Gareth van Zyl, son of former top jockey and now successful trainer Gavin, made a dream start to his career as a licensed trainer at Greyville on Friday night when sending out a winner with his first  runner. He later capped it by winning the first feature he had contested, the Listed Jonsson Workwear Michaelmas Handicap over 1900m, with the four-year-old Captain Al gelding Celtic Captain.

Both of the winners were for popular KZN owner Brian “Buffalo Bill” Burnard, who has thrown his support behind Gareth’s venture.

Celtic Captain was allowed to go off at generous odds of 10/1, considering he had finished just 2,3 lengths back in the Gr 2 Canon Guineas and was now running off just a 98 merit rating. He had always looked likely to enjoy this trip.  Furthermore, he jumped from a plum draw of three.

Stable jockey Warren Kennedy had him perfectly positioned on the rail within striking distance. The tall bay made up the ground easily and then quickened well. He held on to win by 0,5 lengths from the Candice Bass-Robinson-trained Ashton Park.

Earlier, Gareth’s licensed career had started on a high note when the three-year-old Noordhoek Flyer filly Northern Storm had finished strongly to win a qualified maiden over 1000m under Anton Marcus.

Gareth is deeply grateful to both his father and prolific owner Brian Burnard for the opportunity he has been given.

Gavin decided to consolidate his training operation last year. He suggested Gareth dedicate himself to training the powerful Burnard string. At the same time Gavin would focus exclusively on the other horses in the yard.

Brian was agreeable and he and Gareth had immediate success together. They combined to win the R2,5 million Lanzerac ready To Run Stakes with the Lithuanian gelding Budapest at Kenilworth in November last year.

Later, Burnard’s stalwart Kahal gelding No Worries reclaimed the KZN Breeders Million Mile crown which he had won two years earlier.

Gavin initially encouraged Gareth to pursue a career outside of racing. However, the lure of the sport eventually proved too strong.    “I was obsessed with racing right from the beginning,” he admitted.

As kids he and his younger brother Chesney supported their father at both the track and the races as often as possible. They also became famous for racing each other through the sugar cane fields and on the Summerveld tracks on the ex-racehorses the family kept on their small holding. The youngsters cared for these horses themselves.

After completing matric, Gareth worked in the Tony Rivalland stable for about six months. Chesney was already in the game by then. He had proven to be a gifted farrier and later became caretaker trainer of the Van Zyl satellite yard in Johannesburg, a role he still fills with aplomb. Chesney  does all the farriery work for this yard too.

Meanwhile, Gareth had left to do missionary work in Uganda. He is, like his father, a devout man of God. Upon returning, he completed the first year of a B-Comm degree, and later worked as a sales representative and insurance broker.

It was to no avail and in 2009 Gavin succumbed to his son’s wishes and appointed him Summerveld assistant trainer. Gareth said, “In this game you never stop learning. Working with my Dad was a good learning experience and in due time everything came together.”

He had also absorbed some vital principles of training during a short learning stint in 2009 with Mike Azzie, a man he still regards as a friend and mentor.

Two or three years ago Gareth was hosted in the USA for a short period by James Bond, who has trained seven individual Gr 1 winners to date. On the same trip he spent time with veterinarian and consummate horseman Dr. Pug Hart. Both visits were organised by Kip Elser of Kirkwood Stables in the USA, a regular buyer at South African sales.

Gareth plans to travels overseas again. He said, “The science of training and horse care is constantly advancing and the first world countries are the leaders. It is important to keep up to date.”

He will continue to train exclusively for Burnard, although the latter has brought one or two of his friends and relatives in to the yard as well.

Gavin and Brian’s joint buying strategy will likely continue unabated, considering the success they have enjoyed at the sales. Gavin is only too happy to see his son reap the dividends.

Gareth named No Worries and Redcarpert Captain as the kingpins of his string last week and Celtic Captain has likely now joined them.

He also has a potentially powerful team of two-year-olds, which include four Australian-bred colts as well as SA-bred progeny of the like of Captain Al, Oratorio, Pathfork and Querari.

He still has hope for a few of his three-year-olds too, including Onesie, Captain At Sea and Venice In May.

Gareth enjoys “a very good” relationship with Chesney. Consequently, No Worries will travel up to the Highveld for the Peermont Emperor’s Palace Charity Mile next week and will then stay at Chesney’s Turffontein yard until the Sansui Summer Cup.

Jessica von Niebel has been with the Van Zyls at Summerveld for six years and now becomes Gareth’s official assistant trainer. “She is the backbone of the yard,” said Gareth.

Gavin will continue to train under his own license, but will remain Gareth’s biggest mentor.

It remains to be seen how the race day publications will separate the pair as they both have the same initials, “”GH”.

Gareth reflected on the moment he attained his own license, “It was exciting but also intimidating as I don’t know what future racing holds. But when seeing my name among the other trainers I felt honoured.”

He concluded, “My number one goal is to take horses overseas to run and I hope there will soon be changes in the export protocols to allow for such a possibility.”

David Thiselton