Easy Does It. Antonius Du Bois strides clear under Grant Van Niekerk to win the PE feature (Coastal Photos)
Trainer Glen Kotzen and jockey Grant Van Niekerk boast a formidable strike rate and they raided Port Elizabeth in great style on Friday. Besides grabbing top honours in the R200 000 Gr3 Champion Juvenile Cup, they also paid their travelling costs with a nice maiden winner earlier in the day.
Kotzen’s team has turned red hot in the past few weeks with a string of winners in Durban and Cape Town, and he flew in from Durban to watch what looks like a very promising 2yo in action.
Kotzen in fact has plenty to look forward to next season, and his recent Listed Winter Juvenile Stakes winner Counts Rocket looks another promising 3yo classic prospect for next season.
Antonius Du Bois came to prominence when showing fight and courage in winning the Gr3 Langerman five weeks ago. He registered a smart hat trick of wins here, and pulled off the Cape baby feature double that eluded champion Variety Club two years ago.
Alan Greeff’s local star, East Cape Nursery winner Seattle Storm, was sent off favourite and Piere Strydom had him charging for home and appearing to be going very well as they went into the final 400m.
But Van Niekerk had settled Antonius Du Bois smartly from the worst of the draw, and he manoeuvred him through from midfield as he coasted effortlessly up to challenge.
The race was over in a matter of strides as Antonius Du Bois powered on to win going away by three lengths in a time of 86,07 secs.
Seattle Storm stayed on well for second, but was fairly and squarely put in his place by the winner.
He should nevertheless still be a major factor for the title of local champion juvenile for this season.
The longshot Briar King ran a fair third a further 2,25 lengths behind, while Horse Chestnut’s son Zobens ran fourth.
Antonius Du Bois was bred by Highlands Stud and is by Antonius Pius out of the Theatrical mare, Balabos.That makes him a half brother to the well performed Sean Tarry seven time winner, Always Al (by Al Mufti).
Antonius Pius has made a huge impact in short time and looks a big winner for Highlands .
He is a son of Danzig out of the unbeaten Pursuit Of Love mare and Gr1 Yorkshire Oaks winner, Catchascatchcan. The handsome impressive specimen cost $ 15 million as a yearling and made an early impact winning the Gr2 Railway Stakes.
As a 3yo he developed into a leading miler and achieved a Timeform rating of 123.
Antonius Pius was retired to stud in Australia in 2005, then moved to Ireland in 2006, before settling in South Africa in 2009.
Antonius Du Bois is owned by two of the staunchest owners any trainer could hope for and cost what now looks a well bought R200 000 on the Cape Ready To Run Sale.
He has earned at all of his five starts, with three wins and two places registered.
He took his stake earnings to R272 400.
Pencil Antonius Du Bois in as a bright prospect for the future.
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Champion Juvenile Cup (SAf-G3) (7/12) Fairview, South Africa, July 12, R200.000, 1400m, turf, good, 1.26.07 1- ANTONIUS DU BOIS (SAF), 58.0, b c 2, Antonius Pius (USA) – Balabos (USA) by Theatrical (USA). Owner WJ Laird & Tripple H Trust; breeder Highlands; trainer GS Kotzen; jockey G v Niekerk (R125.000) 2- Seattle Storm (SAF), 58.0, b c 2, Sail From Seattle (USA) – Sherry Elizabeth (SAF) by Elliodor (FR) 3- Briar King (SAF), 58.0, ch c 2, Bezrin (USA) – Royal Centenary (SAF) by Centenary (USA) Margins: 3, 2¼, sh hd
