Pack Leader can book his place
GLEN KOTZEN is bullish about his Vodacom Durban July hope Pack Leader’s chances in the Grade 2 WSB 1900 on Saturday and will be disappointed if he does not book his place in the big race.
He is also excited about his chances in the Listed East Coast Cup, where he has two runners.
Kotzen said about the three-year-old Philathropist colt Pack Leader, “He has had a great preparation. He ran on Met day and only had one 1 000m grass gallop after that before going into the Sledgehammer. He was way off and ran much better than expected (short-head second).
“He was blowing hard afterwards, but the jockey was not hard on him. Since then he has come on a helluva lot and has been working twice as well.
“If he wins on Saturday and is raised just a couple of pounds his weight will be spot on for the July.
“I will be disappointed if he is not in the first three and if we are happy the run has qualified him he will not have another race before the July.”
Kotzen earmarked this horse’s program before arriving in Durban, while his top three-year-old colt Eyes Wide Open avoids the July and goes the Daily News route.
Kotzen runs two three-year-old fillies, Franking and Hidden Thought, in the East Coast Cup over 2 000m and it should be noted that the former carries 1,5kg less than carded.
Kotzen said, “I was disappointed my jockey (Richard Fourie) bailed on Franking.”
This big galloping type was unlucky in the Scarlet Lady over 1 800m at Greyville when hampered just as she had unwound into her big stride.
He continued, “She is a seriously nice filly and I am excited about her weight.
“She will be a big runner.”
She is drawn three and will relish the trip being by King Of Kings out of Jet Master mare Bennie And the Jets who placed third in the Oaks Trial over 2 200m.
Hidden Thought
He said about the Lateral filly Hidden Thought, “She hasn’t put a foot wrong and I’ve been dying to put her over more ground.
“She hung last time and it cost her and she was a bit jarred up but we have sorted that out.
She will have a good finish over this 2 000m trip and is also a big runner.”
Hidden Thought’s merit rating falls at the bottom of one of the merit-rating bands so she has to carry level weights with Franking as opposed to the 2kg she would receive from her in a normal handicap, but she also has a good draw of four.
Sylvester The Cat
Kotzen runs Sylvester The Cat in the seventh, a Pinnacle event over 1600m which will be contested by some top horses.
This enigmatic Black Minnaloushe gelding has been knocking on the door lately in handicaps, albeit off a lowly 83 merit rating, and Kotzen said, “He has been running on top of them, is drawn well and stays the trip and is fit and really doing well.”
Therefore, he hopes he can do well with a light weight against big horses who will likely be needing their respective runs.