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Mike Bass pair should go well in Schweppes 2200

Published by charl on July 28, 2010

MIKE Bass, who has four runners in Saturday’s Vodacom Durban July, spoke about his other runners on the big day.

English Garden runs in the Grade 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes over 1600m.

Bass said he would prefer to have more time with this Camden Park colt and added, “I’m not sure if he’s quite good enough yet, I think he has a place chance.”

Golden Parachute runs in the Grade 2 Mercedes-Benz Gold Vase over 3000m and Bass said, “He hasn’t found his best form this season as the handicapper smashed him after his runner up finish in the Reserve Stayers. I did think he would be good enough in the Canon Gold Cup though, but he wasn’t.”

Golden Parachute has come down in the merit ratings, but Bass thinks he is still a bit overrated by the handicapper. However, he added, “If he runs to his best form he can get a place.”

Grisham also runs in this race. He made a good Champions Season debut, beating Test Pilot by two lengths over 1700m, and that form was franked when the latter won at Scottsville last week.

He subsequently ran a fair sixth in the Betting World 1900 and was then six lengths back in the Lonsdale.

His last run was disappointing over 1950m and he’s better than that.

Bass said, “He’s drawn well and has a nice weight. I think he’ll see out the trip and is not without a chance.”

Bass was confident about the chances of Thanks John and Super Storm in the Grade 3 Schweppes 2200.

“Both have got a good chance,” he said. “Thanks John’s form is exposed. He ran in the Gold Cup, but I don’t think he’s an out and out stayer and I don’t want to run him over those distances all the time. He is a big long-striding horse, so can get a bit out of his ground, so Greyville is not the ideal course for him. But he does have a good turn of foot. Super Storm has a very good turn of foot. His last run in the Gold Circle Derby can be ignored as his wide draw put paid to his chances. He had to come from last and passed half the field.”

Bluemambo, whose claim to fame is a second place finish in the Grade 1 Investec Cape Derby over 2000m behind Big City Life last year, runs in the second over 2400m and Bass said, “He is a headstrong sort, who pulls very hard. He should see out the trip. He has been going handy so we will try and drop him out. If we can get him to relax in the running he will run much better and will have a shout.”

We Have Lift Off runs in the ninth over 1600m and Bass said, “His temperament is improving and he should be more settled so we are hoping for a better run and give him a place chance.”

Photo: Robert Fayd’herbe, Mike Bass, Bernard Fayd’herbe, Marsh Shirtliff and Anton Marcus Clairwood Tuesday morning.