Royal Victory is out to win a second Betway Summer Cup (JC Photos)
Peter Victor, part-owner of Royal Victory, was at Turffontein on Thursday and confirmed that the Nathan Kotzen-trained former winner of the race would not be wearing blinkers for the Betway Summer Cup on Saturday and he would have “horse whisperer” Glyn Redgrave with him.
Royal Victory wore blinkers in the Hollywoodbets Durban July, where he finished a fine fourth, but he had earlier displayed his “sticking up” habit at both the Hollywoodbets Durban July gallops and in the Gr 1 HKJC Champion Stakes and had to be scratched from the latter race.
Glyn Redgrave subsequently worked wonders with him and he showed no sign of any issue in the parade ring, the canter down or at the start in either of his two starts this season.
He should go down to the start normally on Saturday, especially with the horse whisperer present with him at the course.
During his difficult period he did have an issue at the starting stalls on one occasion and Nathan said that after just two sessions with Glyn Redgrave he was going into the stalls like a puppy.
He had also stopped his sticking up habit.
Nathan said the six-year-old Pathfork gelding was very well.
He said he did not turn it on in a matter of strides like he used to as a younger horse, but still kicked on well, as he proved in the July, so he will once again relish the long Turffontein Standside straight.
He races off the same merit rating of 125 as last year when finishing a three length sixth, but he never quite had fresh air in front of him in that race and so was unable to make up a substantial amount of ground.
He won in 2023 from draw 13 and has draw 14 on Saturday, so he is good value at 25/1 considering his four runs over the course and distance have yielded two Gr 1 victories, including one at wfa, a Gr 1 wfa 0,25 length second and the aforementioned three length 6th placed finish.
Chad Little has quickly proved his class as a jockey since his comeback and will be aboard Royal Victory.
