CAN KING REGENT TAKE THE CROWN?

Johannesburg, 15 October 2024

FINAL LEG OF THE 2024 NMB RACING POLY CHALLENGE

The R175,000 third and final leg of the 2024 Nelson Mandela Bay Racing Poly Challenge takes place over 1600m at Fairview Racecourse on Friday, 18 October.

The challenge comprises three legs, progressing from 1200m in Leg 1, stepping up to 1400m in Leg 2 and culminating in Leg 3 over 1600m.

Since the inauguration of the Challenge in 2016, no horse has been able to win all three legs and secure the bonus of R250,000. The Jacques Strydom-trained Gogetthesheriff came closest in the very first year of the Challenge, securing the first two legs before finishing a 0.50-length third to Jet Explorer in the final leg in a thrilling finale.

However, aiming to go one better is the Glen Kotzen-trained King Regent. King Regent is a 5yo gelding by Dynasty, bred by Ridgemont Highlands, campaigned in the interests of Miss Gisela Burg and Mr Martin Wickens and ridden to victory in the first two legs by jockey Denis Schwarz. He overcame a wide draw and being slow out of the gates to win the first leg of the challenge by a comfortable 3.25 length margin on 23 August. On 27 September, he produced an electrifying burst from the back of the field to follow up in the second leg by 0.50 lengths from Luna Halo and he will attempt to complete the challenge – and collect the R250,000 bonus – over 1600m this Friday.

However, it is not going to be easy. There are 8 runners carded, including local favourites Cherry Ano (Gavin Smith) and Inherit The Rain (Alan Greeff) who will attempt to stop the Cape raider. Also worth noting is that King Regent has not won over 1600m. However, the manner in which he won the second leg will have given trainer Glen Kotzen a lot of confidence.

Either way, the proposition of history in the making will be sure to draw an enthusiastic Gqeberha crowd to shout him home.

Field for the R175,000 Nelson Mandela Bay Racing Poly Challenge 1600 (Open - 3rd Leg (Non-Black Type))

1 - 1 KING REGENT (G S Kotzen) D Schwarz 62kg

2 - 6 CHERRY ANO (G D Smith) C Zackey 62kg

3 - 4 BUSH TRACKER (S B Kotzen) L Mxothwa 62kg

4 - 2 INHERIT THE RAIN (A C Greeff) R Fourie 61kg

5 - 8 GLOBAL ALLY (A C Greeff) K Minnie 61kg

6 - 7 THE MAURITIAN (A C Greeff) C Maujean 59.5kg

7 - 3 SYX HOTFIX (G D Smith) M Yeni 59.5kg

8 - 5 EUPHORIC (JVA Strydom) D B Geerthsen 53.5kg

Same Trainer: (2,7) (4,5,6)

Ends.