Newly licensed Summerveld trainer Nathan Kotzen attributes his passion for horseracing to his father, also named Nathan, and will attempt to get his career rolling on Friday night at Greyville where his classy filly Persian Rug runs in the Listed KRA East Coast Cup over 2000m.

The Ideal World filly infamously stopped in front of the grandstand shadow when looking to have the Gr 1 Thekwini Stakes in the bag as a two-year-old.  She became disappointing thereafter on the Highveld but her career took off again soon after she was sent back to Greyville. Her form points to 2000m being her best trip, but she does have a wide draw to overcome and has also had an interrupted preparation.

Kotzen said, “She injured a near hind stifle after her last start and had a hematoma so was out of work for a bit. Therefore, I would have liked to have had one more race going into this one. The recent rain also ruled out the one more gallop I would have liked. But she has had two gallops and has done well in her work. She is fit and should run well.”

Persian Rug is a massive filly and should be suited to soft ground. She won a 2000m fillies and mares handicap on the polytrack in January, but her most eye-catching performance this season was when running the decent gelding Celtic Captain to half-a-length over 2000m on the Greyville turf in February.

Kotzen is the younger brother of Vodacom Durban July-winning trainer Glen. The brothers were taught the ropes by their father, who was both a jockey and a trainer.

Nathan has vast experience as a trainer of thoroughbreds and his new career ended a 16-year stint as assistant trainer to the legendary Mike de Kock. He obviously learnt a lot from De Kock but also attributed his overall knowledge to other trainers such as David Payne, Robbie Sivewright, Mike Azzie, Pat Shaw, Paddy Lunn, the late Michael Roberts and to his brother Glen.

Nathan helped De Kock win the KZN trainers title nine times between 2002 and 2012 and the Vodacom Durban July four times courtesy of Ipi Tombe, Greys Inn, Bold Silvano and Igugu. He was closely associated with other top horses such as Victory Moon, Flight Alert, Kildonan, Irish Flame, Vercingetorix and many others.

Nathan once dreamed of being a jockey, but was just too big to ever become one, although he did win plenty of races in the amateur ranks.

Nathan is already looking to move yards as his string has expanded to 22 and he has another four on the farm. Among the owners supporting him are Mary and Jessica Slack, long time breeding and owning stalwarts of South African racing and loyal supporters of the De Kock yard.

The long-time KZN colours of the Armstrong family will also be seen on one of his runners. These black, white and red colours are owned today by former Gold Circle director Bruce Armstrong.

Nathan picked up a Master Of My Fate filly at the National Yearling Sales, and also picked up three at recent CTS sales and one at a dispersal sale. There were a couple of well-bred sorts among those.

Kotzen said experiencing the other side of the coin, where he was now master of the yard, had not really “hit him” yet but he did confirm there was added pressure.

He spoke of the help brother Glen had given him at the sales. The skills in this area is the most important asset needed to convert from a successful assistant to a successful trainer.

His father is helping him at the yard and eldest daughter Natasha will be doing the books.

The affable Nathan has always been an asset to South African racing and it would be no surprise to see him reach the heights brother Glen has. Persian Rug, whom he has always had a share in, will be the second runner of his licensed career. 

David Thiselton