Candice lines up tense putt on Augusta Green

Racehorse trainers often talk about the delights of working for “patient owners”. Well, they would – no-one likes bosses breathing down their necks demanding success. To be fair, though, owners are understandably interested in seeing a return on investment and worry about possible false promises of a horse’s (well) hidden potential!

One imagines Candice Bass-Robinson might be feeling a teensy bit of pressure about the near future of her charge Augusta Green.

This gelding has a large syndicate of high-profile owners who any trainer would want to please and keep on board.

First there is Candice’s illustrious father and celebrated trainer of yore Mike Bass. Dad is always numero uno.

Then there is golfing legend and thoroughbred breeder Gary Player, Hong Kong-based billionaire Jean-Paul Cluvier, leading local owner-breeder and former cricket star Craig Kieswetter, racing entrepreneur Wehaan Smith and the Avontuur Estate of Michael Taberer.

And there’s more of them, including a journalist. Be afraid.

I joke, of course, but Bass-Robinson wouldn’t be human if she didn’t have a few butterflies about Augusta Green. How auspicious is that horse’s name, for example?

The gelding cost R300,000 as a yearling – a modest outlay for any one of the aforementioned gents and small change once they’d divvied up the invoice. Augusta Green has since raced four times and has recouped a total of R5,800 in minor prize money.

Most owners would want to see a little more return; fairly soon.

That could come at Kenilworth on Tuesday when Augusta Green runs in a Maiden Handicap over 1600m.

So far, the furthest he has raced has been 1400m and more ground looks like what he needs. Being by Gimmethegreenlight, he should go at least a mile, while Captain Al on his dam side potentially gives him the acceleration needed to finish off a race.

The gelding has been priced up as a 3-1 ante-post favourite on the evidence of his last outing, when he “stayed on from the rear” over 2400m at Durbanville. He finished fifth, 1.60 lengths behind the winner.

The time seems ripe for Bass-Robinson to put smiles on the faces of the patient patrons.

SELECTIONS

Race 1:

1 Rhythm Of The Rain, 3 What A Blizzard, 9 She’s My Captain, 2 Fly Better

Race 2:

4 I Want It All, 2 Aus Bob, 1 Piketberg Alley, 3 Chauels Camelot

Race 3:

8 Lyrics To Love, 2 Boisterous Buddy, 3 Captain Mike, 9 State Of Shock

Race 4:

3 Rod The Mod, 6 Ovation, 4 Fighter, 2 Power Grid

Race 5:

5 You Know Who, 1 Star Of The South, 4 Wolf Man, 3 Son Of Silk

Race 6:

4 Gimme A Star, 9 Vida Futura, 3 Apache Dream, 6 Thefutureisbright

Race 7:

1 Nasiriyah, 2 Opulence, 4 Sweet Repeat, 5 Magic Moments

Race 8:

6 Augusta Green, 2 World So High, 4 Dog Detachment, 1 Secret Lizard

Pick 6:

2,3,5,8,9 x 1,2,3,4,6,7 x 1,3,4,5 x 1,4,6,8,9 x 1,2,4 x 6 (R1800)

PA:

2,4 x 2,8 x 3,6 x 5 x 4,9 x 1,2 x 6 (R32)