Zeitz enjoyed his campaign in KZN and will be staying on at Summerveld (Picture: Race Coast)
In Summerveld news three progeny of Vercingetorix, Zeitz, Gladatorian and Blazing Fury, have their eyes on Highveld prizes.
The Andre Nel-trained Zeitz did well in KZN this Champions Season, winning three out of his four starts, including the Gr 3 Betgames Cup Trial over 1800m and the Listed Tote Stakes Darley Arabian over 1600m, both at Hollywoodbets Greyville.
Nel’s Summerveld assistant trainer Byron Forster said about the smart grey, who is now five years old, “Andre feels he has done nicely here so has given us an opportunity with Jo’Burg maybe in mind. If all goes well we will probably look at something like The Charity Mile and take it from there. Before that the Spring Challenge over 1450m is also an option. At the moment he is just on a nice holiday after a good season.”
O’Tenikwa will go back to Cape Town as his high merit rating will give him some options there. Byron confirmed he had been disappointing in the Mercury Sprint. It looked like it would be his peak run, but he failed to kick on in the way he is capable of after leading as usual.
Byron revealed that the former Gold Cup winner Master Redoute had been retired and will have a nice second career in showjumping.
Trainer Stuart Ferrie said the now seven-year-old Gladatorian will go for the Gr 2 Jo’Burg Spring Challenge over 1450m on October 3 and will then go for the R6 million Betway Summer Cup over 2000m on November 28.
Ferrie said Gladatorian was fine after his disappointing run in defense of his Gr 1 HKJC Champions Cup crown.
He was reported to have taken no interest, but there was no false rail in the race and Gladatorian did not see daylight in the straight having sat on the rail throughout. That might have been a better explanation for his below par run, as he usually takes off when there is fresh air in front of him.
The Louis Goosen-trained Blazing Fury impressed over 1000m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday, carrying 62,5kg and winning by 1,65 lengths.
He looks to be a 1000m specialist.
Louis said there were two more races for him in KZN and he would then look at raiding the Highveld.
