Mike Bass can sign off on an exceptional training career at Greyville next Saturday. Although Bass will still be in the background supporting daughter Candice Robinson, Helderberg Blue and Marinaresco will be his two official sign-offs and they can put the cherry on the top of what will be an emotional day, come what may.

Helderberg Blue contests the Gr2 eLan Gold Cup and forty minutes later Marinaresco the Gr1 Mike and Carol Bass Champions Cup, the race named in his honour.

Helderberg Blue faces a difficult task in the Gold Cup, a race where all 16 runners are in with realistic winning chances. A hot temperament has often got the better of Helderberg Blue and he may well boast a better record of just four wins if he had not been so difficult.

Just short of top class, he has calmed down as he has got older and can finally run up to his full potential as he steps out over 3200m for the first time.

Recent signs have been good. He started his Champions Season campaign with a warm-up over a ‘mile’ and then stretched to 2400m for only the second time in his career he finished just over a length back to the blinkered No Worries in the Highland Night Cup.

Since then he has been placed in both the Lonsdale, beaten half-a-length by Balance Sheet, and the July consolation behind Punta Arenas. He will be at his very peak come next Saturday and with a favourable draw he should have every chance.

Mike de Kock has five runners including the first four past the post in the SABC Gold Vase. Writing on his website De Kock said that Gold Vase winner Enaad was perhaps the best of the five, but did suggest that Weichong Marwing’s mount, The Centenary, was one to keep an eye on.

Second to Punta Arenas in the July consolation he said of the New Zealand-bred filly: “She is out of a Montjeu mare and I believe she will get the trip. Richard Fourie got off last time when she ran second to Punta Arenas and was very impressed with her. She’s a game filly and she looks like a stayer. I’m quite confident she will run well.”

De Kock considers Enaad, who is at 10-1, as very well handicapped. He said: “Enaad put up a very good performance in the Gold Vase and the only reason I wasn’t more confident was because I did feel he was suspect over the distance.

“He is now stronger, better and more mature and I would say he is the best of the five. However, he is drawn wide and that is a problem. I know the race is over 3200m and barrier positions are less relevant but for me, a bad draw is a bad draw.

“If you are well drawn you can often get a position for nothing but off a wide draw you always have to work to get a position. But a lot can happen over two miles.” Gold Vase winning jockey S’manga Khumalo retains the ride.

Dean Kannemeyer has a good record in this race and saddles three runners, including current ante-post favourite and the progressive Cape Speed.

The three-year-old has been in exceptional form of late, winning his last three on the trot, most recently the KZN Derby at Scottsville beating Deputy Jud. He too steps out over this trip for the first time but given his pedigree there are unlikely to be any stamina limitations.

Callan Murray will be crowned Champion Apprentice two days after the meeting and start his career as a professional jockey on a high if he can get home aboard the Weiho Marwing-trained Zafira. She finished a neck behind The Centenary two runs back and comes off a recent victory in a Pinnacle Stakes at Turffontein. She has only once finished out of the money and could be the surprise package in a race that has surprise written all over it.

Marinaresco is likely to start at short odds for the Gr1 Mike and Carol Bass Champions Cup  and Bass will be on hand to dish out the trophy, possibly to himself.

Coming from the clouds when runner-up to The Conglomerate in the Gr1 Vodacom Durban July, the Tekkie Town Winter Guineas and Winter Classic winner has another tricky draw to contend with but is much better off at the weights in this event and is likely to be in warm order.

In the July Marinaresco pulled one marble inside of The Conglomerate but while Piere Strydom elected to go forward, Grant van Niekerk dropped his mount in which was always the plan.

In the final analysis Strydom managed to pinch enough of a lead to hold on to the line as Marinaresco had his measure three strides past the post. Tactics are unlikely to be much different this time around and many will be looking to see Marinaresco home in time to give Bass an emotional and rousing send-off.

Marinaresco was lumbered with an eight-pound penalty for his July effort but once again meets his fellow three-year-olds that ran in the July at level weights and all things being equal he should beat them again.

