EPaper

Kotzen out to beat his former boss De Kock

David Mollett

In football terms, it’s a bit like Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane doing his training at Manchester United.

Trainer Nathan Kotzen from KwaZulu-Natal, who had a 16year stint as assistant to Mike de Kock, has housed his star threeyear-old, Royal Victory, with his former boss since November.

“Yes, he’s been with me since the Graham Beck Stakes in the first week of November,” De Kock confirmed on Thursday.

While the Pathfork gelding took in last month’s Tony Ruffel Stakes, his main goal has always been the WSB Gauteng Guineas at Turffontein on Saturday.

Kotzen got his trainer licence in 2017 and the man who has worked with such champions as Ipi Tombe, Grey’s Inn and Victory Moon will quickly have realised Royal Victory had tons of ability. His runs behind Cousin Casey last term are proof.

A twist in the tale is that Royal Victory will be stabled close to two of his age group, Shoemaker and East Coast, who have been priced up first and second favourites for the Guineas.

Richard Fourie rides Shoemaker for the fifth time but will need all his expertise to overcome a wide draw. Also, even allowing for the long journey, the colt’s performance in the Cape Guineas (10 lengths off Charles Dickens) was disappointing.

Anyone chatting to Keagan De Melo might be advised to avoid the topic of Fourie. His mount, Make It Snappy, failed to justify favouritism in the Met and victory went to his No 1 rival on Jet Dark.

Then — at Kenilworth last Tuesday — Fourie rubbed salt into the wound by booting home five winners.

Winning Form has probably got it right by stating that, “East Coast will be at his best in the SA Classic”, but the R180,000 son of The United States has to be included in all exotic bets on Saturday. He is better drawn than Shoemaker, Anfields Rocket and Money Heist.

Another son of Pathfork, who goes on the shortlist of possible winners, is Erico Verdonese’s runner, Jimmy Don. He has won three of his five starts but is also drawn wide.

Gavin van Zyl has done well with his highveld team and will be hoping for a top four finish from Money Heist. The R320,000 son of Gimmethegreenlight finished four lengths in front of Shoemaker in the Cape Guineas.

It’s an intriguing first leg of the Triple Crown and Royal Victory is selected to make it a redletter day for Nathan Kotzen by beating East Coast, Shoemaker and Jimmy Don.

Bookmakers have probably got their sums right in making Gimme A Shot the hot favourite for the supporting feature, the Wilgerbosdrift Fillies Guineas.

The father-and-son team of Mike and Adam Azzie have done a great job with yet another of Gimmethegreenlight’s progeny, having won the Ipi Tombe Stakes on Summer Cup day and is now chasing a hat-trick.

Perhaps the right one for the swinger with Gimme A Shot is Candice Dawson’s filly Miss Cool, who excelled in the care of Paul Peter. It’s worth remembering that she beat Dingaans winner Union Square in last season’s SA Nursery.

There is a fascinating match race in the first leg of the Pick Six between Cian The Conqueror and Munchkin. The former won on debut in October but has not been seen out since.

Munchkin — second to him that day — opened his account with an impressive win in November. He gets the nod from this column for a second win.

SPORT

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2023-02-03T08:00:00.0000000Z

2023-02-03T08:00:00.0000000Z

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