Glen Kotzen has two outsiders in Gr 1s on Super Saturday at Greyville this weekend, Gone Baby Gone in the eLan property Group Gold Cup over 3200m and Light The Lights in the Champions Cup over 1800m. However, his classy Jet Master mare Jet Belle looks to have an excellent chance of defending her crown in the Gr 2 Gold Bracelet over 2000m.
He said about Jet Belle, who is 2,5kg better off with any other horse in the Gold Bracelet according to official merit ratings: “Her sprint (Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint over 1200m) was an incredible run, she was awfully unlucky as she couldn’t get a run three times, she should have possibly won. Obviously we were disappointed with her run in the Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes (4,6 length 7th over 1600m at Greyville) last time. She ran a bit of a flat race and we pulled a blood, but nothing was untoward. But she is flying at home, so I can’t really explain that below par run. She’s doing exceptionally well and we’ve got Anton Marcus up and I think it’s the right field for her.” She jumps from a plum draw of four.
He said about the four-year-old Greys Inn gelding Gone Baby Gone, who is 4kg under sufferance in the Gold Cup according to official merit ratings, “If you haven’t got a ticket you haven’t got a chance. The winner of the Gold Vase (Heart Of A Lion) is out so that’s one less to beat. At his best he definitely stays the trip, he was beaten three-quarters-of-a-length over this trip in the Chairman’s Cup in Cape Town. We also pulled a blood for him after the SABC Gold Vase (Gr 2 over 3000m at Greyville on July day) as we thought he would run a little closer than he did and we found he was a little bit anaemic. His blood picture showed he could use a little help so we’ve been working on that and hopefully we will see a horse who is going to finish off his race on Saturday.” Gone Baby Gone has a favourable draw of six with Warren Kennedy up.
The three-year-old Western Winter colt Light The Lights is officially 5,5kg under sufferance with the best weighted horse in the Champions Cup, Futura. He has been a touch disappointing during the Champions Season and in his last start in the Gr 2 tabGold 2200 he finished 5,5 lengths back in 6th. Kotzen said, “We do feel he needs gelding. We fitted him with a pair of blinkers last time out and I thought he ran an okay race. That day he went down the inside and the going appeared to be much better on the outside. But in saying that he really needs to find his best form. We’re just going for the lucky last now and are going to geld him afterwards. But he’s very well in himself and anything from a mile upwards is a good trip for him.” He is drawn eleven with Johnny Geroudis up.
Kotzen’s four-year-old Kahal filly Euthalia returns from a four month break to run in a handicap over 1400 on the polytrack. She won her last start over 1600m on the poly and is now five points higher in the merit ratings. He said, “She ran an absolute cracker to win her last start and we had her lined up for her next run, but she threw a temperature, so we had to back off her for two weeks. But she’s fit and well again.” This looks to be a stronger field than she faced last time.
The yard run the three-year-old Fort Wood colt New Fort in a MR 78 handicap over 2400m on the turf ten days after he finished third over 1950m at Scottsville and Kotzen said, “He needs a nice fast pace or further because he takes time to unwind. He couldn’t really go with them last time and started coming back at them again towards the end. He will definitely strip a fitter horse and is going to love the 2400m.” This galloping type is starting to come into his own now and has a chance with Richard Fourie up but he has a tricky draw of eight to overcome in the 13 horse field.
By David Thiselton
Pictures: Jet Belle (Nkosi Hlophe)
