Pure Grace! Princess Victoria canters home in the Choice Carriers Gr2 Fillies Championship.
Trainer Glen Kotzen admitted that he hasn’t had ‘one this good.’Hat-trick jockey Sean Cormack labelled her a ‘machine and superb athlete.’ These were just some of the accolades being bestowed upon the Victory Moon flyer Princess Victoria, after she had cruised home to win the R200 000 Gr 2 Choice Carriers Fillies Championship at Kenilworth on 5 November.
The Equus Champion Two Year Old Filly made a sensational seasonal debut after a four month break to record her third Group victory on the trot. She really looks very special.
The relief on trainer Glen Kotzen’s face after his filly had doddled in was something to behold. Big horses mean big pressure and her starting price of 9-20 spoke volumes of the public confidence and no doubt the expectations of her high-profile owners. But step one of their Sizzling Summer Season plan came together in emphatic fashion.
Karen & Peter Choice, Georgina Jaffee, Peter De Beyer and Glen & Kathi Kotzen.
Madame Rooney led the field into the turn with Cormack loping along on board Princess Victoria in midfield. The Snaith filly Ocean’s Swift was the victim of some scrimmaging on the turn as they jostled for position. Turning into the straight Madame Rooney was quick to fall away as Cormack switched the favourite to the middle of the track. It was race over in a matter of strides.
Where to now? Other than Joey Ramsden’s Trinity House, the opposition in this Gr2 event was admittedly not of the strongest quality she is likely to face this season. The visitors are still to be taken into account – if Victoria doesn’t scare them off! She won though like a filly that isn’t even trying yet and will likely stay 2000m. The Maine Chance product is by an unraced Rakeen mare who has previously produced nothing of note. So maybe Glen Kotzen is on the button, when he labels her a ‘freak.’
It was a pleasant afternoon for jockey Sean Cormack, whose wife Chantal was on course to support him. His hat-trick got under way in the third race, a Maiden Plate over 2200m, where he steered the Western Winter filly Flash Of Spring home for Neil Bruss. Joey Ramsden’s consistent Full Regalia made the pace and stayed on for second place. She should not be long in winning.
Roaring! Gisela Burg and Martin Wickens lead Lion In Winter in.
Cormack followed up in the very next race in an exhibition of brilliant judgement of pace when he got the better of the 15-20 favourite Run For It in the Pick Six opener. The small field contesting the Conditions Plate over 1800m always looked devoid of a genuine pacesetter and it was eventually left to two of the Bass runners in Los Colmos and Jeppe’s Reef, to share these duties. Turning for home, Richard Fourie pressed the button and Run For It looked a winner – but in spite of a 7kg pull at the weights, he had no answer for Lion In Winter’s late and very well-timed burst. The son of Western Winter has now won 8 of his 28 starts and looks on track for another tilt at the J&B Met. He ran fifth and only 3,25 lengths off Past Master in the big race in January of this year and looks to be reaching the prime of his life- much like his eloquent and talented trainer.
Dean Kannemeyer’s dazzling streak of good form and fortune continued with a smooth win by the Captain Al filly, Bermuda Sloop, in the MR80 Handicap for fillies and mares over 2000m. Her stablemate Miss Maddie, returning from a break after her Durban campaign, ensured a solid gallop up front but tired predictably as Robert Kathi poached what looked a winning jump on Glen Kotzen’s, Golden Dawn. The latter, running in the Georgina Jaffee silks, was unfancied after a blank post-maiden effort but ran a cracker to stretch the Captain Al filly all the way home.Bermuda Sloop has now won 3 of her last 4 starts and the Klawervlei bred is well on the upgrade. Kannemeyer also trained her three-time winning dam and he will be pleased that she stays as well as her Mum.
Brett Crawford’s smart three year old Jackson possibly looks to have sealed a tilt at the Guineas with a smart win in the MR88 Handicap over 1400m. The manner in which the Dynasty colt pegged back the strong galloping three-time winner First Lad in the final 300m was impressive and he is a smashing looker to boot. He also overcame an unsettling start courtesy of the grey Imperial Fox, who was waved away after his usual silly antics. It is obvious that this six year old is not going to mend his wayward ways, and he deserves an indefinite suspension for disrupting the umpteenth start in the Cape.
Home & Drier! Alec Forbes steers Kalinago to an easy win after his slow start.
Visiting KZN trainer Dennis Drier opened his Summer Season account in scintillating fashion with the Tamburlaine gelding Kalinago winning the MR76 Handicap over 1000m. Isidingo set the turf alight in his usual style by blitzing up front as Kalinago lost a few lengths and was tucked away by Alec Forbes. With 200m to run Kalinago scythed through the middle to win going away in very impressive fashion. Gareth Grey ran on best of the rest to stay on for second. It was a second consecutive win for the shocking pink and black Robert Kay silks and the Johannesburg –based owner had his enthusiastic Racing Manager and Father, Andy, on course to do the post-race talking and sip the champagne. Trainer Dennis Drier looks set for a great season after an absence of some years.
An interesting aspect of this race was the scratching by the Stipes of the Elley gelding Westlife Lad, who was withdrawn after losing ground at the start. This came just an hour after a similar incident in the Turffontein second race, when the fancied Mike De Kock first-timer Merhee was withdrawn after rearing and leaving Delpech in the stalls. We have been used to the ‘rub of the green’ principle being applied once horses are under starter’s orders and short of a handler impeding a horse or a gate opening slowly, they are not usually withdrawn. Does this indicate a shift in policy and application by the National Horseracing Authority. And if so, why couldn’t they inform the racing public?
