Gavin van Zyl after winning a race recently at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth (Wayne Marks).

Gavin van Zyl To Hand In Licence And Assist Gareth

Gavin van Zyl will be handing in his license at the end of this month and playing a more background role as assistant to his son Gareth, who is the reigning KZN Champion trainer.

Gavin, speaking about his training career, said, “It has been a wonderful journey and I would like to give a special thanks to Opensea Mhlamvu who has been my right hand man from day one and has been a very valuable asset to my business. He will be retiring with me. A special thanks to all of the grooms too and to all of my loyal owners. I wouldn’t want to single any of the owners out but must mention Errol Budlender, who has been with me from day one, and also his good friend Paul Rencken. Errol owned my first winner and is one of the owners of our winner today at Turffontein (Go Flichity). I would also like to thank all of the operators, and in particular Gold Circle, who have always accommodated my needs and given excellent service.”

Gavin has been around horses his whole life and looked back on a long and enjoyable career as both a jockey and trainer.

He grew up in Turffontein and a love of horses filled the memories of his childhood.

As a toddler he used to spend time at the yard of Dave Marx.

Later, he would go to trainer Michael Roberts’ yard every day after school and work as a groom and take horses for walks.

He was lucky to be lightly-framed and was enrolled in the SA Jockey Academy.

He rode his first winner in 1976 over the Greyville 1900m on Flight Savon trained by the late Terry Ryan.

After riding 76 winners as an apprentice he joined Jean Barnard (Heming) and had instant success. He was beaten to the Transvaal championship by Jeff Lloyd by just one win in his first season.

He never looked back and went on to have fine working relationships with the like of Stanley Ferreira, Alistair Gordon, Joe Joseph, Clodagh Shaw, Doug Campbell, Brett Warren, Alec Laird, Joe Soma, Tobie Spies, St. John Gray, Mike Azzie and Cyril Naidoo.

He rode just short of 2000 winners, including multiple Graded winners, and was associated with such horses as Smackeroo, Serena, Poetic, Rain Forest, Moccasin, Extra Cover, Eliza, Shu Shine Boy, Mill Hill, Roland’s Song, Special Preview, Novgorod and Lemon And Lime. On one memorable occasion he rode two Grade 1 winners in a day at Scottsville, winning the SA Fillies Guineas on the St. John Gray-trained Finest View and winning the SA Fillies Sprint on the Mike Azzie-trained Harry’s Charm.

He had two stints in the USA and ended his career as champion jockey of Macau.

While planning his retirement in Macau he bought four horses online. Upon returning to SA he wrote his trainers exam, in 2006. He acquired stables at Binnie Walker’s place near Summerveld, as the training centre had no available boxes.

His first winner was with his second runner, Laser Fan (Fanatic Dane), who was one of the four he had bought online. The filly was owned by Errol Budlender and Alan Mellor.

Laser Fan also won Gavin his first stakes race, winning the Grade 3 Flamboyant Stakes.

Gavin went on to have about 800 wins as a trainer. He won 45 stakes races including eight Grade 1 wins courtesy of The Apache (X2), Slumdogmillionaire (X2), Along Came Polly (X2), Seal and Gabor.

He said the best he trained was The Apache and the best filly was Along Came Polly. He spoke about the “huge hearts” both had.

Both horses have good stories behind their respective purchases.

The Apache, a Mogok colt bred by Scott Brothers, was chosen by owner Winston Chow on the grounds of his birth date aligning with the stars.

Gavin bought Along Came Polly, a Varsfontein Stud-bred fillly by Judpot, in training.

She caught his eye in the parade ring at Clairwood one day when making her debut and then ran a good second in a minor feature, the King’s Pact Stakes.

He spoke to the jockey Craig Zackey afterwards who confirmed the horse was “very nice”.

The trainer of Along Came Polly’s attention would have been averted, because that was in fact the infamous race that saw a punters’ protest causing the meeting to be abandoned. Along Came Polly’s stablemate My Sanctuary was the hot favourite and her gate did not open, but she then burst through the gates and ran on for third, meaning she could not be declared a non-runner.

Gavin had to play it cleverly this time because the previous time he had expressed an interest in a horse some regular owners from the horse’s yard had got wind of it and bought the horse themselves.

He therefore got owner Brian Burnard, with whom he had a very good spell, to phone Along Came Polly’s owner Ian van Schalkwyk and say he would like to buy the filly chiefly because his wife loved the name!

