Author Archives: Lungile

Jockey Alec Forbes

Jockey of the Month – November 2014

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ALEC FORBES

Not a man to seek the limelight but a dedicated and hard-working horseman, Alec is one of the “quiet men” of racing and goes about his business without flourish and fanfare but giving all the horses he rides the best chance he can.

Those talents have been recognised by a number of trainers that have used them regularly and in the month under review Alec had 46 rides from which he scored eight wins and a further 17 places which was second only to Anthony Delpech who had a very good month with 11 winners and 22 placings from 48 rides.

Well done Alec.

JOCKEY DONOVAN DILLON

Jockey of the Month – October 2014

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DONOVAN DILLON

The Gold Circle Jockey Award for the month of October has been bestowed on Donovan Dillon

With smaller fields the order of the day on the polytrack, the availability of rides for the younger jockeys is limited but apprentice Donovan Dillon has been in demand and during the month secured 66 rides from which he scored eight wins and finished in the placings 21 times.

Donovan has shown himself to be a very competent and talented young rider and his dedication to his profession is worthy of this month’s award.

Well done Donovan.

TRAINER KOM NAIDOO

Trainer of the Month – October 2014

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KOM NAIDOO

The Gold Circle Trainer Award for the month of October has been bestowed on  Kom Naidoo

Trainer Kom Naidoo, like most of his colleagues, has had his difficult periods but his stable has been in top form recently and during the month his horses topped the local winner’s table with eight finding the winner’s enclosure and further five running into the placings.

The stable has done its patrons proud and punters that followed his horses would have ended the month on a profit.

Well done Kom.

DOUGLAS CAMPBELL

Owner of the Month – October 2014

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DOUGLAS CAMPBELL

The Gold Circle Owner Award for the month of October has been bestowed on Douglas Campbell

A true horseman with a history going back to amateur racing in the early 60’s, Doug has been a licensed trainer since 1978 operating out of his excellent private training centre in the Richmond area of the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands which includes a horse swimming pool for horses with leg problems.

Strongly supported and assisted by wife Di, Doug is one of the few breeders, owners and trainers in the country with a background which includes qualifications in physical training which he taught at schools before embarking on a racehorse training career when taking out his colours in 1970.

One of the more popular trainers in the country, Doug has 55 horses in his care and has shares in many of them. During the month he had six winners as an owner of which he bred four including the six-time winner Kingston Boy that Doug will take to the Highveld to contest the Merchants at Turffontein in the near future.

On the breeding side he has 16 mares on his farm but is planning to cut his breeding operation down to about six to relieve some of the pressure.

Following a lean period of about two months, Doug’s racing stable has bounced back and after his outstanding six winners in October, he scored another two at Greyville last Friday to get November off to a flying start.

Well done Doug

Jockey of the Month – March 2014

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STUART RANDOLPH

As expected, as the Mike de Kock stable rider, Anthony Delpech had another good month with 10 winners and Anton Marcus made the most of his 22 rides to bag six. However, steady performances by Stuart Randolph brought him seven winners was deemed worthy of acknowledgement.

Hard-working and reliable and giving his mounts every chance, Stuart managed to get another 18 of his rides into the placings giving him the highest win-place rider percentage of 56.82% for the month.

Well done Stuart.

Jockey of the Month – February 2014

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KEVIN SHEA

There has never been any doubt that Kevin has been one of the country’s finest riders and his success in races overseas is evidence of his ability to compete and beat some of the best in the world.

“Shezi”, as he is affectionately called, has always been one of the characters in racing but when he throws his leg over a thoroughbred it all becomes very serious and professional and in tight finishes, one of the toughest around.

After years of overseas campaigns with Mike de Kock he has settled back in South Africa and is riding winners on a regular basis.

During the month he rode seven winners and steered another 11 of his mounts into the placings from 28 rides giving him a 25% win strike rate with 64% of his rides finishing in the first four – an excellent performance.

Well done Kevin.

Jockey of the Month – January 2014

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KEAGAN DE MELO

As expected, Anton Marcus continued to notch up the winners and he scored another 10 during the month keeping his followers in the money.

But a young man who is making the most of every ride he is given is Keagan and from his 54 rides in the month he managed nine wins and 16 places and punters that followed him with a R1 win bet on each of his mounts would have ended the month with a profit of R8.50.

It was an outstanding achievement.

Well done Keagan.

Trainer of the Month – March 2014

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DUNCAN HOWELLS

During the month three stables dominated racing in the province and all three deserve recognition for their performances.

The stables of Charles Laird, Duncan Howells and Mike de Kock each managed to saddle nine winners during the month but on an overall performance, it was Duncan’s yard that really produced the goods.

In addition to his nine winners another 22 of his runners finished in the placings and punters that followed his runners with a R1 investment would have made a healthy R14.90 profit.

Duncan’s yard does not have the fire power enjoyed by the other two stables which makes his achievement even more special.

Well done Duncan.

Trainer of the Month – January 2014

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CHARLES LAIRD

As one of South Africa’s senior and more successful trainers, Charles has weathered the storms of many ups and downs in his career and remains one of the most respected members of the profession.

In recent times he has not enjoyed the best of health but continues to lead a strong team that turns its runners out in top condition. During the month the stable topped the winner’s list with eight successes and a further eight places with one in every three of its runners making it into the winner’s enclosure.

Well done Charles.

Owner of the Month – March 2014

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MAINE CHANCE FARMS

One of the country’s leading bloodstock breeders, the stud also races a large number of horses with trainers throughout the country and enjoys regular success. During the month their super fillies Pine Princess and La Cenerentola, trained in the Mike de Kock stable, did the stud proud and their winning exploits were worthy of the award.

Pine Princess looks something special having won on debut and then made short work of the opposition in the King’s Pact Stakes while La Cenerentola recorded her third straight victory.

Justin Vermaak, Racing Manager for Maine Chance Farms for the past 13 months, revealed that the stud had 60 horses in training and that Pine Princess would be aimed at the two top juvenile races, the Golden Slipper on Vodacom Durban July Day and the Thekwini Stakes on Gold Cup Day.

He said they would also bring their top Gauteng-based campaigner Tellina down to Durban for the Vodacom Durban July – depending on his rating – or the Champions Cup.

Well done Maine Chance Farms.