David Thiselton

Gareth van Zyl has had a steady flow of wins recently, including one at each of the last three KZN meetings, and this has seen him wrest the lead in this season’s KZN Trainers Championship from Alyson Wright.

Van Zyl was the champion trainer two season ago and was a close second to Garth Puller last season, with the latter ending on 60 wins and Van Zyl on 57.

This season’s championship has been an intriguing tussle between a number of trainers, with the lead having swapped a number of times.

There are currently at least five trainers, maybe six, still in contention and it should go down to the wire.

Van Zyl is on 42 wins in KZN this season followed by Alyson Wright on 40, Wendy White head on 38, Garth Puller on 36, Mike Miller on 36 and Peter Muscutt on 32.

Numbers play a big part in winning the championship and Puller has had the most runs this season of the KZN trainers.

His yard’s horses have had 399 runs, with Miller next on 376, Wright on 359 and Whitehead on 319, while Van Zyl and Muscutt have only had 277 and 181 runs in KZN respectively.

However, Van Zyl would likely have boosted his numbers recently in KZN with the Champions Season now in full swing.

A lot of his best horses were in his yard in Cape Town for the Cape Summer season and some of them would likely have joined his Summerveld yard recently.

This is born out in the statistics, because he has had the second most runners in KZN from April 1 up until now, 53 in all, behind Mike Miller on 64.

Puller has had 51 runs in that period, but said he had sold a number of horses lately.

There is no betting on the outcome of the championship, but Van Zyl does look to be the most likely winner.

However, it should be intriguing right until the finish.

The East Cape champion trainer race is intriguing every season, although it has been dominated by the Greeff and Smith yard literally for decades.

Alan Greeff took over the reins from  his father Stanley Greeff in the 1990s, while Gavin Smith took over the reins from his father Andy Smith.

Gavin broke a long sequence of championship wins by Alan in the 2021/2022 season with 134 wins to 111.

Last season was a nailbiter, but he retained the title with a treble on the last day taking him to 126 with a rare blank on that same day by Greeff leaving him on 121.

However, this season Greeff has come from off the pace to hit the front with just over two months to go. He is on 113 wins to Smith’s 107.

On the Highveld Mike de Kock was crowned Highveld Feature Season champion trainer based on a points system.

If there is another award at the end of the season for the trainer with the most wins in the jurisdiction then Tony Peter is well clear on 79 wins ahead of Mike de Kock and Sean Tarry on 61 apiece. However, if it is decided on stakes then De Kock appears to be leading from Tarry and Peter.

In the Western Cape Justin Snaith has 85 wins to Candice Bass-Robinson’s 71 and he is also well clear in stakes. 

RACE 1

2 HER ROYALTY   9 TURN AROUND   7 AMIGO   1 TOP GUN

Summary: HER ROYALTY (2) tried further last run but is back to a sprint. She has done well over the trip and has a handy weight. TURN AROUND (9) makes his debut. He comes from the very much in form Glen Kotzen stable whose juveniles are running well. AMIGO (7) is a well-bred first timer and Louis Goosen knows how to get them going early. TOP GUN (1) was very green on debut. He raced in soft going and firmer underfoot conditions could see him make marked improvement. (Andrew Harrison: 2-9-7-1).

RACE 2

7 PURPLE POWAHOUSE   4 STEVIE GEE   6 GRANDDADDY PURPLE   5 SPACE COWBOY

Summary: PURPLE POWAHOUSE (7) is long overdue. He was second best behind STEVIE GEE (4) last time out but there is a 6kg turnaround in the weights which should see the tables turned even though the latter took on stronger last time out. Lola Crawford’s gelding GRANDDADDY PURPLE (6) showed up well in a competitive sprint last time out. Brevan Plaatjies takes 4kg off he back and he can surprise. SPACE COWBOY (5) has shown his best recent form on the poly although he has been trying a furlong further. Andre Nel’s runner is certainly not out of it. (Andrew Harrison: 7-4-6-5).

