KNYSNA NEWS - Local resident Natasha Sturdy's racehorse, Royal Victory, has been put through performance tests to determine whether it will defend its title in the R2 million Premier's Champions Challenge at Turffontein racecourse in Johannesburg on Saturday 29 March.

Last racing season, Royal Victory won the Premier's Champions Challenge and the Summer Cup at Turffontein, and was awarded the Champions Middle Distance Horse and Champions Older Horse trophies at regional awards in Johannesburg, attended by Natasha.

'Firing on all cylinders'

Thereafter, the racehorse finished third in Africa's greatest horse race, the Durban July, and was the highest earning horse in the country last season, with its season winnings totalling R4.625 million.

"We have had to give him a couple of workouts just to make sure he's firing on all cylinders - he's not 100% certain to race at this stage," Chris Sturdy, Natasha's husband, who bought her a share in Royal Victory in 2021, said of the racehorse's participation in the Premier's Champions Challenge.

"His next serious workout is on Wednesday (19 March) at Greyville (Racecourse in Durban). If that goes well then we're all systems go for the 29th."

'Credible effort'

Towards the end of last year, after the start of the present racing season, Royal Victory finished sixth in the Summer Cup.

"It was a credible effort, we actually thought he'd win it," Chris said.

On the racehorse, now aged 5, again competing in the Durban July this year, he said "it's one step at a time. It's a delicate and intricate process to get him firing".

Equus award

Royal Victory, trained and stabled in Durban, also won the Champion Middle Distance trophy at the national Equus Awards, held in Cape Town last year.

The awards were attended by Natasha and the couple's eldest daughter, Robyn.

"She (Natasha) very much likes to pick up awards," Chris jokingly said.

‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’