Along Came Polly had cost R60,000 at the National Yearling Sales and was not a good track worker, so the connections were happy to settle for Burnard’s decent offer.

She went on to win two Grade 1s and had numerous Grade 1 places for stakes earnings of R1,639,000 and, furthermore, she was sold on to race in the USA.

Besides Gavin’s Grade 1 wins, he regards his best achievement as sending out four winners on a day twice in the month of February in just his second season as a trainer. Both quadruples were at Scottsville.

Another memorable day was sending out the one-two in the Grade 1 Champions Cup, The Apache and Bulsara.

Bulsara, a twice Grade 3 winner, was owned by Bridget Oppenheimer, who Gavin said had been very very good to him. Other memorable Oppenheimer horses he trained were Franny, also a twice Grade 3 winner, and Prestic, who won a Grade 2 and a Grade 3.

Gavin built quickly from his small beginning and had “lots of support from lots of different owners” and is grateful to all of them.

His training career has rewardingly gone full circle, because while his son Chesney was running his satellite in Johannesburg with success he got to spend seven years at Summerveld with Gareth as his assistant … he will now be in the background as assistant to Gareth.

He is looking forward chiefly to having a PR role, which he enjoys.

His sales strategy in the past has relied chiefly on hard work, but he believes he will now also be able to visit stud farms prior to the sales.

He added, “All of my owners were happy to move their horses to Gareth, so he will now have about 85 horses. He is already a Grade 1-winning trainer and I think he is ready to take control of a bigger string and to make a greater impact on South African racing.”

Gavin is still feeling the effects of a stroke suffered two years ago, which has seen him unable to do some of the things he used to do, such as playing golf. However, he is still able to enjoy life and is looking forward to this next chapter.

Gavin reserved the final thank you for his wife Shannon who has always been a stalwart supporter behind the scenes.

Il Etait Temps winning the Tattersalls Ireland Gr1 Novice Hurdle (Sky Sports).

The famous “Cheltenham Roar” Will Have A South African Flavour This Year

“The Cheltenham Roar” is one of the most spine-tingling annual moments in sport and this year it will be extra exciting for South African fans of jumps racing because the race it coincides with, the Grade 1 Supreme Novices Hurdle, will have a runner with South African connections.

The Paddy Mullins-trained Il Etait Temps will run in the colours of KZN champion owners, the Hollywood Syndicate, who race him in a lease partnership with the Kieswetter family’s Barnane Stud.

The grey is also owned by Bloodstock man Ross Doyle and longstanding Barnane Stud manager Patrick Wynn Jones.

The Cheltenham Festival, known by many as the greatest racing show on earth, consists of four days of top class action including 14 Grade 1s and a number of championship events. Every one of the 28 races at the festival has a season long build up.

The pent up excitement of myriad fans who have been anticipating the festival for months reaches its xenith as the starter calls the circling horses in for the Supreme Novices Hurdle.

The crowd start buzzing as the horses approach the imaginary line adjacent to the rostrum and as the starter drops his flag an almighty roar is released that echoes through the Cotswold Valley.

The four days of racing that nobody wants to end is underway.

And on this occasion South African fans at home, or at the course, will be following the progress of the yellow colours with purple stars.

Il Etait Temps comes off victory in the Tattersalls Ireland Gr1 Novice Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown a fortnight ago.

His regular rider is David Mullins.

Third generation bloodstock agent Ross Doyle, who met the Kieswetters on visits to the sales in South Africa, found Il Etait Temps.

He told the Sporting Post the whole story recently about the gelded son of Jukebox Jury, who is out of a mare called Une Des Source and was bred in France by Emmanuel Clayeux.

He had run twice as a 3 year old on the flat in France for Clayeux, who also trained him, finishing fifth and then second over 2200m at Vichy in May 2021.

Doyle said, “I am in regular contact with Harold Kirk, a bloodstock agent in Ireland, and he along with his close friend in France, Pierre Boulard, are the chief scouts for Champion trainer Willie Mullins. Harold mentioned Il Etait Temps to me in conversation as a horse that had caught the eye,” recalled Ross.

Doyle had his interest pricked further after watching the race replays.

“I agreed that he had something about him. He was eye-catching, very keen to get on with the job and looked tough. We liked his running style; he is a medium-sized horse and a good mover,” he added.

Ross then had a chat with Craig Kieswetter and Barnane Manager, Patrick Wynn Jones.

