KNYSNA NEWS - Natasha Sturdy is overjoyed with the performance of her racehorse, Royal Victory, in the Durban July on Saturday 6 July.

Royal Victory, part-owned by Knysna resident Natasha, finished third in Africa's greatest horse race.

"She's floating," her husband, Chris, who bought her a share in the horse in 2021, said.

"We're super proud of him (Royal Victory).

"The boytjie came a very gallant third - he was a bit unlucky but he ran his heart out.

"The jockey (Durban-born Muzi Yeni) said afterwards he was waiting for a gap to appear and it closed off so he switched to the outside - but Royal was still running on at the end.

"There were other horses who were also unlucky - it's a tough race.

"He (Royal Victory) won R470 000 for coming third - an incredible achievement."

The racehorse's total winnings now stood at R5,33 million, after its good showing in Grade 1 races, including winning the Premier's Champions Challenge and the Summer Cup in Johannesburg this season.

Chris, in the sports betting industry, said after competing in races such as the July, "trainers give them (horses) a little trot to make sure they're fine - Royal was fine".

The racehorse might run in the Champions Cup, to be held at Durban's Greyville Racecourse, where the July played out, on 28 July.

"Our plan is that he'll have a crack at that - Nathan (Kotzen, Royal Victory's trainer) will give him a gallop and decide whether to run him in the Champions Cup."

Natasha, Chris and their two daughters, Robyn, 22, a university student, and Pippa, 17, a Grade 11 pupil at Knysna High School, returned to Knysna from Durban - where they had spent a week prior to Royal Victory's debut run in the July - on Monday 8 July.

"She (Natasha) went straight back to work at Absolute Pets (pet supply shop), and was delighted to see herself on the back page of the Knysna-Plett Herald (Thursday 4 July edition), and bought five copies," Chris said.

If all went well with Royal Victory, "there's no reason why we won't have a crack at the July next year".

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