Marinaresco is officially trained by Candice Robinson now and has been accorded a 110 merit rating by the handicappers after winning the Gr 1 Mike and Carol Bass Champions Cup over 1800m at Greyville in impressive style on Sunday.

Durban-based handicapper Mathew Lipps said about the decision to raise the classy colt by just one point, “It was not the strongest Gr 1. In time he will probably be running to a lot higher, but for now he is running to a 110.”

It is not for a long time a horse has been seen in the country with such an exceptional turn of foot.

He made up some seventeen metres in the straight in the Vodacom Durban July and from a hopeless position was beaten just a quarter-of-a-length.

On Sunday he was stopped in his tracks at the 350m mark when two horses came together in front of him. However, despite being jostled and having his momentum affected the diminutive gelding managed to pick up quickly and then rocketed home to win easily. Commentator Craig Peters could not contain his excitement and shouted “Go you baby!!” as the fairytale everybody wanted unfolded.

It was the legendary Cape trainer Mike Bass’s last day before official retirement and he had landed the race named in his honour.

Jockey Grant van Niekerk called Marinaresco the next “Pocket Power”. The latter horse also raced in the famous blue, pink and white colours of Marsh Shirtliff.

However, as it was Marinaresco’s first Gr 1 victory, Mike is unlikely to be as quick to compare him to the great nine-times Gr 1 winner.

Meanwhile, the Gr 2 eLan Property Group Gold Cup winner, the Mike de Kock-trained Enaad, was raised the maximum ten points to 99, although Lipps added he had not raced to any higher than that merit rating.

David Thiselton

KZN’s first meeting of the new season today has eight competitive races on the poly and punters could make up for the general losses experienced in a tough eLan Gold Cup meeting on Sunday.

In the first race over 1000m Just Vogue looks to have some class on top of her pace and should run all the way to the line. Aphrodeity’s Rain was a bit keen in behind runners on debut over course and distance after being slowly away but ran on well and Delpech has stayed aboard, albeit from a tough draw. At Variance is at her best over 1000m and has a fair draw with a 2,5kg claimer up.

In the second race over 1600m Joy To Joy is an honest sort who has run well from a similarly wide draw over 1400m on the turf and she proved last time she enjoys this course and distance. In the aforementioned 1400m race she touched off White Rose, who had jumped from a better draw, and the latter is better drawn here too. White Rose is by Dynasty out of a Jet Master mare who won over 1600m so she should enjoy this step up in trip. However, a concern is she made a breathing noise in that 1400m race at the end of May and hasn’t run since. Willowgrange can earn here if repeating her last run over course and distance. She is widely drawn but Anthony Delpech is now up. Dress For Success improved last time to run a fair race over this trip on the turf and has the same 4kg claimer up albeit from a wide draw. L’Attitude is another who could earn despite a wide draw. The Mike de Kock-trained Silver Causeway is by Silvano out of a Giant’s Causeway mare who hasn’t produced a winner yet from three runners. The Gavin van Zyl-trained Maximum Refund is by Tiger Ridge out of a Rich Man’s Gold mare who has produced a one-time winner at Flamingo Park from three runners.

In the third race over 1600m Coastal Spell goes for a hattrick and can achieve it off only a two point higher mark than her last win which was over the course and distance. All Mine steps back to the trip she had won over before being tried in the Gr 1 Woolavington 2000 and she should be right there despite a wide draw. Wandie’s also goes for a hattrick and is only three points higher than her last win, but although this is a suitable course and distance the wide draw is a concern. Silken might prefer further but has gone close over this trip before and is drawn well in her first attempt at the poly. Ruby Gem won her maiden over course and distance but is back to the 72 merit rating which she had appeared to battle off in her first few handicaps.

In the fourth over 2000m the big horse Visionaire gelding At Long Last is a staying type and should improve further, although a wide draw of ten is not ideal. Mambo will appreciate the step back up in trip and has a fine chance with Anton Marcus up from a plum draw. For Ever also has a wide draw to overcome but has the form to earn.

In the fifth over 1000m Anime was impressive when scooting in over 1000m at Scottsville last time. She beat Just Vogue easily, so the latter’s run in the first should be watched. Anime looks capable of rising above her 84 merit rating. Winter Darling is knocking hard and is well drawn over an ideal course and distance with Anton Marcus up. The talented Vampirella has her third run after a rest over an ideal course and distance and jumps from pole position.

