Zeyn Kirsten’s passion for horseracing was behind the purchase of Sandringham Summit, who is the first horse ever owned by Rakesh Singh (Candiese Lenferna Photography).
Zeyn Kirsten is yet another horseracing fanatic from Durban and his passion for the game has seen his business partner Rakesh Singh making a fairytale entrance into ownership.
The first horse Rakesh has ever owned is none other than the Gr 1 World Pool Moment Of The Day winner, Sandringham Summit, who must now be the hotpot favourite to be named Equus Two-year-old male champion.
Zeyn revealed after the big win on Saturday, “I’ve been in this game for quite some time. It’s my passion. I’ve owned a lot of horses. I am from KZN. I ended up with David Nieuwenhuizen, he’s a masterful trainer. Rakesh is my business partner. He would accompany me to almost every racemeeting and eventually I got him to purchase a horse with me, Sandringham Summit. He was quite pricey (R1.7 million), but we lifted our hands up, we got him and because it was Rakesh’s first horse he is in his name and his colours. Rakesh actually picked him out as an individual without even looking at the breeding. I then had a look at the breeding … Varsfontein, Gimmethegreenlight, Eden Roc (Var half-brother to Sandringham Summit and now a Sire) … and then we knew that’s the one for us!”
As a little boy Zeyn accompanied his grandfather – an avid racing fan – to the off-course tote. Thus, his interest in the sport was born, an interest that grew over the years to become a dream of being a racehorse owner, a passion he now enjoys with his family.
Zeyn became an owner at the age of 29 and had horses with Dennis Bosch.
He relocated to Johannesburg about 15 years ago and Louis Goosen became his trainer. He took a break for a while when the latter relocated to KZN, but later sent him some more horses.
However, his horses are now back on the Highveld and Nieuwenhuizen is his trainer.
Sandringham Summit is worth a lot more than R1.7 million after just five career runs, not just for what he has won but for the manner in which he has done it.
In his penultimate start he won the same race his half-brother Eden Roc had won, the Gr 2 Durban Golden Horseshoe, coming from last over the tight Hollywoodbets Greyville 1400m with a finish that took everybody’s breath away.
On Saturday, he stamped his authority in no uncertain terms.
Jockey Calvin Habib said after the race, “It worked out really well for us. He broke well, I landed getting over from the draw and he was in such a relaxed mode. As we came into the straight I got a clear run and I was smiling at the 200 cos I knew he’s still got a kick in him. He put the race to bed very quickly. Thank you so much to Mr Nieuwenhuizen and his wonderful owners for entrusting me with this horse, I am honoured to be a part of this horse.”
The good looking bay Gimmethegreenlight colt won easing up by 2,40 lengths.
Calvin added, “He is definitely proving to be one of the best I have ridden. I’ve been very lucky to ride a lot of two-year-olds who have won me Gr 1s, but he’s definitely up there because he’s proved himself the right horse twice. I’m very lucky and just enjoying the moment, but it is an honour to be a part of him.”
David Nieuwenhuizen said both before and after the race Sandringham Summit would be better as a three-year-old, so this horse has an exciting future.
