Glen Kotzen was delighted after drawing three for On My Honour. (Candiese Lenferna Photography).
The Glen Kotzen-trained On My Honour is possibly the best value in the Hollywoodbets Durban July at 33/1 with the sponsor, because on certain formlines he comes out better than horses who are shorter than him in the betting and he also drew a plum barrier position of three.
S’Manga Khumalo said, “I put a leg over him this morning and he is in a great, great, great space. Obviously, flying from Jo’Burg to come and put a leg over him and finishing up a beautiful morning like this with a draw of three is great. He is a big horse, a big striding horse and I think him having such a nice draw like this as a young horse, I am pleased. I think the last time I had a good draw was with Heavy Metal. Listen, there is still more to be done. Let’s see how he does his gallops on Thursday and then we can take it from there. He is a marvellous horse and also to Mr. Wernars and other partners, I think they will be chuffed with the draw.”
Kotzen said, “I am delighted with the draw. We are there for nothing. We can control the pace. If they are going fast, we can give him a bit more of a chance. If they are going slowly he will be in the right place. He is quite an easy horse and he is a tough horse. If you ask him to jump and go, to hold your position, he will be able to do that and still come back to you. Some horses, when they do that, they don’t like to settle. He is a true professional and is a tough horse. Off that galloping weight and that draw, be careful.”
Kotzen believed that when people cottoned on to his good formlines he would shorten in the betting.
Kotzen won the big race in 2009 with Big City Life, while Khumalo is going for a third July victory having won with the Sean Tarry-trained Heavy Metal in 2013 and with the Mike de Kock-trained Sparkling Water in 2022.
