According to the NHRA handicappers the Cape hopes didn’t have too much of a shout when it came to Saturday’s World Sports Betting Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas at Kenilworth.
“They say that every year,” said Glen Kotzen dismissively earlier this week. “What I say is let them come.”
2014 Cape Fillies Guineas winner Majmu
That was the gist of a friendly needle piece penned by Gold Circle’s Michael Clower in the build-up after an interview with Paarl-based Glen Kotzen – a man known for his positive attitude, but not necessarily for the bold Mohammed Ali style gamesmanship displayed.
But Glen’s been around awhile – he saddled the winner Princess Victoria in 2011 and also knew there were no Mike de Kock or David Payne trained runners in Saturday’s 2019 renewal.
David Payne’s brilliant Hoeberg
They are the only away trainers to have won the race in the past 20 years – the now Australia-based Payne in 1999 and 2000 with Toccata and Hoeberg respectively.
Mike de Kock won it in 2003 with Emerald Beauty, and in 2012 with Rumya, followed by Majmu in 2014.
Just for the record, Kevin Shea rode the first three ‘away’ winners and Anthony Delpech the last two.
And, while one swallow doesn’t make a summer, Saturday’s race result now shows that the relatively unexposed Missisippi Burning (97) humbled both visitors, with True To Life (117) finishing 9th and 6,90 lengths back, with Cockney Pride (110) 10,25 lengths back in 15th spot.
Kotzen’s Third Runway (109) was the third officially highest-rated galloper and she finished 3,30 lengths away in third. In her defence, she was – like Cockney Pride – drawn wide. And she may well be best at 1400m.
But let’s not make excuses. It was a terrific race.
Where they ran:
| No | Horse | ACS | SH | Trainer | Jockey | Wgt | MR | Dr | OB | SP | FP | Len | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | MISSISIPPI BURNING | 3bF | A | Adam Marcus | C Zackey | 60 | 97 | 2 | 16-1 | 22-1 | 1 | 0 | |
| 5 | DRIVING MISS DAISY | 3bF | A | Eric Sands | D Dillon | 60 | 104 | 3 | 16-1 | 14-1 | 2 | 3.00 | |
| 3 | THIRD RUNWAY | 3bF | A | Glen Kotzen | M Winnaar | 60 | 109 | 13 | 7-1 | 14-1 | 3 | 3.30 | |
| 6 | LARENTINA | 3bF | A | Eric Sands | K de Melo | 60 | 103 | 1 | 20-1 | 10-1 | 4 | 3.70 | |
| 12 | DRAMA QUEEN | 3bF | A | Candice Bass-Robinson | P Strydom | 60 | 95 | 4 | 40-1 | 22-1 | 5 | 3.80 | |
| 8 | KELPIE | 3bF | A | Brett Crawford | A Marcus | 60 | 99 | 10 | 4-1 | 2-1 | 6 | 4.10 | |
| 4 | PRETTY YOUNG THING | 3bF | A | Brett Crawford | G Cheyne | 60 | 105 | 16 | 10-1 | 18-1 | 7 | 4.60 | |
| 13 | CASINO QUEEN | 3bF | A | Justin Snaith | R Fourie | 60 | 94 | 11 | 13-1 | 16-1 | 8 | 4.90 | |
| 1 | TRUE TO LIFE | 3bF | A | J A Janse van Vuuren | G Lerena | 60 | 117 | 7 | 4-1 | 9-2 | 9 | 6.90 | |
| 14 | FOLLOW THE STAR | 3chF | A | Glen Kotzen | C Murray | 60 | 92 | 9 | 33-1 | 40-1 | 10 | 7.20 | |
| 15 | CASTELLANO | 3bF | A | Glen Kotzen | M Byleveld | 60 | 91 | 8 | 40-1 | 50-1 | 11 | 7.30 | |
| 7 | ROLL IN THE HAY | 3bF | A | Candice Bass-Robinson | R Khathi | 60 | 102 | 5 | 10-1 | 25-1 | 12 | 7.50 | |
| 16 | DYNASTIC LIGHT | 3bF | A | Glen Kotzen | B Fayd’Herbe | 60 | 90 | 6 | 25-1 | 25-1 | 13 | 7.90 | |
| 11 | FLAME TREE | 3bF | A | Brett Crawford | C Orffer | 60 | 96 | 15 | 16-1 | 33-1 | 14 | 8.00 | |
| 2 | COCKNEY PRIDE | 3bF | A | Corne Spies | S Randolph | 60 | 110 | 14 | 10-1 | 22-1 | 15 | 10.25 | |
| 9 | SAILING SHIP | 3chF | A | Candice Bass-Robinson | A Domeyer | 60 | 99 | 12 | 10-1 | 18-1 | 16 | 12.25 | |
| 17 | JOY MAISHA | 3bF | A | Candice Bass-Robinson | 60 | 78 | 13 | 17 | 0.00 |