“We have an excellent existing relationship and I told them that I really believed that Il Etait Temps was an interesting prospect. The rest is history, with many happy chapters still to be written, hopefully!” said Ross.

The Grade 1 win of Il Etait Temps was just one of the Kieswetters’ wins in an amazing recent international run.

The Kieswetters’ Ridgemont Highlands Stud bred Make It Snappy won the recent Grade 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas and the Grade 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes, running in the colours of Hollywood who lease the Brett Crawford-trained Dynasty filly.

On Friday at Dundalk the Barnane Stud-bred Frankel filly Icykel, trained by Johnny Murtagh, won in just her second career start.

She is out of the SA-bred Western Winter mare Cold As Ice, who was trained by Joey Ramsden and won two Grade 2s in SA for the Kieswetters and the family of Brian Finch, a South African who is currently the chairman of Epsom Downs racecourse. Cold As Ice also won a race in England.

Hours before Icykel’s win Barnane had scored their maiden win in the USA when 3yo Turf King, a son of Kingman out of the Acclamation mare Sweet Acclaim, won a Maiden Special Weights contest at Gulfstream Park.

Owned by Wise Racing LLC he was ridden by Tyler Gaffalione for trainer Chad Brown.

With Cheltenham fast approaching Hollywood’s gratitude to the Kieswetters was made clear by Hollywoodbets Brand & Communications Manager Devin Heffer.

He said to the Sporting Post, “Our association with the Kieswetter family has been a turning point in our ability to compete at Grade 1 level, globally, and we are indebted to them for embracing the partnership and welcoming us into their world. We enjoyed a dual Gr1 success recently in the Cape, and then Il Etait Temp’s big Leopardstown Gr1 victory was simply awesome. It feels like a dream!” he added.

Roll on March 14, the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival!

Ex-pat South African Collen Storey’s UK winners includes one for King Charles III (Picture: Racing TV)

Collen Storey Approaching Double Figures In The U.K.

Collen Storey had his 8th win in the UK on Friday when successful on a favourite on the Lingfield All Weather track.

He was aboard the William Stone-trained Sassy Redhead, a three-year-old filly by Harry Angel.

She started at odds of 2/1 in the five horse field over six furlongs.

She was handy throughout and Collen rode her out to win by 0,75 lengths.

To date he has had 77 rides for 8 wins, 7 seconds, 4 thirds and 7 fourths.

His return for a 1 pound win put on every one of his rides is at +£107.10, although that figure was bolstered largely by the one 125/1 winner he rode.

Collen’s career has been looking up as he is associated with the powerful John and Thady Gosden yard in Newmarket.

Hopefully, he will start getting more rides.

Eye Of The Prophet and Rachel Venniker after winning the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Guineas (JC Photos).

Guineas Winners Head For Classic Day

Jack Milner (tab4Racing)

Both winners of Leg 1 of the World Sports Betting Triple Crown and Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara have been nominated to run in Leg 2, the R1.5-million World Sports Betting SA Classic and R1.25-million Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic, both Grade 1 races over 1800m at Turffontein on Saturday 4 March.

The World Sports Betting Gauteng Guineas was won by Eye Of The Prophet while the Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas went the way of Lady Of Power.

There is one change, however, of trainer as Lady Of Power is now in the care of Mike and Adam Azzie.

This came about after the sale of the Master Of My Fate filly which saw previous trainer and shareholder Joe Soma now out of the picture. “Wherever she goes and whoever is involved, she’ll make them proud,” said Soma.

“For now, I have other horses to focus on and winners to train.”

Piere Strydom, who rode her to victory in the Fillies Guineas, said he believed she would be even better over 1800m so she looks the runner they will still all have to beat.

However, of the 14 runners nominated, she has landed up with the widest draw, although over 1800m that is not too much of a disaster at Turffontein.

Also among the entries are the three who filled the next three places, Feather Boa, Reny and Emirate Gina respectively.

Paul Matchett-trained Eye Of The Prophet was as game as they come to deny Royal Victory by a short head in the Guineas but he will have it all to do in the SA Classic as there are some very strong new runners among the entries, among them Grade 3 Sea Cottage Stakes winner Billy Bowlegs and Shoemaker, while second, third and fourth placed Royal Victory, Electric Gold and Jimmy Don respectively have also been nominated.

The better news for Eye Of The Prophet is that this time he is drawn No 7 of the 18 entries while Billy Bowlegs drew at No 16.

