Twelve months on since going into the history books as the first woman trainer to win the Durban July – and in all probability the first trainer to do so in their first season – Candice Bass-Robinson reckons Rocket Countdown has a much better chance in the famous Vodacom race than his 45-1 price would suggest.

Rocket Countdown (JC Photographics)

“I am not saying he can win but I am optimistic about his chance of running a good race and I think he has a chance of being in the money,” she says. “He hasn’t been over the trip but I don’t think the distance will be a problem. He is bred to go further and he has a good turn of foot so he won’t need to be racing up there all the way.

“He has done very well since he has been in Durban and he put up a very nice gallop at Greyville last Thursday. It was his first time at the course and he also worked really well on Monday morning.

“I think it’s an open race if you take Justin’s horse (African Night Sky) out of it. I don’t know that we can be lucky twice in a row but you never know!”

By Michael Clower