RACE 3

2 PATANTS HEIR   3 LE PREMIERE   7 KENNEDY   5 WAR EMPRESS

Summary: A competitive handicap. PATANTS HEIR (2) took on much stronger last run and Gareth van Zyl has dropped her in class. The filly looks promising although she does face a competitive field. Dennis Bosch took his chances with LE PREMIERE (3) who was out classed in a feature last time out. Prior to that she had put in two smart efforts on the poly. KENNEDY (7) is in mustard form and goes well on the poly. However, the handicappers are catching up and her four-point raise for her last win could be the stick in her spokes. WAR EMPRESS I5) is never far back and is over he optimum trip. (Andrew Harrison: 2-3-7-5).

RACE 4

2 FULL OF MAGIC   7 FLYING THE STAR   4 FASHION MISTRESS   6 VATHOMVLAFFIE

Summary: FULL OF MAGIC (2) has been up against stronger at recent outings and Garth Puller has put the filly back over her preferred trip. She has also dropped five pounds in the handicap which could be enough to see her home. FLYING THE STAR (7) is seldom far off them and her last win was over course and distance. FASHION MISTRESS (4) has been rested but has not been far back at her more recent outings. She is one to watch in the market. VATHOMVLAFFIE (6) has shown little in four starts on the turf since shedding her maiden on the poly. She could be the surprise package. (Andrew Harrison: 2-7-4-6).

RACE 5

7 TRAFALGAR SQUARE   3 CHARA SANDS   5 HERECOMESTHERAIN   2 INTREPID

Summary: TRAFALGAR SQUARE (7) is back on his favoured surface, his last two wins coming on the synthetic track. Richard Fourie gets the ride for Dennis Bosch and it could be a lethal combination. CHARA SANDS (3) was a fluent winner last time out to give Michael Roberts and Rachel Venniker their 100^th win together.  He gelding got a four-point raise in the handicap but his latest win was from the widest draw coming from off the pace. HERECOMESTHERAIN (5) makes his way from the Highveld and showed up well on his poly debut. He only has 52.5kg to shoulder and he should be very dangerous. The grey INTREPID (2) has improved in blinkers although Alyson Wright had him up in class last time out. Drawn favourably, he goes well on the poly. (Andrew Harrison: 7-3-5-2).

RACE 6

3 TRUE LOVE’S KISS   5 LINGANMORE   7 STATUS QUO   6 LEOPARD LADY

Summary: Competitive handicap. TRUE LOVE’S KISS (3) is lightly raced and has gone close in her first two handicap races. He maiden win came on the poly and she looks capable in this line-up. LINGANOMORE (5) has come on nicely of late culminating in her last win on the Turffontein inner course. As an older mare, she should take to the poly. STATUS QUO (7) is improving again and has a money chance for Mike Miller. LEOPARD LADY (6) is one of the toughest but each time she gets close, her rating jumps. She is down to possibly a more realistic rating and gets Richard Fourie to help her home. (Andrew Harrison: 3-5-7-6).

RACE 7

8 PALERMO   11 TIME TAKER   4 WAVE WARRIOR   7 IMAGINABLE

Summary: PALERMO (8) is still a maiden and carries top weight, not the ideal horse to back if looking for rent money. However, He was touched off when going a mile for the first time and Tienie Prinsloo knows the game well. Alyson Wright holds a fair hand with three runners. TIME TAKER (11) has a tricky draw to contend with but has been taking on stronger of late and has a 4kg claiming apprentice up. WAVE WARRIOR (4) is a poly specialist and his last win was over course and distance. He has also improved in blinkers. Stable companion IMAGINABLE (7) has been coming along nicely at recent starts and should make an impression in this company. NATIONAL DREAM (12) has the worst of the draw. His last run was in July last year where he won three on the bounce but he may need this. (Andrew Harrison: 8-11-4-7).

RACE 8

10 MISS PAGET   4 PERFECT TRUST   1 GREEN VALKYRIE   2 MISS LIALAH

Summary: MISS PAGET (10) has a wide draw to contend with but she showed up well first run back from a lengthy lay-off. She should strip fitter this time around. PERFECT TRUST (4) has been knocking on the door for some time now. The mare goes well on the poly and has fair form over course and distance. GREEN VALKYRIE (1) has her first outing for Kom Naidoo. She has some fair Cape form to her credit and from a plum draw with first time blinkers she should be a big runner. MISS LIALAH (2) has come good of late, winning three of her last four over course and distance. The handicappers are catching up but she can go in again. (Andrew Harrison: 10-4-1-2). 

