Glen Kotzen struck gold at Greyville on July Day with a smart 2yo filly and he could follow up at Fairview on Friday. The Woodhill Warriors saddle the Rebel King colt Dark Force in the R200 000 Gr3 Champion Juvenile Cup – a race in which the Capetonians enjoy a stranglehold.
Joey Ramsden won this race last year with Prince Of Thieves, while Vaughan Marshall struck with the good filly Jet Set Go, who was a runaway winner in 2014.
Glen Kotzen’s 2013 winner Antonius Du Bois
Kotzen was victorious in 2013 with the smart Antonius Du Bois and he will be feeling bullish about pulling it off again with Dark Force, a recent maiden winner at home.
The Collingwood Stud-bred colt improved steadily to win at the fourth time of asking, beating Kenny Trix 1,25 lengths. The latter maintained his consistency with a close-up third behind his stablemate and shock debut winner, Cape Quarter at Kenilworth on Tuesday.
Glen Kotzen – stable in form
Dark Force has his first run around the turn but on his 1,25 length second to subsequent Gr3 Langerman winner Table Bay, must come into the picture as a serious threat to the local attack.
The Scribante family’s O Tamara looks a top class sort in the making after her smooth Listed Lady’s Slipper win at her last start.
She is the first of the Alan Greeff coupling and looks the stable pick with Aldo Domeyer riding.
Their second stringer Zevenastic has run four seconds since shedding his maiden at his second outing.
Another promising Rebel King, he could enjoy the extra 200m and is worthy of inclusion.
Biarritz gelding Grandissimo – has won twice over the course and distance
Yvette Bremner has a trio of runners, the best of which could be the well drawn Biarritz gelding, Grandissimo.
A dual course and distance winner, the Rosedene Stud graduate has the proven capability .
His stablemate, another course and distance winner in Blizzard King was not as lucky with the barrier draw and is held on their last meeting.
Their third runner Victor Rebellious is a recent maiden winner and also appears to hold Blizzard King.
The Shams’ Rock Deejay won two on the trot before going down 2,25 lengths to Green Lantern.
Gavin Smith – Turbo looks promising
He has drawn 11 but has shown himself to be a colt who likes to run at the leaders late.
Gavin Smith saddles the Pathfork gelding Turbo, a runaway maiden winner, who has since run two fair seconds – the last beaten half a length by Grandissimo over the track and trip/
His draw wide out at 13 is a deterrent.
Corne Spies – saddles 5 runners
Corne Spies has enjoyed great success with his his PE satellite yard run by his brother and they bring five horses to the party.
Laventelhaan ran third 5,75 lengths back behind Gradissimo and Turbo last time. Beyond his stablemate Bollemakiesie, he is the most experienced runner in the field – but has only won once.
Bollemakiesie has won twice in fourteen starts but is held by Grandissimo.
Intisara finally shed her maiden at Fairview on the poly on Monday but is drawn wide.
Soviet Cosmonaut and the maiden Timetoperfection look to have lots to do.
All told, if he travels well, Dark Force looks a natural first choice.
Grandissimo , O Tamara and Turbo could be the best of the rest.
