Charles Dickens might be Cape Town’s darling but Cousin Casey could be called the people’s horse in KZN, where he has run five times and won four of them, including a Listed race, a Gr 2 and a Gr 1.

Glen Kotzen said the Vercingetorix colt had been “flying” in his work.

He said, “He will strip fitter than he was last time out in the Byerley Turk.”

Cousin Casey suffered defeat for the first time in KZN in that Grade 3 event over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

He did give the winner Strawberry Bear 6kg and in retrospect jockey Grant van Niekerk, who sat behind Strawberry Bear in the running in second place, would have been better off following the latter down the inside rather than dropping back slightly and switching around the horse on his outside. However, he can be forgiven for underestimating Strawberry Bear, who was rated 23 points lower than Cousin Casey, and it must also be remembered that Glen Kotzen’s only Durban July winner, Big City Life, ran second in the Byerley Turk too.

Kotzen said Cousin Casey had had a good recent gallop and he was looking forward to a competitive, high class clash.

“These ARE the best three-year-olds in the country,” he said before predicting a big on course crowd would be attracted to watch racing out of the top drawer.

However, he did warn that this would still be a stepping stone for Cousin Casey towards his ultimate target, the Hollywoodbets Durban July.

The horse to beat is obviously Charles Dickens and Glen said, “Charles Dickens’ strength is that he has a helluva kick. He can quicken off a fast pace or slow pace and quickens better than anything else and that’s what makes him so brilliant. But there is nothing wrong with the way Cousin Casey quickens.”

Cousin Casey enjoys a slight draw advantage of six versus eight.

Cousin Casey usually settles exceptionally well and Glen explained his run in the WSB Cape Town Met, “He was caught three wide and settled but then Grant decided due to the slow pace to go forward and he then had to try and settle him again. But he still managed to quicken and was coming back at them at the line. In the Holywoodbets Cape Guineas he was together with Charles Dickens and the latter switched to the outside and motored home but going down the inside Cousin Casey still overtook most of the field.”

It is not just a two horse race and Glen was asked about two others who have had pundits talking, Dave The King and See It Again, “I don’t know if Dave The King is in this class, but they say he is and he is distance suited and has a cracking draw so we will see. I think the best of See It Again will be seen over 2000m and beyond.”

He also singled out Anfields Rocket as one who never ran a bade race. 

Glen is bullish about his chances in the Grade 2 WSB Fillies Guineas with Hold My Hand.

He said, “She was dropping herself right out of it and then just running on too late.”

However, he said she was now “sharper” and he predicted that although she would be dropped out in her usual style she would get into the race quicker than previously in the straight.

He makes her a big runner.

He expected good runs from the joint favourites Bonne Bouche and Certainly in the ninth race and said Certainly had been working exceptionally well.