Andrew Harrison

Alyson Wright is pushing hard to land her first title as KZN’s Champion Trainer. She is currently leading the charge but it is a tight contest with all of five of her colleague within a few winner’s of her total – the log decided by number of winners.

She does not have any stars in her string but what she does have are consistent and she is making a concerted effort on the poly at Hollywoodbets Greyville today.

Her best chance of a winner looks to be Purple Powahouse in the second, a 66 MR Handicap over 1200m. The seven-year-old is long overdue another win. He was second best behind Stevie Gee last time out but there is a 6kg turnaround in the weights which should see the tables turned even though the latter took on stronger last time out. Lola Crawford’s gelding Granddady Purple showed up well in a competitive sprint last time out and she has booked 4kg apprentice Brevan Plaatjies so will only carry 49kg. Space Cowboy has shown his best recent form on the poly although he has been trying a furlong further. Andre Nel’s runner is certainly not out of it.

In the card opener, Her Royalty tried further last run but is back to a sprint. She has done well over the trip and has a handy weight. Turn Around makes his debut but comes from the very much in form Glen Kotzen stable whose juveniles are running well. Amigo is a well-bred first timer and Louis Goosen knows how to get them going early. Top Gun has had an outing but was very green on debut. He raced in soft going and firmer underfoot conditions could see him make marked improvement. 

The third is a competitive handicap but Patants Heir took on much stronger last run and Gareth van Zyl has dropped her in class. The filly looks promising although she does face a competitive field. Dennis Bosch took his chances with Le Premiere who was out classed in a feature last time out. Prior to that she had put in two smart efforts on the poly. Kennedy is in mustard form and goes well on the poly. However, the handicappers are catching up and her four-point raise for her last win could be the stick in her spokes. War Empress is never far back and is over her optimum trip. 

Garth Puller could have a trick up his sleeve in Full Of Magic in the fourth. She has been up against stronger at recent outings and Puller has put the filly back over her preferred trip. She has also dropped five pounds in the handicap which could be enough to see her home. Flying The Star is seldom far off them and her last win was over course and distance. Fashion Mistress has been rested but has not been far back at her more recent outings. She is one to watch in the market as should be Vathomvlaffie who has shown little in four starts on the turf since shedding her maiden on the poly. She could be the surprise package back on the synthetic surface

Trafalgar Square is back on his favoured surface in the fifth, his last two wins coming on the poly track. Richard Fourie gets the ride for Dennis Bosch and it could be a lethal combination. Chara Sands was a fluent winner last time out to give Michael Roberts and Rachel Venniker their 100^th win together.  The gelding got a four-point raise in the handicap but his latest win was from the widest draw coming from off the pace. Herecomestherain makes his way from the Highveld and showed up well on his poly debut. He only has 52.5kg to shoulder and he should be very dangerous. 

The sixth is another competitive handicap.  True Love’s Kiss is lightly raced and has gone close in her first two handicap races. He maiden win came on the poly and she looks capable in this line-up. Linganomore has come on nicely of late culminating in her last win on the Turffontein inner course. As an older mare, she should take to the poly and may be Corne Spies’ best chance of a win. Status Quo is improving again and has a money chance for Mike Miller while Leopard Lady is one of the toughest but each time she gets close, her rating jumps. She is down to possibly a more realistic mark now and gets Richard Fourie to help her home. 

An interesting runner in the seventh is Palermo who is still a maiden and is one of the top weights. Not the ideal horse to back if looking for rent money but was touched off when going a mile for the first time and Tienie Prinsloo knows the game well. Wright holds a fair hand with three runners. Time Taker has a tricky draw to contend with but has been taking on stronger of late and has a 4kg claiming apprentice up. Wave Warrior is a poly specialist and his last win was over course and distance. He has also improved in blinkers. Stable companion National Dream has the worst of the draw but his last run was in July last year where he won three on the bounce. He may need this outing. 

In the last, Miss Paget is likely to start at decent odds as she has a wide draw to contend with but she showed up well first run back from a lengthy lay-off. She will strip fitter this time around. Perfect Trust has been knocking on the door for some time now and the mare goes well on the poly and has fair form over course and distance. Green Valkyrie has her first outing for Kom Naidoo and comes with some fair Cape form to her credit. She has a plum draw with first time blinkers could be a big runner. Miss Lialah has come good of late, winning three of her last four over course and distance. The handicappers are catching up but she can go in again. 

