Mark van Deventer
Trainer Dan Katz is back on the scoreboard virtually three decades after turning in his license. The 52 year-old Western Cape conditioner saddled Gimmethegreenlight filly, Lalena to win her Maiden at Kenilworth in his new role as businessman Hassen Adam’s trainer.
Katz has been promoted to take responsibility for Adams’ string – former boss Darryl Hodgson is now entrusted with oversight for programming both the thoroughbred racing operation and the breeding establishment at Nadeson Park. Katz explained, “Darryl will be the general racing manager whilst my job is as the on-the-ground trainer ensuring that horses come in to their races fit and well.”
Katz and Hodgson go back a long way. They teamed up in the 80’s working on a farm out in Philadelphia, near Cape Town, when Katz was a youngster and had already set his heart on the racing game. He then went to work as assistant to Derek Dalton, described as, “a good trainer, but stuck with moderate horses.” Three years under high- profile Guy Rixon was a different story, “He had a really powerful yard, with a knack for preparing horses expertly,” Katz remembered. A year with Dave Coleman followed, who might politely be described as one of the “colourful characters” of Cape racing, though the racing authorities would probably use a sterner label. The duo won multiple races especially with progeny of French stallion, Rainbow Dream.
Katz then took the plunge to venture off on his own, training around 35 winners in a two and a half year spell – a decent enough return. In retrospect though, he feels it was the wrong decision at the time, conceding, “I lacked business experience back then and training is not an easy trade.” Katz brooded over the decision to bail, then spent many years out of the racing loop before resurfacing as Hodgson’s assistant, a man he respectfully describes as, “a great horseman.”
They clearly work well together, complimenting one another with different skills. Hodgson, for example, is a reticent man who chooses to shun publicity. In contrast, Katz is an animated, unguarded character full of “chutzpah” and witty quips After Lalena won, he took a swipe at detractors who don’t believe he can make it as a fully- fledged trainer, thanking those sceptics for providing him with the motivation to prove them all wrong.
But he is under no illusions about the challenges he faces. “Cape Town is a very difficult centre to shape in – I really though Lalena (25/1) had a big chance, but then you look at what you’re up against from the powerful yards and wonder…. So, I’m not going to get ahead of myself. We’ve 32 boxes and a nice spread of horses that will win races. My job is to pick the right spots for them so that they can be competitive, and Hassen enjoys his racing. We’re not going to make excuses for moderate horses, especially fillies, and will use Port Elizabeth as an outlet for those struggling here.”
Following Lalena’s victory, Katz came close in two subsequent races, with all runners piloted by Jason Smitsdorff. Beautifully bred Galileo mare, Emerald Gal made a spirited rails run from last to just get beat a head into third in Race 7, then Shadow Warrior launched a late rally to menace heavy favourite Flash Twice in the finale. ‘Not a bad day – first, third and second.’ was Katz’s appraisal. He is most grateful for the opportunity that Adams has granted him, and apart from those cynical critics that help wind him up, cites wife, Liat and five year old son Do-El as truly positive motivators.