By Mark Van Deventer
Candice Bass-Robinson is going through a frustrating spell with a whole bunch of placings during November. She has saddled winners too, but a string of seconds is testing her patience. At Tuesday’s Hollywoodbets Kenilworth meeting, Bass Racing again have several lively chances that they will be hoping to convert into winners, starting with MASTEROFTHEDESERT in Race 2.
Since being fitted with a tongue tie, he has run three solid Maiden races – behind Across the Bow, Arctic Wizard and Water Dragon. Those were all at Hollywoodbets Durbanville and he could prefer the stiff Hollywoodbets Kenilworth straight. There are several unexposed rivals that could wake up to challenge, but MASTEROFTHEDESERT has potentially winning form.
KING’S QUEST, from the same barn, could be the solution in Race 4 – a Maiden over 1400m. Again, there is a wide spread of form with lightly raced horses eligible to improve but KING’S QUEST comes in off three decent tries out in the Northern Suburbs when supported each time. Despite over-racing last time, the son of Querari earned a neat figure behind Terminator. Gelded since, he should prove more manageable in running and, at best, can justify favouritism and see off his eight opponents.
Bass Racing holds a high opinion of MAJOR MASTER, a Master of My Fate 3YO colt, who contests race 5, a Class 4 over 1600m. He beat subsequent winner Rich Folk’s Hoax without undue stress a month ago and comes in on 55.5kg’s for his handicap debut. The task he has been set seems well within this promising and flashy colt’s capabilities and he has duly shortened down to 2/1 in early trade with the bookies.
AZZURRI is a rival of interest at much longer odds of 14/1. He ran a career best after being gelded behind Sail the Seas in a race which showed up well on the clock when measured against standard for the Class, and though berthed out wide at barrier 10, he should be running on strongly.
Well drawn PINOT GRIGIO (a fortuitous winner over Major Master when getting first run on a fast track), above average 3YO, DALMENY FACTOR and LA PULGA (also trained by Bass-Robinson) are others in the mix.
Indeed, Bass Racing really holds a stacked deck on Tuesday. HELIOTROPE is yet another stable entry with winning claims – she is entered in Race 6, a Cape C Stakes for Fillies and Mares over nine panels. She produced some solid numbers at Hollywoodbets Durbanville and, given her style of running on from off the pace, is likely to do even better on the Summer Course at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth with its long stretch.
HELIOTROPE, priced up at around 5/1, is no good thing – opposed by eight closely matched contenders. While Justin Snaith has a plausible shake with AMONG THE CLOUDS and LADY SPRINGFIELD (who got mighty close to Heliotrope last time), GOLDEN ANGEL could be the value play at 16/1 to be combined with the selection in Exactas.
She comes out of that Sail the Seas key race mentioned earlier and will relish this slightly longer trip. Returning jockey, Chad Little gets his opportunity on the Gold Standard filly ex Elusive Heart who has been given some relief by the official handicapper (86 down to 83.)
Race 9 is the strongest on the card with an average merit rating in the low 90’s – a Class 3 down the Hollywoodbets Kenilworth “straight six.” OLIVER and GIMMELIGHTNING are the two to focus on, though fluent recent victor from the red hot Vaughan Marshall stable, DUMBLEDORE; Andre Nel’s speedball, NORDIC CHIEF and the Clinton Binda conditioned, BLACK EGRET should not be left off wider exotic tickets.
It’s a fascinating contest where the adage, ‘pace makes the race” applies.
It’s hard to choose between GIMMELIGHTNING or OLIVER for the punt. The former is a hold up sprinter with a fine finishing burst so is pace dependant and can be a hostage to fortune when trying to jink past staggering rivals. That explains why he has only won twice from 15 starts despite producing zippy come home sectionals. A brisk headwind and a pace meltdown would be play to his strengths.
OLIVER has found top form as a fully developed, if lightly raced five-year-old, winning his last three starts in some style. It could be that Adam Marcus’’ skilfully campaigned charge is in the grip of the handicapper now, having been raised from an 84 to 98 for his troubles. His best form has come over 1400m so, like GIMMELIGHTNING he would also prefer a hard run, extended sprint – if they merely jog early, his chances will be compromised.
