Picture: Royal Victory.

Royal Victory Eyeing A Jo’burg Campaign

Summerveld trainer Nathan Kotzen will be targeting the Grade 2 Dingaans with his smart Pathfork gelding Royal Victory.

That is if he passes his first Highveld test in the Grade 3 Graham Beck Stakes over 1400m at Turffontein on October 29.

The gelding found one too good in Cousin Casey in both the Grade 2 Durban Golden Horseshoe over 1400m and the Grade 1 Premiers Champion Stakes over 1600m last season.

His respective 0,90 length second from draw nine and 2,10 length second from draw two in those two features were fine efforts.

That is especially considering Cousin Casey is drawing accolades from all and sundry and is being called a potential Hollywoodbets Durban July winner.

Nathan said, “Well if there was one who was going to beat us I’m glad it was my brother’s horse!”

Cousin Casey is trained by his brother Glen.

In the Golden Horseshoe Royal Victory was squeezed out early and found himself well back in the running under Robert Khathi.

However, he ran on well and finished just 0,90 lengths back despite hanging in late.

He then proved that was no fluke in the Champion Stakes. Ridden by S’Manga Khumalo he settled in midfield on the rail. In the straight he experienced some traffic problems which forced Khumalo to switch him out severely towards the centre of the track. Cousin Casey had set sail for home from the same position, but on the outside where he had a clear path. He got first run on Royal Victory.

Nathan was able to get 80/1 about Royal Victory some time before the Golden Horseshoe and he started at 40/1.

However, his success in that race and in the Champion Stakes, where he started 6/1, was no surprise to him.

He added, “I knew he was good before he had run.”

Nathan found the Dr Marianne Thompson (Ambiance Stud)-bred horse at the BSA National Yearling Sale and managed to land him for R90,000, which is now looking to be a bargain.

He is owned by P J Victor, B J Wiese & Natasha Sturdy

Nathan said, “I liked what I saw. He looked to be nice and big and strong and he has matured into a lovely horse.”

He debuted with a quarter length second from a wide draw in a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1400m on the Hollywoodbets Greyville turf and he then won by 1,20 lengths in a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1600m at the same venue in soft ground.

He does not look to simply be a precocious type, but rather has plenty of substance and scope.

His three-year-old season should be full of excitement for the connections.

The latter have decided to avoid Cape Town as the long journey coupled with the new experience of left hand tracks would make it a tougher ask for the gelding than Jo’burg.

Picture: Sea The Stars winning the Arc in 2009 (blog.racebets.com).

Breeding To Race Or Racing To Breed?

It is one of the ironies of horseracing that breeders aim to produce horses who perform on the racecourse, but when an exceptional one is produced they are usually withdrawn quite quickly for breeding purposes.

South African owners, thankfully, are not too quick on the draw in this regard and the possible Horse Of The Year Jet Dark will still be running at the age of five this season.

He also took in the hardest task in SA racing, running in the Hollywoodbets Durban July with topweight.

Likewise, racing fans around the world will be hoping out aloud that the brilliant Baaeed will follow in the footsteps of his sire Sea The Stars and run in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, the highest rated race in the world according to the International Federation Of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA).

The aim of any top sportsman in the world is to test himself/herself against the best on the highest stage.

However, the best horse in the world might be withdrawn before doing so.

Presumably this is because an unblemished record might be blemished.

That is why there should be more debate on who was greater, Frankel or Sea The Stars?

Frankel was supreme in all of his races, but he avoided the biggest stage of all, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Sea The Stars did not and, despite pulling in the running and then twice having to be switched in the straight when in a seemingly impossible position, he still won by two lengths.

Frankel was supreme over a mile and then proved himself supreme over ten furlongs in both the Juddmonte International and the Champion Stakes at Ascot.

However, Sea The Stars in his unbeaten run of six successive Group 1s as a three-year-old not only won the 2000 Guineas, but also two of the world’s most prestigious mile-and-a-half races, the Derby and the Arc.

His other three wins were the Coral Eclipse, the Juddmonte and the Irish Champion Stakes, all over about ten furlongs.

Frankel fans will point to his wide margin victories. He did not beat the opposition, he humiliated them.

There is no doubt he himself deserves to be called the best horse ever.

However, his owners avoided both the Derby and the Arc probably over fears he would not see out the trip.

Baaeed’s participation in the Arc has always seemed unlikely.

However, Angus Gold, racing manager to Baaeed’s owners Shadwell, hinted there was a chance it might happen.

“Mishriff is a top-class horse and to beat him like that is very exciting.”, he said, “I’m certainly not going to say I’ve been involved with a better one.”

