soft and easy lead. It was a poor display of riding.”
“When I saw Cold As Ice two lengths in front I knew she would be hard to beat. As we went past the post together, Piere Strydom said I think you just ran second. But I knew I had won – I have been riding at Kenilworth long enough.”
Considering that exotic bets are all about structure, about boxing clever and cost, and that beyond actual form and favoured yards, jockeys are just about the most important consideration for many, then punters may have been done a dirty
