Kotzen Eyes Guineas Gold

While he has enjoyed success in the Cape Fillies Guineas, it has been a quarter of a century of classic dreams and blood, sweat and tears for seasoned Cape trainer Glen Kotzen to tick the Cape Guineas off of his professional bucket list.

The 57 year old tells the Sporting Post that he has never been more ready than right now to sip the champagne on the podium after the R2 million Hollywoodbets Gr1 Cape Guineas at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on 17 December.

After the exciting Cousin Casey’s terrific victory in last Saturday’s Gr2 Cape Punters Cup, the Woodhill dream looks set to chase the reality. Cousin Casey has firmed to 28-10 on the Hollywoodbets ante-post betting boards.

The Newmarket, Johannesburg-born Glen Shaun Kotzen is one of the great personalities of South African horseracing. The son of a jockey, he was destined for a life on the turf after his Dad named him after a horse on which he had just won.

Today the Woodhill Master is reaping the rewards of offering a family- oriented racing experience, years of hard work and the tools of his apprenticeship under some of the best in a game that tames lions.

Glen has a knack of just somehow always coming across so perennially positively – despite everyday disappointments, covid, racing’s parlous economy and other challenges.

“We weren’t alone but we lost over 40% of our business in covid. Those days stakes were low – an owner would see his horse run third and ask us what he must do with R2000 when keep is R11000 per month. Then they’d say we can keep the horse. Those were the realities of the time,” he recalls.

Running a private training establishment is not for the weak of pocket either.

“Costs have spiralled. Diesel, feed, labour. The trainers in the racing operator managed centres are subsidised, and that helps. We have been here 21 years and have been privileged to have lived the dream. But it’s no easy game!” he frowns and breaks into a laconic smile as he brings the topic back to Cousin Casey.

“We don’t want to overthink the Guineas. We have the horse. We have the jockey. We just need a bit of luck and a draw,” he says as he confirms that Cousin Casey looks his best chance in some years to win the great race, popularly tagged ‘the classic of kings.’

“I have had some really fine 3yo’s line up in the Cape Guineas– one of the best probably being Big City Life who ran seventh behind Le Drakkar in 2008. He went on at his next start to win the Gr1 Cape Derby, when it was still run on Met day. Big City Life then went on to great things – what a dream of a horse!”

Glen also recalls the very smart Gold Standard, who was beaten half a length into second by William Longsword in the 2016 Cape Guineas. “He came out at his next run to finish fourth behind Whisky Baron in the Met. I’m really pleased to see his progeny are showing their talent on the track. He was a magnificent horse.”

So can Cousin Casey be the next proud Gr1 winner frame on the wall of the Kotzen family Woodhill Estate residence on the picturesque foothills of the Paardeberg Mountains?

“He is just such a magnificent horse. His prep has gone well. He is versatile. You saw his turn of foot on Saturday – that’s his knockout punch,” laughs Glen.

A man with a master eye and a gift for finding horses at the right price, Glen says he just had to have Cousin Casey when the Riyo Stud team showed him at Nationals.

“He hails from a family close to our hearts – his dam Bretton Woods, a full sister to our champion Big City Life, only raced three times as she was taken out of racing for breeding purposes. We have raced the family with great success. As a buyer at the sales, we often go ‘back to the well’ as it were. And when I saw Cousin Casey, I really simply had to have him!”

The son of Vercingetorix is raced by Ravi Naidoo. And that association is another example of doing the right things somehow paying dividends. Glen Kotzen represents the personification of cordiality and talks to everybody. He lives by the maxim that you never know where your next buyer could come from!

“Ravi was introduced via Gaynor Rupert’s L’Ormarins syndicate. We met per chance in the parade ring one day and chatted. He then asked me to find him a colt at the sales. That colt is our Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas horse today!” roars Glen, who secured the handsome athlete for R375 000.

So how does Cousin Casey compare with Big City Life? 

“Interesting – there are similarities! Big City Life stood over more ground, but Cousin Casey is deceptive. He is all of 16hh but is so well balanced – he doesn’t look big. They share the same head and eye. And then the electric turn of foot!”

Glen will be up at Gosforth Park this weekend for the November 2yo Sale. He again goes in with more positivity than pounds!

“You laugh! Most of my career I have bought on spec. We try and find the  right horse at the right price. We have the belief in what we buy and can then market the horse with confidence. We do get commissions to buy from time to time – as we did with Ravi Naidoo – but generally it’s having the belief and confidence in one’s judgement and experience to find that next champion!”

Your cousin could be lurking! Glen Kotzen can be contacted on [email protected].