Supplementary entries close at 9am on Monday 27 February with declarations by 11am on Tuesday 28 February.

Entries for the R1.5-million World Sports Betting SA Classic (Grade 1) over 1800m

2 ANFIELDS ROCKET (G J Maroun) 60.0

10 ARGO ALLEY (S J Gray) 60.0

13 ARIVIDICIO (M F De Kock) 60.0

16 BILLY BOWLEGS (A G Laird) 60.0

3 CAPTAINOFTHEGREEN (G van Zyl (Jnr)) 60.0

1 EAST COAST (M F De Kock) 60.0

11 ELECTRIC GOLD (S G Tarry) 60.0

7 EYE OF THE PROPHET (P F Matchett) 60.0

18 JIMMY DON (E Verdonese) 60.0

14 LAGUNA VERDE (M N Houdalakis) 60.0

6 LE MORNE (B Crawford) 60.0

15 MERIDIUS (A B Fortune) 60.0

4 MONEY HEIST (G van Zyl (Jnr)) 60.0

5 ROYAL VICTORY (N Kotzen) 60.0

8 RULE BY FORCE (J A Soma) 60.0

12 SHOEMAKER (M F De Kock) 60.0

17 STAR COIN (A G Laird) 60.0

9 TOTAL PROTECTION (A B Fortune) 60.0

Entries for the R1.25-million Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic (Grade 1) over 1800m

1 BLESS MY STARS (S G Tarry) 60.0

11 BONETE (M F De Kock) 60.0

6 EMIRATE GINA (R R Magner) 60.0

4 FEATHER BOA (S T Pettigrew) 60.0

2 GIMMEALIGHT (P F Matchett) 60.0

14 LADY OF POWER (M/A Azzie) 60.0

9 MIGHTY GODDESS (B B Ruiters) 60.0

5 NONE OTHER (M N Houdalakis) 60.0

3 ORARARI GOLD (C J Lensley) 60.0

13 POMOZELOUS (J A Soma) 60.0

10 RENY (B Crawford) 60.0

8 ROSY LEMON (F Bronkhorst) 60.0

12 SILVER HILLS (S G Tarry) 60.0

7 TABBY KAT (M/A Azzie) 60.0

Lunga Gila

Lunga Gila Is Readying His First Runner

Henk Steenkamp

Lunga Gila can finally get his training career off the ground writes Henk Steenkamp.

And where better than at Fairview in Nelson Mandela Bay to get the show on the road for the man from the Transkei.

“I will be stepping out my first runners at the Polytrack meeting next Tuesday the 28^th,” Gila confirmed.

It was expected that by now Gila would be in the thick of things for a while, not at Fairview, but at Randjesfontein.

He was ready to get started in November last year but early in December the horses of owner Mano Pandaram were placed under interim suspension.

This was a huge setback as it wasn’t an easy decision for Gila to leave his beloved Eastern Cape and relocate to Gauteng after spending many years working with top trainers in the Eastern Cape, Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.

Gila handled the situation very professionally and returned to Fairview.

He thanked the people that supported him through this difficult time in a statement today:

“To my fellow trainers, friends and supporters, I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you that stood by me and gave your unconditional support and advice during my time of turmoil in recent months.

“It was greatly appreciated and I honestly cannot thank you enough.

“Here’s to many success and winning ways to us all. Kindest regards, Lunga Gila.”

Gila had a long stint as the right hand man of former trainer Mitch Wiese at Fairview.

He then worked for the Glen Kotzen-stable, running the satellite yard in Gqeberha. Gila later ran the Kotzen satellite yard in Durban.

Since 2021 he was in charge of the satellite yard of KwaZulu-Natal trainer Kom Naidoo at Fairview before the Gauteng move that didn’t work out to no fault of his own.

Described by the trainers he worked with as “a real horseman and a good communicator”, Gila has put the Randjesfontein setback behind him and is ready to live his dream.

Anyone interest in supporting the Gila stable can contact him at the Fairview stables of Nelson Mandela Bay Racing.

Laguna Verde winning on debut as a two-year-old (Picture: JC Photos).

Ground Conditions Should Suit Laguna Verde In Egoli Mile

Lucky Houdalakis’ three-year-old secured maiden win in yielding going

David Mollett (Business Day)

Soft ground conditions may favour of Lucky Houdalakis’ three-year-old Laguna Verde in the R175,000 Egoli Mile at Turffontein on Wednesday night.

