Helderberg Blue is particularly full of himself

Journalist: David Thiselton – Gold Circle Publishing Department

Mike Bass has two runners in Saturday’s J&B Met, last year’s third-placed Helderberg Blue and the Gr 2 Premier Trophy winner Paterfamilias.



The maestro trainer continues his own brave personal battle to get back to full health, but this has not diminished his closeness to his beloved horses and his intuition in knowing just how well they are.



He said, “Helderberg Blue is particularly full of himself and is drawn well so will do the best he can do, but I am not sure whether that is good enough. He finished third last year and I would be happy with that again.”



The five-year-old Jet Master gelding is drawn two, but faces a stronger field than last year and stable jockey Grant van Niekerk has abandoned him in favour of Paterfamilias.



Bass agrees Paterfamilias has more ability of the two, but was concerned about his wide draw of 12 in the 14-horse field.



He said about the six-year-old Trippi gelding, who has this season proved why he has always been so well regarded, “He galloped very well the other morning. He has had issues and is back to his best. He has also matured, so has been running better races lately. If he can get a spot from the draw he will have a shout. However, it will take a lot to get in from there and I think the draw could cost him.”



Bass has three runners in the Gr 1 Betting World Cape Flying Championships and said, “It’s a race with a mixture of horses and we would be happy to get into the money.” He singled out Line Break as one who had been doing well, although he was not convinced he fitted into this class of field. The mare Fly By Night is a Gr 1 winner, but her raceday performances have become a bit difficult to predict. Six-year-old Tevez has finished third and fourth respectively in the last two runnings of the race and is ideally suited to the tough course as he packs a strong finish.



The day to day running of the Bass yard is in the capable hands of Bass’ daughter Candice Robinson, and the formula is proving successful as they walked away with the Gr 1 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes trophy last Saturday courtesy of Inara.