GEOFF PERKINS

The Gold Circle Owner Award for the month has been bestowed on Geoff Perkins

With a love of horses that was deep in his heart from the time he was a small boy hearing stories of horses and racing from grandfather Donald Perkins who had been deeply involved in horseracing in the former Rhodesia, there was little surprise that at the age of nine he was learning to ride.

Thereafter,when the opportunity presented itself, the next step in his relationship with his favourite species came when moving into his late teens and he applied his riding talents as a work rider for trainer Gary Rich, son of the legendary racing character Des Rich who trained the Vodacom Durban July winner Lightning Shot back in 1977.

Geoff moved overseas for eight years during which he had no involvement in racing at all but when he returned he was encouraged by a friend to take a share in a racehorse. His involvement has grown over the years to the point that he is now involved as a shareholder in a number of horses “with a couple of trainers”.

During the month Geoff had three winners, one being his Curved Ball gelding Hard To Play in which he was the majority shareholder that secured his fifth win under Stuart Randolph for trainer Wendy Whitehead at Greyville.

“It was a good month for me and I have had another couple of wins since,” he said.

Well done Geoff.