Royal Victory powers to victory in the 2023 Betway Summer Cup (JC Photos)
The 2023 Betway Summer Cup winner Royal Victory has been worked on by renowned “horse whisperer” Glyn Redgrave in response to the habit he had developed of “sticking up.”
At the Hollywoodbets Durban July Gallops the Nathan Kotzen-trained Pathfork gelding stopped at about the 1600m mark and refused to move.
He did the same on the way to the start of the Gr 1 HKJC Champions Cup and had to be scratched.
Redgrave had a few sessions with him and he was then taken during a nigh race meeting to Hollywoodbets Greyville.
On that occasion he paraded fine and went down to the gates fine, but for some reason did not jump.
He was then taken to Hollywoodbets Scottsville during a meeting.
Nathan said, “He went down easy, he jumped well, all went good.”
Nathan added, “He is showing nice work.”
Nathan will give the six-year-old his reappearance run in a Conditions Plate over 1400m on October 19 at Hollywoodbets Greyville.
He then intends running him again on November 7 in a Conditions Plate over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville.
The Betway Summer Cup is three weeks later on November 29.
Royal Victory was last seen running a cracking 2,85 length fourth in the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Durban July in which he jumped from draw 17 and ran on strongly from way back.
He will have his normal traveling arrangements to Johannesburg and will be out to enhance his Gr 1 2000m record at Turffontein Standside of four starts, two wins, a shorthead second (unsuccessful objection) and a three length sixth.
