Glen Kotzen expects a good run from his Vodacom Durban July candidate Gold Standard and is confident of the chances of July reserve runner Pack Leader in the consolation race, the Grade 3 Betting World 2200.

He has a number of other runners on the day and has a fair hand.

Kotzen said Gold Standard had done his July gallop in “hard bar shoes”, so hoped for a “gin strike” with the lighter alumites on. He said he had come out of the gallop well. The Trippi four-year-old colt caught the eye running on over 1600m in the Grade 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge and jumps from draw six under Craig Zackey over a step up in trip he will appreciate.

Gold Standard (Liesl King)

Kotzen said Pack Leader had pulled up well after his excellent workout at the July Gallops and had been doing exceptionally well. He jumps from draw eight under Zackey in the 2200.

Kotzen said his two Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes contenders, Elusive Heart and Final Judgement, were both very well and were “cherry ripe.” They both have tough draws but both have proven ability in this class.

Stable jockey Richard Fourie has chosen Believe The Best in the Grade 2 Samsung Golden Slipper over 1400m but Kotzen admitted he had a “soft spot” for Temple Grafin and believed Fourie had chosen the wrong one. Believe The Best caught the eye last time when beating older horses in a maiden after being caught wide over this trip at Scottsville. Temple Grafin, whom Kotzen rates as “very good”, followed up on a good barrier trial by winning over 1200m on debut on the poly. Grant van Niekerk will have to overcome a draw of 15 on her, while Believe The Best has a tricky draw of ten. Temple Grafin will come in two positions if the reserves come out and Believe The Best will come in one spot.

In the Grade 2 Durban Golden Horseshoe over 1400m Kotzen said Crown Guardian had put in excellent work at Summerveld since arriving from Cape Town but admitted he had a tough task from the widest draw of all.

Kotzen believes his best runner of the day is Purest Bliss in the KZN Yearling Sale Million, He felt being green had cost her in the Allan Robertson and he made her a “huge runner” in this race despite having to jump from draw ten over the 1300m trip.

He runs Princess Peach in the Zulu Kingdom Explorer MR 88 Handicap over 1400m and gave her a chance if bouncing back to her best. She has been off form for some time but has come down in the merit ratings and jumps from pole position over a step up in trip.

Kotzen warned the public that his Cape Derby winner Eyes Wide Open would not be at his best in the 12th race over 1600m. He said his class might pull him through but there was no pressure on them for this race and it was being used as a preparation outing for the Grade 1 Champions Cup. He said his other runner in this race, Luna Child, had been doing very well and she is distance suited and drawn well.

Kotzen expected his two runners in the first race, Essenceoflife and Anneline, to be competitive, although he added the former would need luck from a high draw in this polytrack 1200m fillies and mares handicap event.

By David Thiselton