Candice Robinson, who takes over when her father Mike Bass retires at the end of next month, means business in Durban as well as Cape Town and she is opening a permanent residency in Summerveld.

She has signed a contract with Rupert Plersche’s Janet Baker Properties for 30 stables in their private Summeveld training complex.

She said yesterday: “Having two centres to work from, with alternating peak seasons, makes sense for us in a lot of ways. The Summerveld  stable is also an alternative yard for us to race horses that may not be able to cope with the stronger competition that the Cape summer season offers.

“Another major enticing factor is that it serves as a sensible geographical base from which to raid Johannesburg.”

Mrs Robinson will take out her licence with the full support of her father who will stay on in an advisory capacity, and of her brother Mark who points out that training from a private Summerveld facility means that the stable’s horses will not fall under the current minimum merit rating restrictions for horses of visiting trainers.

Meanwhile, Basil Marcus, who lost consciousness after suffering from what was believed to be an epileptic seizure a week ago, has been released from the Milnerton Mediclinic.

Son Adam said: “He was in intensive care for a few days but he was looking better as each day went by and he is delighted to be home again. He is going to rest for the next couple of weeks and then hopefully it will all be a thing of the past.”

Michael Clower