GAVIN VAN ZYL

Gavin successfully made the transition from a good jockey to a good trainer and has done a great deal to draw new owners into the sport through Team G Racing which allows for small owners to become part of the team and enjoy the privileges and excitement of racehorse ownership.

Together with his sons he operates yards here in KwaZulu-Natal and on the Highveld and both have proven highly successful.

During the month the local operation was the top winning team with seven winners and another five places from 25 runners and those that followed them would have made a R24.10 profit on a R1 win bet on each runner.

The stable contribution to racing is greatly appreciated and worthy of the monthly award.

Well done Gavin.

DENNIS BOSCH

As a jockey Dennis was undoubtedly one of the leading riders in the country, but the dreaded weight problem dominated the latter years of his career forcing his retirement from the saddle.

Switching to training he encountered the difficulties faced by all new conditions in building a stable string with the high quality of the country’s top trainers drawing most of the owners.
But his talents as a horseman have attracted many loyal patrons that have supported him throughout and he did them proud during the month by winning five races with another eight of his runners finishing in the placings.

His dedication to the sport, his charges and his patrons and his fun character that makes owners really enjoy their racing experience, makes his achievement worthy of the monthly award.

Well done Dennis.

KOM NAIDOO

Competing against the big stables at any time of the year is a tough task for trainers but Kom has done exceptionally well for his patrons.

During the month he finished joint second on the KwaZulu-Natal trainer list with Dean Kannemeyer behind Duncan Howells by just one winner while a further 14 of the runners he saddled finished in the money.

His runners are always turned out in top condition and his efforts are worth the award this month.

Well done Kom.

ALYSON WRIGHT

Champion trainer Sean Tarry had an incredible month with 11 winners and another 11 places while Charles Laird and Duncan Howells did well with eight and seven winners respectively.

But having a less formidable string with which to work, Alyson turned her charges out in top condition to reward her in winning six races and finishing in the placings on another nine occasions for a win-place strike rate of 55.56%. Her loyal followers had their rewards as well with a R1 win bet on each of her 27 runners giving them a profit of R31.80.

Her dedication and professionalism are worthy of this month’s award.

Well done Alyson.

DEAN KANNEMYER

Since opening his satellite yard in KwaZulu-Natal Dean has made an incredible impact on racing in the province and winning the Vodacom Durban July has not been enough. His runners have continued to perform well and that continued through into the month under review.

He has drawn a strong team of supporters and those that have followed his stable have been well rewarded.

During the month eight of his 25 runners won and another eight finished in the placings at a win and place percentage of 64%. Those that wagered a win bet on each of his runners would have had a R20.10 return in the month.

Well done Dean.

SEAN TARRY

He is the new Champion Trainer in South Africa and has started the new season in fine style with his record for the month being outstanding.

While he could not match Dennis Drier in the number of winners, his win-place strike rate was magnificent with six winners and eight placings from just 19 runners and a percentage in the money of 73.68.

It was a performance befitting a champion and worthy of the award.

Well done Sean.

DENNIS BOSCH

In his younger days Dennis was one of the leading jockeys in South Africa, a powerful rider whose career in the saddle saw him win many top races. Weight problems eventually saw him turn his talents to training and this popular man has been very successful with a small string.

This was reflected during the month where he saddled five winners with his runners also securing nine placings from just 29 runners, an overall strike rate of just on 50%.

It was an excellent performance and worthy of the monthly award.

Well done Dennis.

DENNIS DRIER & DEAN KANNEMEYER

Making a decision this month was extremely difficult as there was a very strong case for the award going to Dennis Drier who captured three Grade 1 races among his eight winners in the month. It was an achievement that richly deserved it.

However, there is no greater achievement in South African racing than winning the Vodacom Durban July and Dean’s planning and preparation of Power King for the race and his subsequent victory as the pinnacle of his very successful season gave him a fractional edge in the decision.

Well done to Dean and Dennis

JOHAN JANSE VAN VUUREN

Entering the lion’s den of Champions Season in KwaZulu-Natal with the country’s top stables and horses in the province in their numbers is not easy and winning chances are few and far between.

But Johan had an excellent run with five wins and seven placings from just 16 runners, an outstanding win rate of 31% and a win-place rate of 75%.

Top stables of Mike de Kock and Duncan Howells with 39 and 72 runners respectively during the month, each managed only one winner more than Johan which added to the impressiveness of his success.

Well done Johan.

SEAN TARRY

It was a very difficult call this month with a number of trainers having multiple successes. Dean Kannemeyer had another good month with eight winners and Dennis Drier had a great day at Scottsville winning two of the four Grade 1 races, the Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion and the Tsogo Sun Sprint.

But in the end, having saddled six winners including the Grade 1 Daily News 2000 and the Grade 1 City Of Pietermaritzburg Fillies Sprint, Sean got the narrow selection for trainer of the month.

Well done Sean.