Exit Here was given a cracking ride by Weichong Marwing to win the Gr3 Cup Trial but Charles Laird was of the opinion that he was not quite good enough to contest the July. Given the July result he may have been left rueing his decision but he gets an opportunity here over the same course and distance.

Saratoga Dancer’s presence in the July field was met with derision in many quarters but he proved the neigh sayers wrong, finishing fifth, beaten two short heads for third. He too came from well off the pace and given that he is over his optimum trip he could finish even closer here. Craig Zackey retains the ride for Duncan Howells.

The luckless Ice Machine was touched off by Futura in this race last year and he could be likened to golfer Sergio Garcia, the most talented runner never to win a major. Time is running out for the seven-year-old and this could be his last chance.

Andrew Harrison

Current betting on the Gr2 eLan Gold Cup to be run on Saturday July 30:

9-2 Cape Speed

8-1 Helderberg Blue, Arch Rival

9-1 Master Sabina, Ovidio

10-1 Enaad

11-1 The Centenary

12-1 Balance Sheet, Kingston Mines, Solar Star, Zafira

14-1 Coltrane, Smart Mart

18-1 Stebbins, Kinaan

33-1 Fortune Fella

Acrostar can give Justin Snaith his fifth Final Fling – and his fourth off the reel – at Kenilworth tomorrow when ability to act in the soft will be all-important.

If you look at the re-run of last month’s Ladies Mile you will see that she put up the best performance of the six that renew rivalry here. She was shuffled back early on and still had only two behind her as she turned into the straight. It was a well-nigh impossible position in a field of 16 but she ran on strongly to take fourth, only a short head behind Petty Officer and not much more than a length off Moonlight ‘N Roses.

“She loves the soft and I think she will run a big race,” says Snaith. Richard Fourie’s mount is the forecast market leader and favourites have won three of the last five.

The former champion trainer is expecting a much improved effort from last year’s winner Cat And The Moon who was found to be in post-race distress after finishing way down the field and blinkers, fitted for the second time but not used here, are believed to be the reason. “As I put them on she became quite distressed,” Snaith recalls. “She has shown her best form with Craig du Plooy riding.”

Gift Of Rain, his third runner, hasn’t a prayer on ratings but she is a real Irish bred in that she loves the soft so don’t be all that surprised if she runs on into the money.

According to adjusted ratings there is nothing to choose between five – the top Snaith pair, Moonlight ‘N Roses, Fear Not and Petty Officer – and the sahorseracing computer has Cat And The Moon winning from Acrostar with Harlem Shake third and Jetano fourth.

Mike Bass, who has won three of the last 13, supplemented Sublime Lady as well as Moonlight ‘N Roses but it is the latter who makes more appeal. She has won in the soft and in the Ladies Mile she finished strongly in a manner that suggested she will relish the extra furlong.

Petty Officer loves to bowl along in front and, while this can make her vulnerable close home, she goes in the ground and should not be far away.

Fear Not has to overcome a 15 draw and, even with Andrew Fortune in the irons, that is a major handicap.

Joey Ramsden is in the sort of form that makes anything possible and Jetano, who started favourite for the Winter Oaks, would not need to improve all that much to pose a real threat.

Michael Clower

Scottsville has an eight race meeting tomorrow and it looks to be a competitive card, although punters have a fair chance of fishing out a few winners.

In the first over 1400m, Captain At Sea will relish the step up in trip having stayed all the way to the line over 1200m last time despite not having a smooth passage. He has a tricky draw of seven but does not look to be the type who will over race. Royal Yevahn ran well last time on the poly over thus trip despite being a bit hampered in the straight and the form of that race has worked out well so he could be a factor, although a wide draw is a concern. Geste is by Querari and is a half-brother to the useful Sabadell and he wears blinkers on debut from a tricky draw of nine. Gregorian Chant has been a touch disappointing in two KZN starts over 1200m, but as a full brother to the promising three-year-old Baritone he should get better with age and with a step up in trip.  Galtero has run two fair races over 1200m, but the wide draw over the step up in trip is a concern.

