Inara (blue) has shown guts, courage and genuine class
Mike Bass’s multiple Gr1 winning Equus reject Inara dwarfs her seven rivals in today’s R250 000 Gr3 Diana Stakes to be run at Durbanville. The daughter of Trippi could make it a welcome get-well-soon feature win for her trainer, who has had a torrid time of it recently.
Mike Bass is in recovery and therapy after a trying time in hospital in recent months, and even with the best medical care in the world, the greatest tonic for the seasoned horseman will be winners – and more winners.
Bass Pair
Mike Bass – seen with his star, Pocket Power
He saddles a powerful duo in this sought-after feature credit and it is the Drakenstein owned-and-bred Inara who gets the vote.
The 4yo won the Majorca and Paddock Stakes last season (the first horse to register the honour this century ) and opened her summer challenge with a perfect course and distance prep at her last run. She looks likely to target the Gr1 double again in 2016.
She was a facile winner of that Durbanville Allowance Plate and beat her stablemate Come Fly With Me by two lengths.
The winning margin meant nothing with Grant Van Niekerk having time to check his Facebook and send an sms to his family at the 200m marker. The winner was full of running while the runner-up was flat to the boards.
Flyer
But, with a 6kg turnaround on Saturday, her stablemate Come Fly With Me must be considered.
Sean Cormack – on the danger
Sean Cormack travels to the Cape to partner the daughter of Jet Master,who is well drawn and in scintillating form – including a victory over Dean Kannemeyer’s highly vaunted Real Princess to her credit.
Justin Snaith’s pair of Eros’ Girl and Harvard Crimson are both capable on their day, but look to0 have other targets in mind.
After two good Fairview wins over ground, Eros’ Girl failed miserably on the polytrack last time and is a difficult specimen to assess – particularly with her fitness in doubt after a ten week break.
Harvard Crimson on the other hand is a five time winner on the local front and appears to be improving as she matures.
While she failed at her only start at Durbanville, she won a cracker from some way back last time in a lower handicap.
Joy And Hope
The Glen Kotzen trained Jeweller’s Joy was well beaten at her last start by Inara and is also held by Harvard Crimson. While she has not run far off them, she may not be quite in this class.
Greg Ennion’s Just Felicity was Listed placed as a 2yo and is a gutsy daughter of Antonius Pius who could surprise with a paperweight on her back at her first outing at the country course.
She is not a tearaway type and could play haywire with quartet calculations from her 1 draw.
Sensible Lover – shown little since Gr3 Three Troikas win
The former Weiho Marwing charge Sensible Lover has her first Cape start for Darry Hodgson and looks likely to need it after an eighteen week break.
She won the Gr3 Three Troikas up North but has failed to fire since stepping into the big league.
Adam Marcus’ Ideal World filly Fear Not ran a fair second at her first try at Durbanville in an MR 90 fillies handicap behind surprise winner Goldandsilver.
She needs to show that she can pace it in this company at wfa.
Inara is a confident choice to go on and win this well.
Her stablemate looks likely to chase her home – and include the lightly weighted Just Felicity for a kicker.
