Trainer Glen Kotzen celebrated an awesome weekend, striking a notable treble in the Racing Association Stakes with Viva Rio, a Grade 2 in Cape Town courtesy of emergent filly, Third Runway and again on Sunday in the Eastern Cape with convincing Algoa Cup victor, Cat Daddy.
Chatting to Glen at Fairview, at a table laden with trophies, he paid tribute to his team who make co-ordinating such a multi pronged attack possible. Of Viva Rio, he said, “He’s such a progressive horse and gelding has transformed him.” The son of Oratorio got a perfect stalking trip under Morne Winnaar on a hard, fast turf course to win convincingly.
Third Runway is following a similar program to Princess Victoria, a former Kotzen- trained, star filly. “Just like Princess Victoria who won a feature at two, she came back on fresh legs to win here and will now be aimed at the Fillies Guineas.” The diminutive and versatile daughter of Gimmethegreenlight skipped away from opposition in the G2 Western Cape Fillies Championship at quite long odds. Pretty Young Thing tried valiantly from draw 17, but Third Runway enjoyed a smoother passage from gate 1, showing yet again how important it can be to easily secure a favourable position in a horse race.
The Kotzen road show culminated in a tremendous score in the Algoa Cup on Sunday as Cat Daddy romped home from Knight Templar. He too has improved markedly since gelding. Kotzen explained, “He was just becoming too aggressive and gelding has helped. Cat Daddy is really smart and will be aimed long term at next year’s July.”
In other news, speedball Sir Frenchie continues to be a revelation in PE. He again used a powerful burst of finishing speed to obtain a 10th career win and will now be aimed at big sprints in major centres by trainer Yvette Bremner, who is an expert at travelling horses.
Vaughan Marshall’s Silver Operator took out the G3 Cape Classic at Kenilworth as expected, though he was menaced by a chasing Captain Tatters over the final 200m. The winner was perfectly handled by Anton Marcus – the high percentage jockey making a successful return after an injury enforced layoff.