Princess Royal to miss Guineas

GLEN Kotzen (pictured) has abandoned Cape Fillies Guineas ambitions for Princess Royal who managed only tenth when starting second favourite for the Choice Carriers Championship.

He said: “We were disappointed with that and, while there are so many things going around that you never know, it looks as if she didn't stay. She has now had two runs round the turn and she didn’t go through with it in either.

“We are going to go the sprint route with her and, if we decide that she should go further once more, there is always Durban.’’

Kotzen did not enter her for the World Sports Betting-sponsored classic on Saturday fortnight and impressive Choice Carriers winner Silver Mountain heads the 21 nominations. Mike De Kock has entered SA Nursery runner-up Shaama - although she is drawn widest of all - and he has put Choice Carriers second Entisaar into the Southern Cross Stakes on the same card.

Snaith gives Futura thumbs-up

Meanwhile, Justin Snaith expects “a nice run’’ when Futura reappears in the Lanzerac Green Point Stakes at Kenilworth on Saturday but he points out that it has not been easy to get the Equus Horse of the Year ready for the race.

He said yesterday: “Futura is well and he looks fantastic but we have had some very heavy tracks at Philippi during the present dry spell.

“As a result it is hard to get a horse stripped fit for his first race of the season.’’