Trainer Nathan Kotzen with his daughter and assistant trainer Natasha Culverwell and part-owner of Royal Victory, Peter Victor. (Candiese Lenferna Photography).
Draw 17 might not be the greatest draw to have in the Hollywoodbets Durban July, but it is a significant numbr for the connections of Royal Victory.
The 17th is the birthdate of trainer Nathan Kotzen’s late daughter, it is also the birthdate of part-owner Peter Victor’s late daughter and it is the birthdate of part-owner Sandy Arundel.
Nathan said, “I am not too concerned about the draw.Obviously, we would like to have been drawn in the top ten. Seventeen is not to bad, I suppose, and there is a bit of a story behind the number with all the birthdays.”
Royal Victory finished third last year and might have got closer had Muzi Yeni been able to go for his run down the inside.
He ran off a 125 merit rating last year and carried 57kg and this year he runs off the same mark and carries 59kg.
Last year he was 2kg worse off than weight for age when compared to the winner Oriental Charm and this year he is 1kg better off than weight for age with him, so he will have a fine chance of reversing the 1,40 length beating.
Royal Victory settles well and has a good turn of foot and he looks to be good value at 20/1 with the sponsor.