“To my eyes, he ran right through the line. I don’t want to put any wrong but I’d be surprised if he didn’t stay a mile-and-a-half on what he did yesterday.

“It comes late in the season and they’ve all been on the go a long time. It’s the greatest race in the world in my view and I’d be surprised if he didn’t go an extra furlong-and-a-half if it came to it.”

Seb Sanders, a former champion jockey, gave his opinion:

“After how relaxed he was, they may have to think about the Arc. I haven’t seen anything in the Arc that can beat him.

“I found that amazing the way he went through that race. He was an incredibly fresh horse at the line.

“I think the Arc will be on the peripheral if the ground is good or better.”

It would rob the Arc of some of its pizzazz if he did not appear.

Imagine a horse who could win the Derby, the Arc and the Breeders Cup Classic (run on dirt and the second highest rated race in the world).

That would be like the Federer or Djokovic of racing.

Golden Horn won the Derby and the Arc and was narrowly defeated on unsuitable soft ground in the Breeders Cup turf.

Ironically it might have been his narrow defeat in the Juddmonte that allowed owner Anthony Oppenheimer, a second cousin of Mary Slack’s, to throw caution to the wind and go for those big races.

However, sending champions to stud at the height of their powers is not at all a modern phenomenon.

The great 1881-born legend St. Simon only ran nine races, winning all of them, before being retired to stud. The wisdom of that decision is written in history as he became one of the most successful and influential sires in thoroughbred history.

Picture: Royal Aussie makes it two wins on the trot, adding to two runner up finishes in his first two starts, at Kenilworth on Saturday (Wayne Marks).

Royal Mo Colt Goes Top Of CTS Ready To Run Log

Royal Aussie Also Becomes Former Champion Owner Suzette Viljoen’s Leading Gold Rush Candidate

Royal Mo is fast stamping himself as a sire to be reckoned with.

His Justin Snaith-trained son Royal Aussie won a MR79 Handicap over 1400m in impressive style at Kenilworth on Saturday.

Louis Mxothwa landed a chance ride and was most impressed.

He said Snaith had told him the relaxed bay would be an easy ride and confirmed that to be the case.

From a handy position the good looking colt quickened superbly and went on to win by a length to convert 9/4 odds.

It is no mean feat for a three-year-old to win a handicap off a 94 merit rating carry 59kg against older horses in August, especially considering the ground was yielding, making it a tough test.

He goes top of the Ready To Run log, which is shown below.

It was a pleasant surprise for owner Suzette Viljoen, who bought him for R300,000 at the CTS Ready To Run Sale, to discover recently he had been purchased earlier at the CTS Premier Yearling Sale.

That means he is eligible for the R7,5 million CTS Gold Rush race in January.

Suzette holds one of the 16 tickets and had believed she did not have a good enough candidate before learning the Klawervlei Stud-bred Royal Aussie had been on the CTS Premier Yearling Sale, where he fetched R75,000, purchased by Central Route Trading.

The CTS Ready To Run log as it stands is below:

Picture: Ears pinned, nostrils flared, Nest pounds toward the finish line in the G1 Alabama at Saratoga under Irad Ortiz Jr

Nest Stamps Herself As America’s Best Sophomore Filly

America’s leading three-year-old filly Nest (Curlin), who finished second in both the Kentucky Oaks and Belmont Stakes, landed her second Grade 1 at Saratoga racecourse this Summer when destroying them in the Alabama Stakes over a mile and two furlongs on Saturday and the Breeders Cup Distaff looks to now be on her agenda.

It was the Todd Pletcher-trained filly’s third career Grade 1.

She simply powered away from them in the straight to win by 4,25 lengths from Kentucky Oaks winner Secret Oath.

Nest has now well and truly avenged her Kentucky Oaks defeat.

She beat Secret Oath by no less than 12,25 lengths in her penultimate start, at Saratoga in July, in the Grade 1 American Oaks over a mile and a furlong.

According to the Paulick Report below, Nest looks likely to be aimed at the Breeders Cup Distaff.

Nest’s ‘Dangerous Arsenal’ Impresses Pletcher, Filly Could Train Up To Breeders’ Cup Distaff

by NYRA Press Office

Repole Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, and Michael House’s Nest flew to the top of her division with a dominant victory in the Alabama (G1) at Saratoga Race Course.

The three-time Grade 1-winning daughter of Curlin solidified her rightful place as leader of the 3-year-old filly division with a 4 1/4-length score in the prestigious ten-furlong test. Despite stumbling at the start, Nest was able to secure her desired forward position to track longshot She’s Keen’s early fractions before making a sweeping move around the far turn under her own power. She drew off to an in-hand victory under Irad Ortiz Jr., producing a 99 Beyer Speed Figure for the win.

