Happy with a 3 gate! Glen Kotzen chats to Vinga Media’s Tawanda Taravinga at the final field announcement on Tuesday (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Glen and Nathan Kotzen are set to write their own page in the colourful history of the Hollywoodbets Durban July as brothers who have saddled runners in the same year in the big race.
Paarl-based Glen, who won the Durban July in 2009 with Big City Life, has On My Honour carrying the Woodhill Racing flag, while Summerveld resident Nathan saddles his hardknocking Gr1 soldier Royal Victory in the 129th renewal on Saturday 5 July.
The Sporting Post picked some seasoned racing brains to research when last two brothers had runners in the July together, and it was that mine of historical racing information Charles Laird, who came out tops and recalled the 1971 Durban July.
Charles’s Dad Russell won the 1971 Met with Night Off (Robbie Thompson), who went on to run just out of the money behind Mazarin (Bert Hayden) in the 1971 Durban July.
Night Off – 1971 Metropolitan Stakes (Pic – Supplied)
Mazarin was trained by Russell’s legendary brother Syd Laird, who holds the all-time of record of 7 Durban July winners.
“I remember the 1971 Met and July well. I was in boarding school as a 13 year old and our teachers asked me to tip them a Met winner. I went with my Dad’s other horse Adam’s Apple, who was owned by him and ridden by Domingo D’Allende. Unfortunately I got it wrong and wasn’t popular,” he laughed.
Syd Laird leads Mazarin (Bert Hayden) with owner Mrs Tenderini after the 1971 Durban July win (Pic – Supplied)
The brother-brother feat was repeated in 1974 when George Azzie’s Riboville (Martie Schoeman) won the Durban July, with Syd Laird’s Yataghan (Bert Hayden) third and Russell Laird’s Aegean (Herbie Lasker) in seventh.
Justin Snaith and Mike de Kock (now in partnership with son Mat), are on 5 Durban July winners each, and could draw level with the late Terrance Millard who won 6.
Royal Victors? Royal Victory drew 17 and here Nathan Kotzen and owner Peter Victor strategise a plan ahead of the big day (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Beyong the Kotzens, brothers training in SA at the same time in the modern era include the likes of Gareth and Chesney van Zyl, Reza and Riaan van Reenen, Garth and Glen Puller, and Mike and Pat Riley. Are there any we have missed?
As always, any of our (probably more senior) readers who can add value to the facts, are welcome to post a comment.
