Gold Circle Pty (Ltd)

Today's Racing :

Bass big on his four

David Thiselton
Trainer Mike Bass was disappointed with Pocket Power’s draw for next week’s Vodacom Durban July but was otherwise happy with his four charges in the race, he said yesterday. “We have four runners and none are fancied above the other,” but he felt Pocket Power and River Jetez were the two horses the field had to beat in the big race. He lamented Pocket Power’s wide draw of 17.
“It has cost him a huge chance and if he wasn’t a champion it would cost him even just a chance. You have to either be very good or very lucky to beat a bad draw in the July. “Dynasty won from a bad draw but he was a champion. Last year Zirconeum and Forest Path finished second and third from draw 19 and 20, but it was a very slow run race and they were able to just loop the field.
“They were lucky.” He added, “The other horse I felt sorry for was Orbison drawing 16. He’s a very good horse and in my opinion might be the best three-year-old.” Bass defines a bad draw as 16 and upward and pointed out that in 2003 when a choice was given, the first chooser Geoff Woodruff, took draw 11 for Yard-Arm. Co-incidentally Bass’ charge Fort Vogue, who at 6-1 is the shortest of his quartet in the betting, is drawn 11, while River Jetez is also drawn very well in nine. Bass’ lowest drawn runner is Love Is In The Air, who is drawn five. He said, “If Pocket Power was drawn five I would fancy his chances, but it will be a little bit more difficult from draw 17.”
He added, “I’m no clairvoyant but he looks as if he has come on a little bit more since his last run. The two points relief the handicapper has given him will help.” Bass was not concerned that the weights had been raised 2kg across the board meaning Pocket Power must carry 60kg. “He’s a big strong horse and it’s still a handicap,” he said. Bass said that River Jetez had had two easy recent wins and like the others would peak at the right time. In 2008 River Jetez hit the front with Jeff Lloyd aboard but found no extra late. However, Bass had no concerns about her stamina at all. “She was weaker in 2008. A year earlier she won the Gold Circle Oaks over 2400m when she was half fit. “She has run in staying races like the Gold Cup and is also a full-sister to Pocket Power who has no stamina doubts.” Lloyd rides her again and Bass was not at all concerned about this jockey’s “July jinx”. “He’s a top class jockey, the only difference is that he hasn’t been lucky enough to get the right rides for the July. Some jockeys get top rides every year. Jeff’s won an awful lot of races over 2000m at Greyville.” Regarding Fort Vogue, Bass said, “It remains to be seen whether he’s good enough. “He hasn’t been tested much against the likes of Pocket Power and River Jetez. This is his first big ask since the Met. “If we could tell from work at home on heavy sand and dirt how well they would race we would all be millionaires. Only the race tells how good the horses are. “Fort Vogue is also very laid back at home, so it’s difficult to tell with him anyway. He’s very lazy and just does enough. Some days he can beat Pocket Power, other days he couldn’t be bothered.” Anton Marcus, rider of Fort Vogue, will be going for a record-breaking fifth July. Bass said, “He’s ridden him fairly often in work this season.” Bass was very pleased with Fort Vogue’s last outing over 1 800m at Clairwood when keen in the running in a slow run race and going down by the nod of a head to Flying Tristram, who led from start to finish. “The Clairwood races this season have been funny,” he said. “It has been hard to peg back the front-running horses.” He added, “I’m not convinced the three-year-olds are good enough. “I don’t think any of them are as good as Dynasty was, but the likes of Irish Flame and Bold Silvano have good draws, like Eyeofthetiger had, so they have everything going for them and will be hard to beat.” Of Love Is In The Air, he said, “She is by a Jungle Cove mare and there is some stamina in the female line. She shouldn’t have stamina doubts.”

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