Kotzen set for a Royal Victory
Guineas victory sets up possible Triple Crown glory.
There are 16 runners carded to go to post for the R1-million World Sports Betting Gauteng Guineas over 1600m tomorrow.
As they load the field into the starting stalls for the Grade 2 race, all 16 still have hopes they can become the next World Sports Betting SA Triple Crown champion.
But when they cross the line, it only leaves one horse with that opportunity and he will carry that burden into the World Sports Betting SA Classic over 1800m on 4 March and hopefully the Grade 1 World Sports Betting SA Derby over 2450m on Saturday 1 April.
There is a R2-million bonus up for grabs for any runner who can complete that feat.
Trainer Mike de Kock has a strong hand in the race with the two top-rated runners in the line-up – Shoemaker and East Coast. De Kock has always rated Shoemaker highly but in recent runs the Gimme there en light colt has found no luck.
He found traffic problems in the Grade 3 Graham Beck Stakes over 1400m but flew up late to finish a 0.50-length second to Anfields Rocket who is also in this race.
Shoemaker went off a string favourite for the Grade 2 Dingaans but almost came down shortly after the start and ended up near last turning for home. He still managed to run on strongly to finish a one-length second behind stablemate Union Square.
East Coast, who put up a great performance in the Grade 3 Victory Stakes when he finished a 0.75-length second behind Litigation, stayed on to run third, a further 0.75 lengths back.
Nathan Kotzen-trained Royal Victory finished third and fourth respectively in those two races on strictly on form the Pathfork gelding should not be able to reverse the form. However, Kotzen then fitted his charge in blinkers for his next run and it was a very different Royal Victory who cruised to a 3.75-length victory last time out and on that basis, he could be the one they all have to beat.
S'manga Khumalo retains the ride.
Sean Tarry also has two runners in the line-up – Electric Gold and Golden Prospect – and there is a lot to like about the former. He is a fourtime winner from nine starts and was highly regarded by former trainer Paul Peter. He has settled in well at Tarry’s yard and looked really sharp when running World Sports Betting Summer Cup champion Puerto Manzano to 0.40 lengths in the London News Stakes over 1800m last month.
Although he has landed No 10 draw, he does have good gate speed and will have Muzi Yeni up to guide him home.
Another runner that has to be taken seriously is Le Morne from the Brett Crawford yard. He flew up from near the rear of the field to finish a 2.75-length third behind Cousin Casey in the Grade 2 Cape Cup and then failed to over come the widest draw of all in the Guineas won by Charles Dickens.
This time he has landed No 1 draw and Louie Mxothwa will be coming up from Cape Town to ride him.
“He has been with me for five weeks,” said James Crawford of the Futura colt. “He’s doing very well at home. I can’t fault him. He’s shown very good work and he’s progressing with every week.
“The question mark is about whether he has had enough time to fully acclimatise, but if he has, from No 1 draw he has to be a lively contender.”