Jack Milner: Racing at Kenilworth has a rare Sunday scheduling this weekend and perhaps Glen Kotzen looks the trainer to be with.
Followers of the stable at this eight-race meeting will more than likely pocket a handsome profit.
The drop to 1000m for his last start – after three outings over 1200m – proved right up the alley of speedy Kotzen-trained Hendo Shuffle, who led for much of the way before being outrun late into fourth at Durbanville in late May.
And if ridden with a little more restraint, this free-striding Querari colt could have enough left in the tank late on to get the stable off to a winning start in Race 1.
Stablemate Rio Supremo, herself a two-year-old by Querari, will need to prove her fitness after a 134-day absence to get off the mark in Race 2 and complete a quickfire Kotzen double.
She finished fourth in her first two starts behind two highly regarded fillies from the stable of Justin Snaith before taking on male rivals in a Met-day juvenile feature won by subsequent Grade 1 Gold Medallion winner Ambiorix – that form is by far the strongest on offer.
Morne Winnaar has picked up the ride on both of Kotzen’s runners.
There are a number of first-timers in both races and while the trainers’ comments are not over exuberant about any of their chances, it would pay to keep an eye open for any major betting moves.
Although battling to win, best bet in the card comes up in Race 5 where trainer Paul Reeves send out Adderbury Lake in a Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 1600m.
Interestingly, this daughter of Sir Prancealot was bred in Great Britain but is out of a Horse Chestnut mare. However, while she has yet to run out of the first three in her six starts, she has been expensive to follow for punters who have backed her for a win.
But Reeves appears to have found the perfect race for this three-year-old filly and this could be her big chance. Craig Zackey, who has ridden her in her last three races, is back in the irons once again.