Holding Thumbs displayed immense courage when giving Ahead Of The Facts 11kg and a short-head beating in the Listed WSB Club Prive Summer Stayers Handicap over 2500m in December (Picture: Wayne Marks)
The five-year-old Vercingetorix gelding Holding Thumbs will be out to go one better than he did last year in the Gr 3 World Pool Gold Cup which is to be run on Sunday at Hollywoodbets Greyville. His trainer Glen Kotzen spoke about him and his other runners on the day at Summerveld on Tuesday morning.
Glen said, “His Champions Season hasn’t been great for us, but I think we have now turned him for the Gold Cup. He ran second last year to King Pelles and it is a pity the latter is back in the race having been supplemented, but I think I have got Holding Thumbs right. He is obviously a better horse in the Cape where he has got a nice galloping track, I don’t think Hollywoodbets Greyville suits him, but we’ve got a plan.”
Holding Thumbs is drawn 13 out of 13 but Kotzen said, “The draw is not a real concern because he can race from wherever.”
Holding Thumbs is known for his courage and this was particularly on display when he gave the current Gold Cup second favourite Ahead Of The Facts 11kg and a shorthead beating in the Listed WSB Club Prive Cape Summer Stayers Handicap over 2500m on December 6 last year.
He followed up by beating another Gold Cup runner Magic Verse by 0,75 lengths at level weights in the Gr 3 Cape Of Good Hope Chairman’s Cup over 2500m on L’Ormarins King’s Plate day and in that race he gave Ahead Of The Facts 10kg and a 2,65 length beating.
However, Ahead Of The Facts was only receiving 2,5kg from Holding Thumbs when beating him into third by 3,75 lengths in his Gr 3 New Turf Carriers Western Cape Stayers victory over 2800m and Ahead Of The Facts beat Holding Thumbs by 3,40 lengths when receiving only 1,5kg in his recent Gr 3 Durban Gold Vase victory over 3000m.
So Ahead Of The Facts has obviously improved and the further for him the better, but Holding Thumbs is now only giving Ahead Of The Facts half-a-kilogram so can get closer on paper.
Holding Thumbs runs off a 117 merit rating compared to 110 last year, so will not have it easy, but Chad Little knows him well and he has a chance.
The yard runs the Danon Platina filly Tudor Rose in the Gr 1 World Pool Moment Of The Day Champion Stakes.
Glen said, “We nominated for the Gr 2 Thekwini but she drew 29 out of 31 and then when she cracked a good draw in the Champion Stakes I had a look at the noms and all the better colts were drawn wide, so it was a no-brainer to go for this race. Also it being a Gr 1 is nice as there are no Gr 1 races for two-year-old fillies in the whole country anymore. She’s got loads of ability. In her last run she was quite green, but she’s coming on. The ability is there but mentally she is just lacking racing experience. However, after her last run I think she has learnt a lot and her work has gone up another level too. I am expecting a huge run from her. She is going to love the mile.”
Tudor Rose is out of the Kilodnan mare Rosier, whom Glen trained to win the Gr 2 Debutante over 1200m on Gold Cup day.
Tudor Rose is a half-sister to a number of multiple winners and she won well on debut before her fine, running on third in the Gr 2 Amusnet Golden Slipper over 1400m.
The yard also run Circumbendibus in the Listed HKIR in December Umngeni Handicap and Glen said, “He has not got a great draw but he is working extremely well, he’s flying. He can jump well and place himself, but he will have to get lucky from that draw.”
Roskilde had been aimed at the World Pool Moment Of The Day Champion Stakes, but will have to rely on a scratching to get in as he is the first reserve.
