Alexander looks the business at Clairwood today
Cape trainer Glen Kotzen looks to hold the key to the R120 000 Highland Night Cup which takes pride of place on the eleven race programme at Clairwood today. He saddles the promising Dynasty gelding Alexander who has long been touted a possible Gold Cup prospect.
Alexander has his second run after an almost eight-month break, and looks to up his game after looking menacing at his return when finishing 2.55 lengths behind Candy Moon over 1900m.
Alexander has won 3 races and come into his own over ground, with his nine length maiden win over the course and distance our major inspiration.
He won’t have it easy though and needs to beat Air Patrol and the consistent grey Beewithmee.
Beewithmee particularly is a fit and in form stayer who runs off a handy weight with high riding S’manga Khumalo in the saddle.
The race is marked by a proliferation of lightly weighted runners and the possibility of a surprise remains very real.
Robbie Hill and Highland Night after the 2003 Gold Cup
This non black type event 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.
She bred five stakes horses -which include Highland Night (Badger Land) and multiple Grade One winner and sire, Warm White Night (one of two sires produced by her dam).
Remarkably, four of her top horses were by different sires.
Thousand Nights, whose progeny earned over R4 400 000, is also making her presence felt through her daughters at stud.
The Clairwood racing is off very early with the Bipot kicking off in the second race at 11h35.
 Clairwood |
|
|---|---|
| Going | Good to Soft |
| False Rail (m) | 2.0 |
| Penetrometer | 24.0 |
| Weather | Cloudy |
| Rainfall (mm) | 24 hours – 3.0 7 days – 8.0 |
| Other Info | Head/cross wind |
| Jockeys Not Riding |
Chris Taylor |
