Kotzen, Kannemeyer fume over the elimination of July entries

Jack Milner

While many trainers were delighted to have their horses in the R4.25-million Vodacom Durban July over 2200m at Greyville on Saturday 7 July, there were some trainers who felt their horses had met the necessary criteria and were aggrieved that their runners have been left out of the final field which was announced yesterday.

Glen Kotzen was livid that three-year-old Pack Leader had been made the first reserve runner and, in all likelihood, will not get a run in the Grade 1 race.

“It’s a joke,” said an angry Kotzen yesterday. “The decision who gets into the Durban July is decided by a panel where it should be based on performances in qualifying race.

“In The Sledgehammer we finished a short-head second, coming back from a layoff, whereas Dark Moon Rising who ran third in the same race, gets in a head of us.

“White River finished behind us in the Grade 1 Investec Derby at Kenilworth and he gets in ahead of us.

“My horse had to get scratched from the Greyville 1900 because of colic, but he ran a good race in the Daily News 2000 two weeks later, hits the front and only slackens late to go down 3.50 lengths,” said Kotzen.

In fact, jockey Richard Fourie did not take another ride as he was expecting Pack Leader to get in.

Also left on the outside was Dean Kannemeyer-trained It’s My Turn, who last Saturday won the Grade 3 Track And Ball Derby at Scottsville. “I was very surprised they did not put him in,” said Kannemeyer. “Surprised and disappointed. If you study some of those who got in before him it’s a little confusing.

“He had an operation and he needed a couple of runs but he was coming back to his best. He qualified in all the departments as his current form is good and his merit rating (106) is certainly better than some of those who made the final field.

“But, the decision has been made so I can’t throw my toys out the cot.”

He added they would probably go for one of the stayers races like the Gold Bowl.