Candice Bass-Robinson said Dutch Philip was ready for the Cape Merchants to be run over 1200m at Kenilworth on Saturday but believed under handicap conditions it would be a difficult race.

Dutch Philip (Liesl King)

She said, “He has only had the one run but I think he has come on from it and won’t need it on Saturday. However, he has to give 2,5kg to a horse like Kasimir who has always finished close to him, so it is not going to be easy. It is a very open race.” Dutch Philip has the Diadem over 1200m and the Grade 1 Cape Flying Championship over 1000m on his program and will have a shout in both although 1000m is on the quick side for this classy son of What A Winter.

Bass-Robinson also has Tevez, Our Mate Art and Bernie in the Cape Merchants and she said, “Our Mate Art is doing very well. He has no proper distance as he doesn’t quite get a mile and is not an out and out sprinter but I am going to stick to sprints with him this season. Tevez is now a nine-year-old so you take what you get and he always runs well in the Merchants, but you can’t rely on him at this age. Bernie is under sufferance but I believe he is a fair sprinter. I think he will run well with bottom weight but whether he is good enough I’m not sure.”

Bass-Robinson would have given Majestic Mozart a big chance in the CTS Ready To Run Stakes over 1400m if it were not for his wide draw on the old course which has a short run in. “He is in good shape and is a decent horse.”

She said her Grade 2 Concorde Cup (1600m) contestant More Magic was “very well”, but feared he might be outclassed in a strong line up.

By David Thiselton