In the second over 1400m, Intercept stayed on quite well from a good draw on debut over course and distance and has a good draw again. Dusk Beauty showed fair pace on debut over 1200m at Scottsville but had no answer to the winner and was comfortably beaten into fifth by 4,3 lengths. Being by Dynasty together with a good draw should help her stay the increase in trip. The form of Dunhallin’s debut over 1400m on the poly has worked out well, although she was well beaten and does now have a wide draw to overcome. Mostarda wasn’t disgraced on debut over 1200m and should appreciate the step up in trip, but she has a wide draw to overcome. Royal Agree was outpaced on debut, but stayed on and will appreciate the step up in trip. Momo is by Ideal World and is a half-sister to sprint handicapper Harrison, who won second time out over 1200m.

The third is a weak event over 1000m. Saber’s Beads has been a touch disappointing since showing good pace over 1200m here on debut and the yard said he would be fit enough returning from a layoff. Wavebreaker is a nice looking horse and is an interesting first-timer, being by Sail From Seattle and a half-brother to the classy Disa Leader, while Delpech is an eyecatching booking. Shoot The Bull has pace and the blinkers have helped, so he could go close considering his two good seconds in fair times over course and distance in his last two starts. At Variance has good pace and has gone close here from 1000-1200m so should run well fresh after a three month layoff. The Yogas Govender yard have worked around Roy’s Ark’s soundness issues and although “race rusty” he is fit and well and Govender reckoned he “would not disappoint”, so he could go close. Lucky Barb has shown good pace over course and distance twice, including when narrowly failing on debut, and will appreciate the step back to this trip.

In the fourth over 1200m, Warm Night Alice went close on debut from a high draw in a similarly weak field and is now probably drawn on the right side according to trends. Electro Diva has some fair form in Cape Town over this trip and could go close in this uninspiring field. Queen’s Diamond was close to Warm Night Alice over course and distance last time out and has another low draw.

The fifth is a Pinnacle Stakes race over 1200m and Our Destiny is an up and coming sort who impressed last time here over 1100m and she could follow up, although she is officially 2kg under sufferance with the best weighted horse. Elusivenchantment was beaten only 2,55 lengths in the Gr 1 City Of Pietermaritzburg Sprint over course and distance and has Delpech up, although the high draw might be a concern. Miss Varlicious is drawn on the right side over an ideal course and distance and is the best in at the weights. However, she now has to give weight to Elusivenchantment, who beat her comfortably in the City Of Pietermaritzburg Sprint, and Our Destiny also beat her comfortably last time. On the other hand this is her third run after a layoff.

The sixth is a MR 92 handicap over 1600m and Arctica is an interesting runner from pole position having won from handy positions over 1400m in his last two starts, when seen to still be travelling comfortably at the line. He has a six point merit rated raise to overcome, but Delpech keeps the ride. Greek Legend has disappointed over further since catching the eye in a win over this trip, so might appreciate the step back to this distance. Topweight Sylvester The Cat returns to the course and distance of his good win in March and is drawn well.

The seventh is a MR 72 Handicap over 1600m and Pirogue has improved lately so can go close with Delpech up from a fair draw. Royal Zulu Guard should be running on from a pole position draw over a suitable trip off an attractive merit rating. Whitley Willows proved last time over this trip at Greyville he is off a competitive merit rating and has a fair draw.

The eighth is a MR 76 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1950m and Ruby Gem was unlucky in her penultimate start over course and distance and the blinkers have come off after she over raced in them last time when not disgraced over 1900m at Greyville. She has a fine chance here with Delpech up from a good draw. The hard knocking Nina Katrina has a good draw for a change over a suitable trip and Anton Marcus is aboard. The consistent Vogue Idea is interesting tried over this trip as one who stays on over 1600m. She has a tricky draw of eight so might be dropped out before running on.

David Thiselton