It is always dangerous to change a selection, but a look at his maiden win shows he won in yielding going so this is a big factor. Another plus for this R600,000 buy is his good draw.

The four-day delay of this meeting — originally scheduled for last Saturday — may not have suited Gareth van Zyl’s KwaZulu-Natal raider Captainofthegreen. Still, with just 52kg on his back, this R550,000 purchase can finish in the money.

Mike de Kock’s two-time winner, Arividicio, tops the betting boards and the son of Flower Alley has been placed second in both the Secretariat Stakes and Tony Ruffel Stakes. Randall Simons rides the gelding for the second time.

Ashley Fortune will be pleased Meridius has drawn in pole position and Ryan Munger has chalked up two wins and three seconds on the five times he has partnered the son of Canford Cliffs.

Silver Hills — owned and bred by Drakenstein Stud — has shown ability in her three starts. The daughter of Silvano is one of only two females in the race.

Sean Tarry trains Silver Hills and the former champion trainer is also represented by Billy Spellbound who is back on the highveld after contesting the R7.5m Gold Rush at Kenilworth.

Billy Spellbound encountered traffic problems in the Cape race so is better judged on his previous good form in Gauteng.

Johnny Dogs, well drawn in stall four, makes each-way appeal for the stable of Robyn Klaasen provided the gelding does not need the run. He has not been seen in action since October.

Some prominent names face the starter in the fifth race including Champions Challenge winner Astrix, Nebraas, Second Base and Litigation.

Though the Summer Cup was a disappointing race for the Tarry yard, Litigation turned in a fair effort finishing fifth and the son of Greys Inn is reunited with Gavin Lerena.

The 1,800m trip may be a trifle sharp for Nebraas and Rachel Venniker’s mount is held by Litigation on Summer Cup form.

At the bottom of the weights is Flashy Apache and — with the stable enjoying a good season — it would be no surprise to see Tyrone Zackey’s well-drawn runner take a hand in the finish.

With apprentice Siyanda Sosibo claiming his 2.5kg allowance, it is difficult to look beyond Mover And Shaker for the winner of the 10th race. There was plenty to like about the three-year-old’s second career win at the city track last month.

Earlier in the evening, the former Justin Snaith inmate, Stratospheric, makes his debut for Tony Peter’s stable in the second race. The chief threat to Suzette Viljoen’s three-year-old is likely to be Candice Dawson’s runner, Nazare.

SELECTIONS

1st Race: (2) Powers That Be (10) Radu (8) Convocation (1) Count Your Chances

2nd Race: (1) Stratospheric (2) Nazare (11) Storm Dominator (9) Global Impact

3rd Race: (11) Broadlands (8) American Biscuit (9) Breeze Over (2) Bronze Sword

4th Race: (1) Good Council (6) Tamarisk Tree (2) Diesel And Dust (3) Tabebuia

5th Race: (11) Flashy Apache (5) Litigation (2) Nebraas (4) Second Base

6th Race: (8) Battleground (3) Flying First Class (2) White Fang (7) Banha Bridge

7th Race: (1) Laguna Verde (11) Captainofthegreen (2) Arividicio (7) Silver Hills

8th Race: (7) Indlamu (3) Outofthedarkness (4) Forever Mine (9) Homely Girl

9th Race: (6) Lushozi Shoop (5) Celtic Rumours (7) Vitellius (2) Houston

10th Race: (1) Mover And Shaker (4) Smith And Wesson (3) Aniara (5) Tre Amici

11th Race: (1) Cool Winter (11) Power Ranger (4) Admiralty Arch (7) Written In Stone

The Billy Ruiters-trained Follow My Path (Eightfold Path) gives Ryan Munger his treble at Turffontein Inside today (JC Photos).

Munger Treble, Fortune Double At Big T

Ryan Munger rode a treble at Turffontein Inside today, two of them for the Ashley Fortune yard.

Munger has now had 69 wins this season at a strike rate of 10.87%.

Fortune has had 29 wins at a strike rate of 9.83%.

Roy Magner was trainer of the winner of SA’s first R1 million race.

Today’s Question

The Topsport Bloodline Million won by Roy Magner’s Leopard Strike (Elliodor) ridden by Stephen Jupp was the first R1 million race in the South Africa, run on March 31, 1990.

What was the second R1 million race in the country?

Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.