Imilenzeyokududuma, pictured beating Royal Victory and others in the Michael Roberts Stakes, has come on from his excellent third in the Horse Chestnut and is a runner in the Gr 1 HKJC World Pool Premier’s Champions Challenge if he proves to stay the trip. (Candiese Lenferna Photography)
The Gr 1 HKJC World Pool Premiers Champion Challenge to be run over 2000m at Turffontein Standside on Saturday has two raiders involved and both are from Summerveld, the Nathan Kotzen-trained defending champion Royal Victory and the Gareth van Zyl trained Gr 1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes third-placed Imilenzeyokududuma.
Royal Victory is suited to the Turffontein Standside track and his Gr 1 double there last season was clinched using the same preparation routine both times together with being transported up there both times on Ted Hughes’ state of the art float.
The same was done for this season’s Betway Summer Cup, but on that occasion the race just did not pan out well for Royal Victory as he encountered traffic problems in the straight and did well to finish a three length sixth.
In the Hollywoodbets Durban July he was also unlucky, because had he remained patient and gone for a rails run he could have done even better than a 1,40 length third.
Last season he only had one run between the Summer Cup and the Champions Challenge and it is interesting to note he was beaten into a 1,50 length third in that 1500m race at Hollywoodbets Scottsville by none other than Imilenzeyokududuma, although the latter was receiving 4,5kg.
Nathan Kotzen has opted to give Royal Victory two runs this season between the Summer Cup and the Champions Challenge and this is no doubt a wise move considering how much rain there has been at Summerveld which has limited the amount of work which could be done.
The first of his runs since the Summer Cup was over 1750m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville in the Michael Roberts Stakes and Royal Victory was once again beaten by Imilenzeyokududuma, finishing a 1,30 length third and the latter was only receiving 1,5kg this time.
In his next start Royal Victory ran over 1950m at Scottsville and the race did not pan out well as it was a small field and off a slow pace it turned into a sprint for home. He could not make the ground up going down the unfavourable inside part of the tracks and giving away lumps of weight, so a line can be drawn throught that race.
He should be cherry ripe again for his favourite course and distance and is the highest rated runner in the weight for age race.
His draw of ten is not ideal but his 2023 Summer Cup victory from draw 13 of 18 was easier than his Champions Challenge win from draw three. He is going to come from off the pace and Muzi Yeni is a master at slotting widely drawn horses in to covered up positions.
Royal Victory is good value at 6.25/1 with Hollywoodbets as he looks to be the one to beat as a classy dual Gr 1 winner whose two Gr 1 wins have both been over this course and distance.
Kotzen said Royal Victory had been doing well.
Imilenzeyokududuma has always looked like a type who would relish the Turffontein Standside course and so it proved when he stayed on resolutely for an excellent 2,50 length third in the Gr 1 Wilgerbosdrift HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m last time out in testing going.
He went back to Summerveld after the race which was a wise move as it allowed Gareth van Zyl to be hands on in his preparation and anecdotal evidence has also been said to show that horses going up to altititude can hit a flat spot close to the three week mark and it can last for about a week.
Summerveld is actually a third of the altitide of Johannesburg and Royal Victory has proved that the altitude factor is not really relevant, even over 2000m.
The question is whether Imilenzeykududuma will stay and one aspect against him is he is a six-year-old and has not yet been tried over 2000m.
However, he is by Durban July winner Dynasty, which will help his cause, and his damsire High Chaparral won the Epsom Derby.
On the downside his dam Chevauchee’s three wins included two over 1200m, including a Listed win, and one over 1600m, which was also in a Listed race. Chevauchee was out of a Danehill mare.
If Imilenzeyokududuma does stay he will be a runner especially as Van Zyl said he had come on from that last run and he has a good draw of five under one of the country’s most sought after riders at present, Ryan Munger.
Imilenzeyokududuma will be looking to give Hollywood Racing their first Gr 1 of the season.
The two Summerveld contenders face stern opposition epecially from the promising three-year-old Fire Attack, who stayed on superbly for a close second in the Gr 1 SA Classic over 1800m last time out, and Purple Pitcher, whose yard is in good form and he is a dangerous front runner.
Former SA Derby winner Son Of Raj has come to hand, while Atticus Finch proved his liking for course and distance with a fine win in the Summer Cup.
Hotarubi is capable on his day.
Silver Sanctuary is a Gr 1 win winner over this trip, albeit against her own gender, while None Other will be staying on strongly as a former Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks winner.
Navajo Nation looks up against it on form, but Chestnut Bomber has been seen to stay on well over 1600m and could be a sneaker for a place.
