Kotzen bullish on ‘Gold’
GLEN KOTZEN goes into Saturday’s Sun Met bullish about Gold Standard’s chances and added, “I will win the Derby, but I don’t know with which one.”
Kotzen sends a string of 18 to the meeting and has reason to feel optimistic as his yard have gotten over the respiratory virus which now appears to be affecting some yards at Milnerton and also Andre Nel’s yard at Rondeberg.
One of his Grade 1 Investec Cape Derby contenders, Eyes Wide Open, had to miss the Cape Guineas due to the virus but bounced back with an impressive win last time out in the Grade 2 Peninsula Handicap over 1 800m. Kotzen said, “Against his own age group he is going to be hard to beat.”
The Dynasty colt has already won a Grade 1, the Premier’s Champion Stakes over 1600m at Greyville as a two-year-old, and was beautifully relaxed in the running last time before showing a fine turn of foot and resolute finish.
Kotzen said, “Top horses can do that, you can chase them at the start and then switch them off.” Eyes Wide Open has a fine draw of five and Richard Fourie rides.
Kotzen believes stablemate Pack Leader is the biggest danger. He said, “He turned for home two lengths behind the second last horse in the Cape Guineas on a track which was running fast and White River, running green, first hung inward across him and then hung outward across him.”
The Philanthropist colt still ran on well in his third attempt to get a run, but not surprisingly had less left at the finish than White River. Fourie had already committed to Eyes Wide Open, but would otherwise have given Pack Leader some consideration. Anthony Delpech is a top replacement aboard the latter and Kotzen said, “Pack Leader is working the barns out.” On racing style and pedigree he should relish the step up in trip and has a plum draw of two.
Oratorio colt Opera Royal is the third Kotzen horse in the Derby and he said, “He ran a courageous race when chasing Milton in the Premier Trophy and therefore Richard was not hard on him last time when he ran on in the Politician.
He will now be fresh for the Derby. He doesn’t give much away at home but will be in the mix.” Luyolo Mxothwa rides from draw nine. Some have questioned whether Gold Standard is the same horses since a fetlock chip was removed last year after he had run a fine second in the Cape Guineas and an equally classy fourth in the Met.
But Kotzen said, “He doesn’t have to prove anything to me. He has been prepped for this race, will be cherry ripe and the extra 400m will be right down his alley.”
Kotzen pointed out the Queen’s Plate was a preparation run for Gold Standard and he was widely drawn, so the slow pace of the race had not suited him in the fast conditions, yet he still finished on top of them (the field was backed up behind Legal Eagle, who did not chase the front pair).
Fourie
Kotzen revealed Fourie believes he has a huge chance of giving the short-priced favourite Snowdance a run for her money in the Grade 1 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes over 1 600m aboard Silvan Star.
She missed two weeks of training with a foot injury before her excellent sixth place in The Grade 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes and has been “flying” at home. Unfortunately, she has a tough draw of 14.
He also runs Final Judgement in the Majorca from a good draw. She didn’t travel well to Port Elizabeth last time in the only race they could earmark as a preparation but he said, “When she’s good she’s very good and I hope she comes to the party.”
He runs Too Phat To Fly in the US$500,000 CTS 1600 and said, “Her best run was in the Cape Fillies Guineas over this trip when she ran on well, but this is a tough race.” Last time out they found out after the 1400m race she had cracked an incisor on the float and are not sure whether it would have affected her performance.
Kuda Sprint
In the Kuda Sprint over 1 200m Kotzen has two runners and said, “Let’s Be Frank had the quickest 400m to finish time on debut but looks to be drawn on the wrong side. It all depends on the conditions on the day which side they go, but they usually stick to the inside. We are running Quick Star because he is a smart colt, but he might be green on debut.”
The yard have three runners in the Listed Tattersalls Summer Juvenile Stakes over 1 000m and Kotzen couldn’t separate them.
He said, “Lanza was very green on debut and gets no penalty so should go close with Richard Fourie aboard.
Twin Falls was green when winning on debut and we expect further improvement. Princess Elsa is very quick and in her debut here she gets a pull at the weights.”