Alexander powers home to beat former SA Derby runner up Gothic in the Highland Night Cup
Glen Kotzen has a promising staying prospect on his hands in the Dynasty gelding Alexander. The lightly raced 4yo has come into his own over ground and could pay to follow after a good win in the Highland Night Cup at Clairwood on Sunday.
Alexander is on track for a tilt at the Gold Cup and while he will have to still show more, he looks a lively prospect as a genuine stayer with a solid turn of foot, a factor integral to winning a Gr1 at Greyville.
Alexander was amongst the lighter weighted runners in this 2500m race and showed a good turn of foot on soft ground, while still running at suspect fitness after his long break following an injury last year.
Alexander had previously won three on the trot, which included a nine length maiden victory over the course and distance. He has won up to 2800m.
He was way off the action early on and into the home run but produced a good finish under Keagan De Melo and got up in the last 100m to catch and beat the improved Gothic by a quarter length in a time of 158,90 secs.
Keagan De Melo rode a nice race on Alexander
The former SA Derby runner up Gothic finished second in his second start for the Vaughan Marshall yard, and could recapture his earlier form in the new environment.
The grey Beewithmee looked dangerous inside the final 300m but ran out of steam and stopped late to run third. It was a fair effort and he crowned a good race for top stallion Dynasty.
Alexander has now won 4 races (from his last five runs) and in total from 16 starts with 3 places and R270 450 in stakes. He took all of 13 runs to win his maiden, but has improved since trying ground.
Alexander was bred by Judy Brannigan and is by Dynasty out of the Diesis mare, Scent From Above.
He was offered as agent by Netherfield Stud on the Cape Premier Yearling Sale Book 1 sale in 2011 with a reserve of R200 000, but passed out of the ring unsold.
ThIS non black type race is named in honour of the top-class champion stayer Highland Night, who achieved the rare distinction of a Gold Cup double, winning it in 2002 and 2003.
Alec Forbes rode him in 2002 and Robbie Hill the next year.
The son of Badger Land was trained to his first win by the late legend Buddy Maroun and then switched to Dennis Drier. He ran in the familiar blue, white and red silks of Andre and Joyce Macdonald
His dam was the smart, eight time stakes winning daughter of the great Foveros, Thousand Nights who did even better at stud than on the track.
