Nic Jonsson

The Gold Circle Owner Award for the month has been bestowed on Nic Jonsson

The son of the late Benji Jonsson, an iconic member of South Africa’s racing community particularly for his support and service to the Jockey Academy, Nic is a member of a South African racing dynasty that stretches back to 1897 when his great grandfather, Frederick Lennard (F L) Jonsson, was one of the 15 founding stewards of the Durban Turf Club.  His grandmother, Betty Jonsson, a farmer in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, was a popular and well-known owner-trainer.

Surprisingly, says Nic, in spite of the Jonsson family’s involvement in racing, “I am the only one of Benji’s children who is interested in racing. He took out his racing colours in 1990 and now has about 50 horses in training in the Cape with Justin Snaith, KwaZulu-Natal with Dennis Drier and Michael Roberts and in Port Elizabeth with Allan Greeff. During the past season he has 38 winners.

But it was in July that he had what he calls “a lucky day” when Do It Again, that was recently declared the three-year-old colt of the year at the Equus Awards, won the Vodacom Durban July and his other runner in the race, Made To Conquer, ran second – an incredible feat that came after the biggest race meeting of the year in Africa had begun with Nic’s Pathfork filly, Township Melody, winning the first race of the day.

To add to Nic’s “month to remember” was the victory in the Grade 2 Kuda Gold Bracelet at Greyville on eLan Gold Cup Day of his Silvano filly Miyabi Gold.

Of the sport of racing and his involvement, Nic’s comment was simply “I love it.”

Congratulations and well done Nic.

ZEYN KIRSTEN

The Gold Circle Owner Award for the month has been bestowed on Zeyn Kirsten

As a little boy Zeyn accompanied his grandfather – an avid racing fan – to the off-course tote where his interest in the sport was born, an interest that grew over the years to become a dream of being a racehorse owner and then a passion that he now enjoys with his family.

“I became an owner when I was 29 years old and had horses with Dennis Bosch. Then about 10 year ago I moved to Johannesburg and when looking for a trainer came across Louis Goosen. There was just something about Louis that drew me to him and we had a wonderful relationship.

“I took a break from racing for a while then when Louis relocated to KwaZulu-Natal I joined him again with six horses and two babies and we have had a great time. For me things have just spiralled and I am living my passion. Louis has just made the racing experience wonderful for me and my family and we are really enjoying it.”

Zeyn, who says he has had many winners over the years, had another two during the month of May and is looking forward to more.

Well done and congratulations Zeyn

ROY MOODLEY

The Gold Circle Owner Award for the month has been bestowed on Roy Moodley

For a leading KwaZulu-Natal businessman involved in security, the phrase “there is safety in numbers” could well apply to Roy who has certainly not skimped in building one of the biggest racing operations in the country.

With scores of horses in his racing string that are spread among a number of trainers, the charismatic character has bred many of the horses he races at his stud in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands and has invested in quality overseas stock to boost his operation.

Commenting on the success of his runners, Roy quipped: “They must start winning Grade 1’s. They’ve won Grade 3’s but now they need to win the big ones.”

He said once the programme has been released his trainers will begin formulating their racing plans and when asked about potential big race contenders including the Vodacom Durban July, Roy named two of his Australian-bred horses – Roy Had Enough and Roy’s Riviera – that he races from the Frank Robinson stable.

Both have shown promising ability and along with his many others runners, we wish them great success.

Well done Roy

SABINE PLATTNER

The Gold Circle Owner Award for the month has been bestowed on Sabine Plattner

The Plattner Racing operation runs yards in the Cape and in KwaZulu-Natal with Andre Nel as trainer operating in the Cape and Byron Forster as assistant trainer of the band of horses stabled near Summerveld training centre in KwaZulu-Natal.

Mrs Plattner has a great love of the thoroughbred and has spent a great deal of money on the sport through her breeding and racing operations which have produced many top horses to race in the country.

However, due to her outstanding charity work she has little opportunity to see her horses race and was not present at the events where her runners won five races during the month with the five-year-old gelding Head Honcho winning twice at Scottsville.

Mrs Plattner runs the Sabine Plattner African Charities organisation that operates safety and development centres for children which she visits in many parts of the African continent throughout the year.

A noble cause and worthy success with your horses.

LESLIE LOGAN

The Gold Circle Owner Award for the month has been bestowed on Leslie Logan

For Leslie, a Gold Circle member, racehorse ownership was a whirlwind experience, beginning about two years ago when he was encouraged by a friend to take a share in one horse and rocketing to a situation that today sees him involved in a string of 33 horses with nine trainers around the country.

The growth of his stable was passion-driven as an entertainment outlet. “It was not about making money, it was all about having fun. I own most of the horses myself but there are a few that I have with partners although I always ensure I have 51% to maintain control.”

To date Leslie has had 19 winners but has yet to enjoy his racing heart’s premier desire which is to win a graded race. Hopefully, things will change and his R6-million investment in horses over the past two years will be rewarded with a big race win during the coming South Africa’s Champion Season – and why not the Vodacom Durban July?