“Good, excellent,” said Pletcher when asked how Nest looked on Sunday morning.

Pletcher added that he had watched replays of Nest’s superb Alabama victory several times.

“I thought it was more impressive watching the replay because watching it live, I couldn’t fully appreciate how quickly she accelerated off the turn there,” Pletcher said. “I was impressed watching it live and even more so watching the replay. Especially the start.”

Nest entered the Alabama off four week’s rest, capturing Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) on July 23 at the Spa by 12 1/4 lengths. Her highly prosperous sophomore season also includes a win in the Central Bank Ashland (G1) at Keeneland and runner-up efforts in the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs and Belmont Stakes (G1) against males.

The victory provided Pletcher with a fourth Alabama victory, saddling CCA Oaks winner Princess of Sylmar [2013] and Stopchargingmaria [2014] to scores in both races. He also won last year’s Alabama with Malathaat, who was subsequently crowned champion 3-year-old filly.

“The Alabama is the premier 3-year-old filly race of the summer,” Pletcher said. “To pull off the double in the Coaching Club and Alabama, both four weeks apart in two blowout performances, it can’t get much more impressive than that. She’s got phenomenal stamina. What’s so impressive about it is she also has a turn of foot. It’s a pretty dangerous arsenal.”

As far as the rest of the Nest’s year is concerned, Pletcher said she could either train up to the $2-million Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) on November 5 at Keeneland or target the $250,000 Beldame (G2) on October 9 at the Belmont at the Big A fall meet or the $600,000 Spinster (G1) on the same day at Keeneland. The Cotillion (G1) on September 24 at Parx would likely not be a viable option.

Although Nest has been capable of being competitive against colts, Pletcher said he would stick to running against fillies for the time being.

“I think we just stay against our own gender for right now,” Pletcher said. “Things can change in this game. If there’s a few defections along the way, who knows? But for right now, I think we’re focused about running against fillies.”

Nest, bred in Kentucky by Ashview Farm and Colts Neck Stable, has a 6-2-1 record from nine career starts and $1,735,550 in lifetime earnings

Picture: Listed East Cape Nursery winner Cliff Top (Canford Cliffs) (Pauline Herman Photography).

Eastern Cape Regional Awards Nominees

Racehorse Owners Association

The Eastern Cape Regional Awards will take place on Saturday 10 September 2022 in the Bold Silvano Room at Fairview Racecourse to honour equine and human achievements during the Eastern Cape racing season.

The voting panel comprised Henk Steenkamp (Convenor); Dr Ashley Parker, Alistair Cohen; Trevor Reid and Greg Kotzen (non-voting panellist). The following are the categories and nominees:

Champion two year old filly: Chere for Me; Eukoria; No Greater Love

Champion two year old colt/gelding: Cliff Top; Forest Spy; Khaya’s Hope

Champion three year old filly: Europeana; Franca; Monashada

Champion 3 year old colt/gelding: Norton Sound; Peace in our World; Safari Blue

Champion older filly/mare: Fly my Flag; Glacier Gold; Santa Theresa

Champion older colt/gelding: Barak; Find Me Unafraid; Global Drummer

Champion stayer: Ancient Times; Barak; Find Me Unafraid

Champion sprinter: Franca; Glacier Gold; Global Drummer; Inherit the Rain

All nominees are in the running for the much sought-after Horse of the year Award.

Picture: Kelly Mitchley (Pauline Herman Photography).

Kelly Mitchley’s Horses Training On The Beach

The newest trainer in the land Kelly Mitchley has a 33,33% strike rate this season having sent out 6 runners for two winners.

She took some of her string to the beach in Gqeberha last week where they clearly enjoyed themselves and were photographed by Pauline Herman.

Doubles For Kotzen, Karriem And De Melo

Glen Kotzen and Lorenzo Karriem saddled doubles at the Hollywoodbets Greyville polytrack meeting today and Keagan de Melo rode a double.

Kotzen has had eight winners this season at a strike rate of 20.51%.

Karriem has had six winners this season at 16.22%.

De Melo goes to eight winners at 17.02%, which is seven behind the pacesetter Kabelo Matsunyane.

Matsunyane also leads the KZN premiership with eight winners to the seven of both De Melo and Calvin Habib.

Picture: The Glen Kotzen-trained Captain Of All filly Bonne Bouche easily wins today’s first race under Calvin Ngcobo despite odds of 33/1 (Candiese Lenferna).