Trainer Candice Bass-Robinson and Drakenstein Stud owner Gaynor Rupert have established themselves as prominent players not only on the Western Cape racing scene but across South Africa, even joining forces to win at the highest level with star fillies such as Inara and Clouds Unfolds as well as this season’s Grade 1 winners Trip Of Fortune and ‘boom horse’ Charles Dickens.
And both leading ladies will likely enjoy further success this weekend – together and in their personal capacity – when racing returns to Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Sunday 4 June for a 10-race card that features a pair of two-year-old Listed events.
After three consecutive seconds to begin her career, Bass-Robinson has sent out Drakenstein homebred Distant Winter to back-to-back recent wins. This highly rated juvenile filly won the Grade 3 Fillies’ Winter Nursery last time out over 1100m and is good value to follow up in the 1200m Listed Perfect Promise Sprint (Race 7) under Aldo Domeyer.
As the only multiple winner in the line-up, this daughter of What A Winter must concede weight to all but her experience and solid form credentials will stand Distant Winter in good stead and could, ultimately, give her the edge.
Rupert is strongly represented in the race with Justin Snaith-trained debut winner Summer Lily a more-than-capable second string to the Drakenstein bow.
Lancaster Bomber filly Beach Bomb, who is out of former Equus Champion and star racemare Beach Beauty, could get the Franschhoek-based operation off to a winning start in Race 1 for the same trainer-jockey combination if making the expected improvement after a pleasing introduction, though the same could be said of Snaith-trained Futura filly Future Star.
Dean Kannemeyer runs another homebred in newcomer Bright Duchess and any market support for this Duke Of Marmalade filly should be taken seriously.
Master Of My Fate youngster Fatal Gem should deliver the goods for the blue and white of Rupert’s Drakenstein Stud in Race 2 over 1200m. She made the expected improvement from run one to run two when staying on well to finish second over the course and distance earlier this month and should, with further progress, open her account under Brett Crawford’s stable jockey Louis Mxothwa.
Bass-Robinson’s charge Captain Arrow looks ready to break through for an overdue maiden win in Race 3 over 1000m. He finished runner-up in three consecutive starts over this trip before fluffing his lines over 1200m last time, so is worth another chance when he reverts to his preferred distance.
Consistent Rafeef filly Fun Zone can complete a three-timer for the yard when she lines up to renew rivalry with Gimmeafirst in Race 6 over 1400m.
Clive Robinson
