Candice Bass-Robinson broke the Snaith stranglehold on the 2021 WSB Cape Winter Series when her Silvano filly Marina charged to an eyecatching victory in the R85 000 Listed Stormsvlei Stakes run over 1800m on the Kenilworth short-straight winter course on Saturday.
A full-sister to the stable’s Equus Champion and Vodacom Durban July winner Marinaresco, Marina (11-10) never looked threatened as she strode away to register her first stakes success in the hands of Keagan de Melo.
Besides the victress being related to Candice’s early Vodacom Durban July winner, the race is named in honour of the Prince Florimund mare, Stormsvlei – best known as the dam of the Bass family’s champions, Pocket Power and River Jetez.
Keagan de Melo has matters under control aboard Marina (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Probably due to in part to the Bass-Robinson surfeit of talent in the 3yo fairer sex ranks this term, the Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein-bred Marina had taken on the males in the first leg of the series, where she wasn’t disgraced, finishing under a length behind the highly regarded Warrior, who disappointed in the males’ second leg today.
On Saturday the classy Marina swept past the pacesetting Pink Tourmaline (12-1), and despite a vigorous effort from Richard Fourie on Rain In Newmarket (5-2), there was no stopping the classy galloper in the famous yellow and black flag who went away from her five opponents to win by 3,25 lengths in a time of 116,63 secs.
Snaith’s first leg third-placer La Quinta (10-1) was well beaten a further two lengths back in third. Their opening leg winner Really Royal (6-1) was beaten ten lengths.
Almost 18 lengths separated the six runners from first to last.
A classy chestnut winner of 5 races with 2 places from 9 starts for stakes of R197 000, Marina is by retired multiple SA Champion sire Silvano (Lomitas) out of the twice-winning Fort Wood mare, Gay Fortuna.
The final leg of the series is the Listed River Jetez Stakes over 2400m at Kenilworth on 26 June.
