Aldo Domeyer will ride Horizon for the first time in public when the colt tackles the Daily News 2000 at Greyville on Saturday.
Bernard Fayd’Herbe, who rode him when he was seventh in the Daisy Guineas, now partners Zodiac Ruler for Justin Snaith but Candice Bass-Robinson said yesterday that it was always the plan for Domeyer to take over here. She added: “If Horizon runs in the Vodacom Durban July Aldo will ride him in that too.”
Horizon started favourite for the Daisy Guineas but was squeezed out early on and had to come from the back. This time tactics are going to be different.
Mrs Robinson said: “He likes to be given a chance in a race with a strong pace because he can quicken off that. It all depends on the pace but ideally I would like him to be able to sit around fifth.”
Domeyer, in blistering form at the moment, added: “I always look forward to riding in the Group 1s and I am looking forward to Horizon. I am also looking forward to him coming home for the summer season as I think he will be at his very best then. But we will see what is in the tank on Saturday.”
Glen Kotzen introduced what looked an exceptional two-year-old in the first at Kenilworth yesterday. Elusive Heart, despite drifting from 20-1 to a totally unconsidered 36-1, made all the running under Karl Zechner in a field of 16 to come right away in the final furlong and win easily, putting four lengths between her and second-placed favourite Evie’s Light.
Kotzen said: “Everybody was putting me off but, although she hadn’t been showing much at home, she has a beautiful action.
“I think she will go round the turn. There is no rush but there are juvenile features coming up so I will chat to the jocks and the owners, and then we will see.”
By Michael Clower