Anthony Delpech (Liesl King)

In the sixth over 1000m Jason Argo went close over course and distance last time from a similar wide draw when showing good gatespeed and early pace, allowing him to slot into a fair position before running on. Significantly Delpech is now aboard.  He faces Ilanga on 1kg better terms for a short-head beating. The latter is now very widely drawn which is a problem because although he likes to come from off the pace he can be strong in the early stages. Destined For Dawn is preferred as the main danger. He is off an attractive merit rating and his last run over course and distance can be ignored as he missed the break and his run on the outside was then blocked. His good draw with a 4kg claimer up is perfect for his usual style which incorporates good gatespeed and early pace. Kept Secret has a nice draw for a change over a suitable course and distance. Delicious Damowin comes down to an attractive merit rating.

In the seventh over 1200m Master’s Spirit is widely drawn but flew from behind In his first run after gelding and can do so again. Executive Power should love the course and distance from a good draw. The Stone Thrower has topweight but has the pace and class to be a threat. Aldric is speedy and could be dangerous from a low draw with a 4kg claimer up. Silence Descends is off a competitive merit rating. Mr Roy, Al Ciberano and Kiss Me Hardy can’t be ignored in this open race.

In the eighth over 1400m, Dynamic Force is only two points higher after winning over course and distance last time and as he over raced in that event he will have a big shout if settling from pole position with the blinkers now off and Delpech still aboard. Hejira looks leniently merit rated after a facile maiden win over course and distance and Marcus is up again. Big Si is 3,5kg better off with Dynamic Force for a short-head beating so must have a shout.

David Thiselton

Sean Tarry and S’manga Khumalo were officially crowned Champion Trainer and Jockey respectively with the season coming to an end on Sunday.

Tarry notched a record 209 wins for the season to retain his title and Khumalo 242 for his second, his first coming two years back in 2013. Tarry was key to Khumalo’s success on both occasions and the pair rounded off their season in fitting manner with Hyaku winning the last race at Greyville on Sunday night.

Both Tarry and Khumalo were well clear of their rivals going into the final month of the season and will have been airing their tuxedoes for the Equus Awards weeks ago.

Justin Snaith finished runner-up in the trainer’s championship with 191 winners with Mike Bass –  never crowned National Champion – in third place as he heads into retirement.

Tarry’s runners earned nearly R28 million in stakes, R9 million more than Snaith.

Mike de Kock finished top of the KZN log followed by Gavin van Zyl, Dennis Drier and Duncan Howells.

Bass was champion Western Cape trainer ahead of Snaith while Tarry finished nearly R10 million ahead of second-placed Mike Azzie in the Highveld championship.

The apprentice title proved a lot closer with Lyle Hewitson making heavy inroads into Callan Murry’s lead in the seven months that Hewitson became a licensed apprentice.

Hewitson, who cut his teeth in the work riders ranks finishing champion last season, was in hot demand from trainers who quickly picked up on his talent and used his 4kg claim to their benefit, including Tarry.

Hewitson lost his claim in record time but was still five winners shy of Murray’s 78 winners for the season.

Ingrid and Markus Jooste were once again crowned Champion Owners but it was a close run thing with Adriaan and Rika van Vuuren only R800k behind with Chris van Niekerk in third.

The race for the Champion Stallion title was also a close-run race with the Drakenstein-based Trippi (Ends Sweep) edging out former champion Silvano (Lomitas) on the last day of the season.

Trippi started Sunday’s Group Gold Cup meeting about R800,000 ahead of Silvano but Marinaresco’s win in the R1 million Gr1 Mike and Carol Bass Championship had Trippi’s connections on tenterhooks. Had Nightingale managed to win the Gr2 Gold Bracelet, Silvano would have snatched the title on the line. Second place however, was not enough and Silvano fell just short at the final hurdle.

Super sire Captain Al (Al Mufti) once again finished Champion Two-year-old sire ahead of Var (Forest Wildcat) while Gimmethegreenlight (More Than Ready), third on the two-year-old list, was crowned Champion Freshman Sire.

The Varsfontein-based Gimmethegreenlight rounded off his season in fine style with Hack Green winning the Gr2 Umkomazi Stakes for Dennis Drier to give his sire his first Graded Stakes winner but the Paul Gadsby-trained Gunner went one better two races later winning the Gr1 Premier’s Champion Stakes.

