The tiny Territories colt Zminiature wins the Brocklesby for former Summerveld trainer Dylan Cunha at Doncaster on Saturday (via Meta)
Dylan Cunha had a fine start to the British flat season on Saturday, winning the Brocklesby Stakes, and he followed up with a winner on the all weather on Monday at Newcastle.
Cunha also had a win last Friday on the Lingfield all weather, so his hard-working yard is in fine form.
His Brocklesby winner Zminiatire has a fine story behind him and the indirect reason for him being in the yard was due to Cunha’s kindness to a stray cat.
One of the first horses he acquired in the UK, a horse called Moliwood, was sent to him because a family called the Sarkars were touched by him having adopted a rescue kitten with a skew leg, which Dylan called a “lucky leg”.
He is still a doting parent to the cat and the Sarkars are not only still owners in they yard , but can now say they have won the Brocklesby. They are the owners of Brocklesby winner Zminiature.
Dylan’s winner at Newcastle on Monday, Make Believe gelding Asgard’s Captain, made it two wins this month over the one mile and two furlong course and distance.
His winner last riday on the Lingfield all weather was the Havana Grey filly Gogo Yubari.
He has now had 25 wins overall in the U.K.
Rhys Clutterbuck has become his stable jockey and has ridden all of the winners mentioned above.
Cunha was bullish about the chances of Zminiature in the Brocklesby on Saturday and the small Territories colt duly won the traditional race which has been going since 1849.
It is the first two-year-old race of every British flat season and was usually the first race of the season too, but on Saturday was the second race.
Zminiature beat a field of 15 and landed odds of 16/1.
Sportsmax wrote the below article about Cunha’s victory:
Dylan Cunha put a feather in the cap of his training career in Britain as Zminiature landed the William Hill EBF Brocklesby Stakes at Doncaster, which carries a first stake cheque of £20,616.
Traditionally the curtain-raiser for the Flat season, this time the juvenile contest – won 12 months ago by Persian Force, who went on to prove very smart – was the second race on the Town Moor card.
A Group One-winning handler in his native South Africa, Cunha is now based in Newmarket, and in this 16-1 winner he looks to have a nice colt on his hands.
Given a patient ride by Rhys Clutterbuck, the Territories youngster moved smoothly through runners to pick up long-timer leader Paddy’s Courage inside the final furlong, before keeping on nicely to hold Bob The Bandit and Indication Ember by a length and a short head.
Cunha said: “It was expected. We really fancied him. He’s small but he’s tough and does everything right. It’s nice to get a good early two-year-old winner.
“I said to the owners halfway through the race ‘it’s been a great experience, he’s learning to race’, as it looked like he was going to be fourth or fifth.
“We took him to Chelmsford for a gallop last Monday, we did all the work that needed to be done.
“I’ve got to thank the Sarkar family, they were the first owners in the UK to support me, so to pay them back with a Brocklesby winner is massive.
“His name is Zminiature because he’s tiny, he’s only up to my chest!
“We started with three horses 18 months ago but we’re up to 50 now, 25 of those are two-year-olds. It’s been hard work, 18-hour days, but I’ve got to thank the team at home, I just conduct it all.
“There’s a conditions race at Chester and a Listed race at Sandown, then after that we’ll take stock.
“I’m pleased for Rhys, I don’t think he gets the opportunities he deserves but he’s quite softly spoken and in this game you’ve got to make a bit of noise and talk yourself into jobs, but it meant I was able to get him. He’s a great jockey, I love him.”