Here’s hoping and well Done Leslie

Mario Ferreira

The Gold Circle Owner Award for the month for December 2017 has been bestowed on Mario Ferreira. Receiving the award on behalf of Mario Ferreira is Des Gonsalves. An invitation to attend a major sale “four or five years ago” was the beginning of a search – that has become a passion – to obtain or breed “the ultimate racehorse” and the development of a stable of “40 or 50” thoroughbreds that have brought Mario 103 winners.

As the passion and the number of horses have grown over the years, Mario has spread his wings among the trainer community with a number of conditioners caring for his horses and he has become involved to a greater degree in the breeding side of the industry.

With a volume of evidence showing that great horses are not always the progeny of great stallions or mares, “there is always the chance of breeding the ultimate racehorse – it has become a dream.”

Well done Mario!

K & K SYNDICATE

The Gold Circle Owner Award for the month has been bestowed on the K & K Syndicate.

The syndicate was established some years back by long-time owner Shakthi Bunwarie for his daughters Kanchaal and Kajal, the latter sadly having since passed away in 2003. Mr Bunwarie, who is also involved in the breeding of horses, has many horses and also manages the racing affairs of the K & K Syndicate.

Kanchaal, now Mrs Mahabeer, said with her father’s long time involvement in racing they had grown up around horses, visiting the stables and the stud farm and meeting the trainers and jockeys. Racing was in their blood and she regularly goes to the course especially the Vodacom Durban July and when the meetings are in Pietermaritzburg where she lives.

“I have not been much this year as I have a new baby who is just six months old.”

She said they have had a good number of winners including four during November and added that the family would like to extend its gratitude and heartfelt appreciation to the jockeys and trainers.

“We are grateful to the talented jockeys for taking our horses to the finish so skilfully and the trainers who work daily to ensure they are well taken care of and trained to excellence.”

Well done Kanchaal

MR O’NEIL SYNDICATE

It is said that one man’s loss could lead to another’s gain and that is how the successful Mr O’Neil Syndicate was established after a group of friends enjoyed one of their regular lunches with Cape trainer Dean Kannemeyer whenever he was in Durban.

Making up the syndicate are colour holder Ryan Botsis, Ettiene van der Westhuizen of “Kid Colt” fame of years gone by, Garry Citron, Chris Gerber, Sean Phillips, Warren Eisele and his wife Annie – a happy group that have since added a young Visionaire colt to their “stable”.

Warren, the retired former racing Judge in KwaZulu-Natal whose “stint” in the judges box totalled 52 years, said that at the lunch Dean told them the sale on Mr O’Neil had fallen through and suggested the group of friends might want to get involved. “We got together and formed the syndicate and bought Mr O’Neil for R120 000.

“Well, he has won six races for us and close to R500 000 and was unlucky in both the Lonsdale Stirrup Cup at Greyville and the Track & Ball Derby at Scottsville. Dean has said that if he stays sound he will feature in the July season next year and could have the eLan Gold Cup as one of his missions.

“You know, owning a racehorse is all about having fun and Mr O’Neil has given us plenty of that.”

Well done team

Team G Racing Syndicate

The Gold Circle Owner Award for the month of August has been bestowed on the Team G Racing Syndicate – nominee G H van Zyl

The syndicate was established about six years ago by trainer Gavin van Zyl to enable racing enthusiasts to become involved in the sport as owners without having to outlay large sums of money. It was an immediate success and at one stage had about 120 members.

Explaining the motivation behind the venture, Gavin said it was a vehicle to introduce new blood into racing. “It was to show that one did not have to be a millionaire to become involved as an owner and that the ordinary man in the street could enjoy the excitement and privileges of an owner and, apart from the fun of it, possibly make some money”.

The most positive result of the syndicate, he says, is that many former syndicate members have gone on to take out their own colours and become owners in their own right, racing horses in partnerships or in their own colours.

“It has been very successful and the syndicate has had more than 100 winners,” Gavin said.

During the month Team G Racing enjoyed three winners and looks forward to many more.

Well done Team G

TRINISHA PILLAY

The Gold Circle Owner Award for the month has been bestowed on Miss Trinisha (Trini) Pillay

Daughter of well-known racehorse owner Manie Pillay, it was inevitable that his passion for racing would influence his family and after Manie became an owner the family became more involved and would attend race meetings, particularly on the Friday night meetings at Greyville, which were seen as family outings.

Trini’s interest and passion for horses and racing grew and two years ago she became an owner in her own right. Her first horse, Trini’s Colateral, was named after her by her father and went on to win a race for her on the biggest day of the year, Vodacom Durban July Day in 2015.

She is now the proud owner of “six or seven” horses and two of them – Diamond In The Sky and Sorceress – gave her a double when both won at Scottsville on July 9.

Now an avid supporter of the sport, we wish Trini many more winners.

Well done Trini