Journalist: David Thiselton – Gold Circle Publishing
Trainer comments
Glen Kotzen said that Princess Victoria would likely be ridden by Piere Strydom in her next two starts and the partnership would then be “taken from there”, while Barry Irwin, part-owner of Ebony Flyer, said he was looking forward to a possible rematch with “The Princess” in the Grade 1 Maine Chance Paddock Stakes over 1800m in January.
Kotzen lamented the lack of preparation opportunities for fillies going into the Cape Sizzling Summer Season, while Justin Snaith is having the same problem with Ebony Flyer.
Consequently Princess Victoria, who was last season’s Equus Champion three-year-old filly and KZN Horse Of The Year, will have to take on colts and geldings on Sunday in a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1400m at Kenilworth and will then have to run against the boys again in the Green Point Stakes over 1600m at Kenilworth on November 24.
Sunday’s race has attracted a top quality field including Equus Horse Of The Year Variety Club, dual Grade 1 winner Jackson, Grade 1 winners Master Plan and Bravura, as well as the likes of Black Wing and Fabiani.
Kotzen has not decided yet whether Princess Victoria will run in the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate on January 12 or the Maine Chance Paddock Stakes on January 5.
He said that if she ran in the Paddock and won well he would then consider the J&B Met over 2000m, while the other option would be the Grade 1 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes over 1600m.
Princess Victoria is yet to race beyond a mile.
Kotzen said she was currently very well and had put up a “fantastic” recent gallop.
He added that the booking of Strydom was necessary due to Andrew Fortune having recently broken his arm in a fall.
The connections are currently favouring a career in America for Princess Victoria in the long term, although Mike de Kock’s plans to accommodate South African-trained horses at his Newmarket Yard, Abington Place, which was recently bought from Sheik Khalifa by Mary Slack, have left another option open to her too.
Kotzen said Sunday’s race would be a preparation for Fabiani for a forthcoming feature in Port Elizabeth.
Snaith was meanwhile battling to find suitable races for Ebony Flyer.
Irwin consequently said that a complete program for her had not yet been formed, but that they planned to run her in the Paddock Stakes.
He added, “Justin Snaith is adamant about evening the score with Princess Victoria, who got a better trip than Ebony last time out in the Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province (Greyville 1600m).”
The score between the two top females stands at one-one as Ebony Flyer beat Princess Victoria when winning the Grade 1 SA Fillies Sprint over 1200m at Scottsville.
Variety Club was reported to have worked well over 1200m recently and from pole position will likely take a power of beating on Sunday.
His incredible gate speed, his ability to settle wherever he is, including if in the front, and his fantastic turn of foot will combine to make him a particularly difficult horse to beat on the tight Kenilworth Old Course.
Brett Crawford said the race would act as a “building block” for both Jackson and Black Wing ahead of more important engagements during the Sizzling Summer Season.
He said that the 1400m trip was “definitely” on the short side for both of them.
“I’m very happy with both of them, but this will be used as a prep run, although I think they’ll both run good races.”
Jackson will then go for the Green Point and the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate on the way to the J&B Met.
Crawford was not sure whether Black Wing would take the same route or whether he would go for the Grade 2 Peninsula Handicap on January 5.
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