Summerveld trainer Nathan Kotzen will be targeting the Grade 2 Dingaans with his smart Pathfork gelding Royal Victory.
That is if he passes his first Highveld test in the Grade 3 Graham Beck Stakes over 1400m at Turffontein on October 29.
The gelding found one too good in Cousin Casey in both the Grade 2 Durban Golden Horseshoe over 1400m and the Grade 1 Premiers Champion Stakes over 1600m last season.
His respective 0,90 length second from draw nine and 2,10 length second from draw two in those two features were fine efforts.
That is especially considering Cousin Casey is drawing accolades from all and sundry and is being called a potential Hollywoodbets Durban July winner.
Nathan said, “Well if there was one who was going to beat us I’m glad it was my brother’s horse!”
Cousin Casey is trained by his brother Glen.
In the Golden Horseshoe Royal Victory was squeezed out early and found himself well back in the running under Robert Khathi.
However, he ran on well and finished just 0,90 lengths back despite hanging in late.
He then proved that was no fluke in the Champion Stakes. Ridden by S’Manga Khumalo he settled in midfield on the rail. In the straight he experienced some traffic problems which forced Khumalo to switch him out severely towards the centre of the track. Cousin Casey had set sail for home from the same position, but on the outside where he had a clear path. He got first run on Royal Victory.
Nathan was able to get 80/1 about Royal Victory some time before the Golden Horseshoe and he started at 40/1.
However, his success in that race and in the Champion Stakes, where he started 6/1, was no surprise to him.
He added, “I knew he was good before he had run.”
Nathan found the Dr Marianne Thompson (Ambiance Stud)-bred horse at the BSA National Yearling Sale and managed to land him for R90,000, which is now looking to be a bargain.
He is owned by P J Victor, B J Wiese & Natasha Sturdy
Nathan said, “I liked what I saw. He looked to be nice and big and strong and he has matured into a lovely horse.”
He debuted with a quarter length second from a wide draw in a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1400m on the Hollywoodbets Greyville turf and he then won by 1,20 lengths in a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1600m at the same venue in soft ground.
He does not look to simply be a precocious type, but rather has plenty of substance and scope.
His three-year-old season should be full of excitement for the connections.
The latter have decided to avoid Cape Town as the long journey coupled with the new experience of left hand tracks would make it a tougher ask for the gelding than Jo’burg.