RUGBY 8 WIN MARGIN on Friday, 24 May 2024 C/Over R 72 727, Pool Closes at 21h00

David Thiselton

The Nathan Kotzen-trained KZN-based horse Royal Victory walked away with two awards at the Highveld Feature Season Awards held on Saturday night, the Champion Older Horse and the Champion Middle Distance Horse.
He was unlucky to have run there in the same season as the outstanding unbeaten Mike de Kock-trained Gimme A Nother, because in any other year he would have walked away with the Horse Of The Season award too.
He not only won the Highveld’s two biggest races by tradition, the Gr 1 Betway Summer Cup and the Gr 1 weight for age Premier’s Champions Challenge, both over 2000m on Turffontein Standside, but he made history in the process.
He became the first out of province horse to ever win the Premier’s.
He was only the second out of province horse to win the Summer Cup this millennium, the first being the Dylan Cunha-trained Strategic News in 2007.  
Going off the subject for a moment Cunha has built himsf up from scratch to prominence in no time in the tough racing climate of the UK and on Friday was part of a South African double. A Gaynor Rupert homebred three-year-old colt by Blue Point out of SA-bred Trippi mare Shingwedzi was the first leg of the double and Cunha then won with Dark Angel three-year-old gelding Mart, who joined his yard as a maiden last September and has won four races and got five places since. 
Going back to the Highveld awards another prominent Hollywoodbets Durban July entry beside Royal Victory who won an award was Main Defender, who was named Champion three-year-old male. 
Royal Victory will be carrying 56.5kg off his 125 merit rating in the July as things stand. 
The weight structure at present is very dependent on either See It Again or Main Defender being among the entries at time of the publication of the weights. 
They are merit rated 132 and 131 respectively and the next highest rated is Dave The King on 126.
To look at what a difference they will make it is worth looking at the weights of the prominent horses with See It Again as topweight and with Dave The King as topweight. 
With See It Again in the race Royal Victory carries 56.5kg, Royal Aussie 56kg, Winchester Mansion 56kg, Cousin Casey 55,5kg, Green With Envy carries 53,5kg as things stand and Lucky Lad carries 53kg, Purple Pitcher carries 53kg, Snow Pilot 53kg, Pure Predator 53kg, Frances Ethel 52kg, Oriental Charm 53kg, Hluhluwe 53kg, William Iron Arm 53kg, Hotarubi 53kg, Mid Winter Wind 53kg, Silver Sanctuary 52kg, My Soul Mate 52kg, while all of the other older males and females will carry their new minimum weight of 54kg and 53kg respectively. 

Without See It Again then Dave The King off 126 becomes the topweight and in that case Royal Victory will carry 59,5kg, Royal Aussie 59kg, Winchester Mansion 59kg, Cousin Casey 58,5kg, Without Question 57kg, Son Of Raj 56,5kg, Green With Envy will carry 56,5kg, Aragosta 56kg, Lucky Lad will carry 55,5kg, Future Pearl 55kg, Purple Pitcher 55kg, Snow Pilot 55kg, Master Redoute 54,5kg, Pure Predator 54,5kg, Frances Ethel 54kg, Oriental Charm 54kg, Hluhluwe 53,5kg, William Iron Arm 53,5kg, Hotarubi 53kg, Mid Winter Wind 53kg, Silver Sanctuary 53kg, My Soul Mate 52,5kg, while all of the other older males and females will carry their new minimum weight of 54kg and 53kg respectively. 

Main Defender is unlikely to run in the race as one with a stamina doubt.

However, in the case of See It Again being scratched before the publishing of the weights his mere presence at weight publication time will become vital to the weight structure. 
Last year there was a scenario where Zapatillas was the highest rated but was unlikely to run and he might well have been kept in the field until after the weights had it not been for the supplementary entry of the higher rated Trip Of Fortune. 
Both Royal Victory and Dave The King ran at Hollywoodbets Scottsville yesterday and the latter won the 1500m Pinnacle Stakes race in fine style with Royal Victory running on well for third. They both carried 62kg and Dave The King beat Royal Victory by 3,50 lengths, but it would be a surprise if the winner’s merit rating changes considering 1500m trip is short of Royal Victory’s optimum trip and it was also a comeback run.