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Glen Kotzen’s KZN team ready to keep the flag flying
The esteemed trainer will look to attain honours from Burning Wings and Imbejeje at Greyville.
On Thursday, punters at Turffontein face a smidgeon of anguish in their picks, with a couple of legs that could spill blood. Picture: iStock
Trainer Glen Kotzen’s KwaZulu-Natal satellite yard has been in good form in the current season and will be looking for more honours from Burning Wings and Imbejeje at Wednesday’s Greyville Polytrack meeting.
The tightly run operation at Summerveld is actually outperforming the esteemed mother ship in Cape Town. Kotzen lies 20th in the national trainer standings with 20 winners and no fewer than 11 of those have been in KZN.
Kotzen’s KZN assistant John Buckler is one of the best No 2s in the business, having learnt the ropes under Mike de Kock, among others.
Buckler floats just the two aforementioned horses to Greyville and could saddle a quick double in Races 6 and 7.
Master jockey Anton Marcus is getting more and more picky with his rides as he enters the autumn of his career. He has chosen Burning Wings in the seventh and punters will take heed.
The four-year-old gelding seldom runs a bad race and has risen through the rankings to his current 96 courtesy of four wins and five places from 12 starts. He starts from gate No 2 at the 1400m pole and will give a good account of himself.
To win, though, Burning Wings and Marcus must overcome formidable foes in Chattertons Keeper and S’Manga Khumalo. From the Wendy Whitehead stable, Chattertons Keeper has thrived since front-running tactics were adopted, winning four of his last five outings and his early speed will have to be matched by the opposition.
In the next race, Buckler saddles the filly Imbejeje for jockey Donovan Dillon in a 1000m FM69 Handicap.
She and the rider won last time out, edging well-regarded La Fille over the same track and trip. From the No 2 gate, she looks poised to seal the stable double.
SELECTIONS
1: 7 Love On Time, 4 Firu Star, 1 Alma Mater, 10 Giambattista
2: 7 Broadway, 8 Without Doubt, 3 Estival, 1 Fantastic Impact
3: 5 Sparkling Flame, 6 Port Adelaide, 4 Luck Of The Iris, 1 Arion Of Adrast
4: 6 Tiger Tank, 1 Smart William, 7 King’s Cove, 4 Lord Of The Manor
5: 7 Ibutho, 9 African Skyline, 1 Flying Grace, 3 Gentleman’s Way
6: 2 Burning Wings, 5 Chattertons Keeper, 7 Ad Altisima, 4 Via Salaria
7: 2 Imbejeje, 9 Voice Notes, 3 Casa Rosada, 7 Dunyaa
8: 4 Giacomo Puccini, 8 Var Aglow, 6 Tonightsfightnight, 2 Kings Road
Pick 6: 4,5,6 x 1,6,7 x 1,3,5,6,7,9,10 x 2,5 x 2,9 x 2,4,6,7,8,9 (R1512)
PA: 3,7,8 x 5 x 1,6 x 7,9 x 2 x 2 x 2,4,8 (R36)
