Shoot The Rapids winning the RA Stayers over 3200m at Turffontein Standside by 9,50 lengths (JC Photos)
The trainers are putting their final touches to their charges for Hollywoodbets Durban July day and there was some bullishness at Summerveld on Wednesday from Nathan Kotzen, Elbert Steyn and from the Candice Bass yard.
Nathan Kotzen has a number of runners on the day, all of them owned by Sid Moodley.
Field Marshal, a four-year-old gelding by Lancaster Bomber, runs in the July consolation race, the Gr 3 Magical Zulu Kingdom 2200, where he has drawn seven and Andrew Fortune rides.
Nathan said, “We’re obviously disappointed he didn’t get into the July. He is fit and well and Fortune is on him. Last time in the Cup Trial it was a good run, he hit the front and just in the last bit he didn’t go through with it. Fortune has been coming to work him and is very happy with him, he said he is fit and we don’t have to do much with him until Saturday.”
In the Gr 3 Durban Gold Vase over 3000m Nathan runs two horses including the good stayer Shoot The Rapids. He carries 60kg off a 117 merit rating and is officially the second best weighted runner in the field, being just half-a-kilogram out with the best-weighted Holding Thumbs.
Nathan said, “I think he is a big runner there. Last time (in the Gr 3 Lucky Fish Winter Stakes over 2400m) there was no pace. He was in front with his head in his chest and he was going so slowly Gavin rubbed him both sides, so it just shows how well he was going in the race. I would have preferred Gavin to have gone a bit quicker and he agreed with me. There has been no pace in these races, so hopefully the Gold Vase favourites will have something that can go and make a proper pace, so the best horse can win. He is fit and well and Craig Zackey rides. Craig came and worked him on Monday and was very happy with him.”
Nathan also runs The Mikado in the Gold Vase and he could be the one to set the pace. He said, “He’s a funny horse, he shows at work he will stay all day. He has run some nice races over shorter and obviously I would like to try and get him up there to make a proper pace, but he is a bit slow out of the gates.”
He runs the twice Gr 2 winner Cats Pajamas in the Gr 3 Post Merchants over 1200m, but has unfortunately drawn 14 out of 14. However, he did finish a 1,75 length fourth in the Gr 1 Mercury Sprint over this course and distance from a wide draw of ten last year, so he can’t be written off.
Nathan said, “We were in two minds whether to run him or not because of the draw. but we could then nominate him for the Mercury and get another wide draw so we’d then be in the same boat. He is very well at the moment, his gallop at Hollywoodbets Greyville the other day was superb. He’s going to have to get a bit of luck from that draw, but he’s very well in himself and Andrew Fortune should suit him.”
In the second race over 1600m on the poly Nathan runs the four-year-old Willam Longsword gelding Rollo The Viking and Richard Fourie rides from draw two.
Nathan said, “His last couple of runs have been a bit below par, but he is much better now fitnss wise etc. He’s well in himself and seems to have turned the corner. He’s got to have an eachway chance in this race.”
Sid Moodley was at track on Wednesday morning and said, “Horseracing is a passion and a hobby. I enjoy the horses more than the racing, but as far as the racing goes I think it is every owner’s ambition to win the big races and to win on the big days. We ourselves have high standards and are always striving to give of our best at all times.”
Piet Steyn is pound for pound one of the most admired trainers in the country and makes a rare appearance on Hollywodbets Durban July day with two runners.
His son and training partner Elbert was at Summerveld on Wednesday and spoke about Red Spice, who runs in the Gr 2 Omoda Golden Horseshoe over 1400m, and Pay The Palace, who runs in the Listed Premier Gateway International handicap over 1600m.
He said, “Red Spice has been here since April with Peter Muscutt and he has done a very good job with him and Pay The Palace has been here for three weeks. They’re both doing very well and are looking very good. They galloped together at Hollywoodbets Greyville and there work was very good. Here at the track they are both in very good condition, I can’t be happier. Now we are just looking for competitive runs.”
Red Spice won the Listed JC le Roux Summer Juvenile Stakes over 1100m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on WSB Met day, beating St. Harry, and he followed up by beating Roskilde in the Gr 3 Ridgemont Cape Of Good Hope Nursery over 1200m. In his first run in KZN on April 11, he ran a fine 2,50 length third to the exciting prospect Turn It Up in the Race Coast Sales Slipper over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville.
His dam by Right Approach won five times from 1000m to 1250m, but his sire Erik The Red is proving to throw horses who can go further, so he should get the 1400m trip on Saturday.
Elbert said, ” There are quite a few horses with form in the Golden Horseshoe, but I think he is in a good spot and I do have very high hopes for him as a horse, so I think he will be competitive.”
Pay The Palace was just off the best three-year-olds in the Cape Summer.
Elbert said, “Pay The Palace is drawn 12 with Richard Fourie on. It’s not the best of draws but we’ve got the blinkers on for the first time and it seems to have sharpened him up nicely. His work has been good and his gallop was very good, so we do need things to go our way from that draw but I think he is a runner.”
Terry Fripp is the Summerveld assistant to Candice Bass and on top of their bullishness with their Hollywoodbets Durban July runner Viva’s Liberte, which was documented in Monday’s newsletter, another of their runners they sound bullish about is Tenango, who runs in the Gr 3 Post Merchants.
Terry said, “Tenango is one of our stand outs on the day. He has come on a lot from his run in the Golden Horse and he’s doing really well at home. He’s got a nice draw of three and I expect a big run from him.”
He added, “We’ve got a fillly on the poly in the last race called Whatastar. I think she will be competitive.”