Summerhill Stud, who relinquished their Champion Breeders title to Klawervlei two seasons ago after a run of nine straight titles, came back to pip their rivals this term to earn their tenth championship. Again it was a close run thing with Summerhill finishing R600k ahead of their rivals. Third on the Breeder’s log was Lammerskraal with a phenomenal 58.6% winners to runners

The Equus Awards will take place at Emperor’s Palace in Johannesburg on Tuesday, August 16.

Andrew Harrison

Gavin Lerena makes his first appearance in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup that takes place at Ascot, on Saturday, August 6. Lerena is part of the three-man Rest-Of-The-World team captained by Brazilian-born Silvestre de Sousa. De Sousa is the reigning Champion Jockey in Britain.

Lerena, winner of the Longines International Jockeys’ Championship in Hong Kong last year, is joined leading Japanese rider Kenichi Ikezoe, who partnered the great Orfevre on all his starts in Japan

Last year saw an historic victory for The Girls team and Canadian Emma-Jayne Wilson, the winning captain in 2015, is at the helm again. Wilson is joined by Hayley Turner, who has come out of retirement specially to ride at her 10th Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup, and exciting young jockey Josephine Gordon, who currently leads the Apprentice Jockeys’ Championship in Britain.

Team Europe is captained by Frankie Dettori, who will also be making his 10th appearance. The British-based Italian, who is rapidly approaching 3,000 winners in the UK, is joined by two of France’s leading jockeys in Pierre-Charles Boudot, who rides regularly for master trainer Andre Fabre, and Thierry Jarnet, who partnered the great Treve to two victories in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Boudot and Jarnet are both riding in the competition for the first time.

All three jockeys on the Great Britain Team are making their first appearance. Joe Fanning, long-associated with the Mark Johnston stable, captains the Great Britain & Ireland team, which also consists of Martin Harley,  who won the 2015 King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot on Goldream, and Oisin Murphy, who is the retained rider for Qatar Racing. – Ascot Racing

Candice Bass-Robinson, as she will appear in the racecard from now on, has her first runners at Durbanville today. There are seven of them and her best chance of a winner is probably with Prince Of Eden in race eight.

Grant van Niekerk’s mount opened 2-1 favourite with World Sports Betting yesterday. He led two furlongs out when scoring convincingly last time and runner-up Waiting For Rain franked the form when winning last Saturday. The negatives are his outside draw and the five points he was raised for his win.

Bombs Away (race five) and A Time To Kill in the seventh are 5-1 shots but the former has been off almost four months. However the well drawn A Time To Kill may be able to reverse last time’s placings with Red Peril on a kilo better terms.

Candice Robinson (hamish NIVEN Photography)

This is the last Cape Town meeting for 11 days and Summer Sky – each way at 15-2 – could be value in the first. Dean Kannemeyer’s colt is almost certainly better than the bare form would suggest, having lost a front shoe when starting second favourite last time.

Imperial Dancer is 17-10 favourite and first time blinkers may improve him enough but he has been something of a bookmakers’ benevolent fund so far. Second favourite New Caledonia’s claims are almost as obvious but watch out for 6-1 shot Flower Blue. “He was right with them 100m out last time but then got squeezed- and this time I’ve got Andrew Fortune,” points out Harold Crawford.

Many of the leading contenders are badly drawn in race two but even so 22-10 joint favourite Miss Hyde is hard to oppose. She really caught the eye on debut here – last to leave the pens, last into the straight but finished like a train. She can beat Fortune’s mount Emerald Gal (also 22-10) and 12-1 chance Turnpike who is drawn better and ran well last time.

Rock On Wood, despite losing ground at the start when odds-on in his last two races, warrants another chance at 16-10 in the Quinte Plus Maiden. Figure Of Grey (2-1) and 7-2 shot Dontknowhy are the obvious dangers.

Argo Solo’s task in the Soccer 6 Handicap is a good deal tougher than it would have been at last week’s rained-off meeting, he is drawn wider and the bookmakers have been forewarned. A week ago they were advertising him at 9-2 and they now have him favourite at 22-10.

Oceans Trip could be better value at 33-10 – he beat first-timer Power Grid last time and the runner-up has won since – and Shepherds Purse looks intriguing at 10-1.

“He is a bit in-and-out and you have got to catch him on his day,” cautions the in-form Piet Steyn. “I fancied him when he disappointed last time but I expect him to run a lot better here.”

Michael Clower