KZN NEXT FOR THE PRINCESS
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Princess Victoria, the superstar Glen Kotzen-trained three-year-old filly, is a noticeable absentee from the Klawervlei Majorca Stakes at Kenilworth on J&B Met day January 28, but her fans need not be concerned as Kotzen is merely exercising restraint after she suffered a “slight setback” in training.
Kotzen said, “She missed a week of work. If we had another week it would have been perfect but we don’t want to rush her and would rather wait for the Durban season (Champions Season).”
Kotzen has always viewed Princess Victoria’s long term target as the Vodacom Durban July and at present he is succeeding in his aim of getting her there with a reasonable merit rating considering she is a 105, while the horse she beat in the Cape Premier Yearling Sales Guineas, Gimmethegreenlight, who went on to win the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate, is 117.
Kotzen will have three runners in the Grade 1s on January 28 including Fabiani in the J&B Met and Agarkar and Stone Pine in the Investec Cape Derby.
Fabiani finished second last in the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate, 12,95 lengths behind Gimmethegreenlight, and he has a mountain to climb in the Met.
Kotzen said, “I think the race came a bit soon after his trip to Port Elizabeth as he was a bit above himself.”
He said that the six-year-old Model Man gelding should be at his peak on Met day, but added, “It’s a very competitive field. We either had to leave him in his box or race him and as they say if you haven’t got a ticket you haven’t got a chance.”
Stone Pine and Agarkar finished 6,9 lengths and 7,6 lengths behind Jackson in the Listed Politician Stakes over 1 800m on Queen’s Plate day respectively and will face him in the Investec Cape Derby on level and 1,5kg worse terms respectively.
Kotzen said, “Stone Pine has always been a Derby horse, but didn’t run a great race last time. I think he needed it and if you ignore that run he is still on track. Agarkar was too handy last time and from his wide draw we are going to drop him out anyway.”
Stone Pine’s two runs prior to the Politician Stakes saw him finish three lengths behind the well regarded Liancourt Rock over the too sharp 1 600m when receiving just 0,5kg, and 1,75 lengths behind the well regarded Taipan at level weights over 1 800m. Agarkar’s best recent effort has been a 4,25 length third to Changingoftheguard in the Listed RA Stakes over 1 600m at Fairview.
Kotzen was under no illusions how tough the race would be and reckoned Variety Club would be the horse to beat.
“He is out of a Secret Prospector mare so should stay the trip,” he said.
Kotzen has a two-year-old filly in the Listed Schweppes Summer Juvenile Stakes, Gypsy Tinker by Kahal out of a National Assembly mare, and he rates her despite her finishing a well beaten last on debut in the Trippi Juvenile Sprint on Queen’s Plate day.
“She was drawn on the outside and was very green and appeared to get a fright when all the horses came across to the outside. She is talented and will come in with a low weight.”
Kotzen won the Summer Juvenile last year with none other than Princess Victoria.
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