Kotzen primed for Champions Season
GLEN KOTZEN’S smart string of SA Champions Season fillies arrived safely at last Wednesday and travelled well.
Among them are the like of Elusive Heart, Franking, Princess Vicky, Luna Child, Princess Peach, and Final Judgement.
Elusive Heart is the only horse to have ever beaten the brilliant dual Grade 1-winner Snowdance.
This three-year-old Elusive Fort filly proved that 1400m handicap victory over Snowdance was no fluke when romping home in the Grade 3 Vasco Prix du Cap over 1400m in her last start.
She will have two Greyville turf features over 1400m in her sights, the Grade 3 Umzimkhulu Stakes on April 8 and the Gr2 Tibouchina Stakes on June 2.
She is also being aimed at the Gr2 Daisy Fillies Guineas on May 4. Franking is a merit rated 86 King Of Kings filly, whom Kotzen rates. She has won twice over 1600m and 2000 respectively.
He also rates Princess Vicky, who is the first foal of the four-time Grade 1-winner he trained, Princess Victoria.
He said this three-year-old Silvano filly had plenty of speed, but stays a mile, and he would start her in sprints.
He believed she would “go through the divisions” and hoped she could pick up a feature.
Three-year-old Ideal World filly Luna Child has won her last three races including the Listed Breeders Guineas and the Daisy Fillies Guineas is an obvious target.
Princess Peach
Three-year-old Captain Al filly Princess Peach, who won the Gr3 The Sunlife Vitamins Debutante over 1200m at Greyville last season and finished third in the Gr2 Cartier Sceptre over 1200m at Kenilworth, will be aimed at sprint events.
Four-year-old Judpot filly Final Judgement, who won the Grade 2 Gold Circle Golden Slipper as a two-year-old, was a bit disappointing during the Cape Summer.
However, “she loves Durban” according to Kotzen and this was outlined by her two feature seconds last Champions Season in the Umzimkhulu Stakes and the Daisy Fillies Guineas.
Most of Kotzen’s colts and geldings arrived over the weekend, but his two big guns Eyes Wide Open and Gold Standard will only travel next month.
Eyes Wide Open has the Daisy Guineas and Daily News 2000 in his sights, and Kotzen will play his Vodacom Durban July participation by ear as he is one of the highest merit rated three-year-olds in the country and might be asked to carry a big weight. Gold Standard, who did not like the fast going during the Cape Summer, is being targeted at the Grade 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge and the July.