Author Archives: Yegan Kander

Jockey of the Month – August 2023

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Muzi Yeni

Based in Gauteng, Muzi Yeni is making a concerted effort to land the National Jockey Championship, having come close on a number of occasion in the past. He has got the current season off to a cracking start, and has been well supported by KZN trainers. He finished the month with 15 winners in KZN, seven more than local weighing room rivals Serino Moodley and Sean Veale. Being a natural light weight helps his cause and he has adopted the maxim of ‘have saddle will travel’ in his quest for the championship.

Muzi is Gold Circle’s Jockey of the Month for August

Jockey of the Month – July 2023

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Richard Fourie 

The Gold Circle Jockey of the month award is generally reserved for a KZN-based rider but South Africa’s Champions Season attracts the full spectrum of the country’s riders for three months of brilliant racing and it would be remiss not to honour Richard Fourie as jockey of the month. The country’s leading rider and KZN-based Keagan de Melo, hit a figurative ‘roadblock’ in the last month of the season which yielded eight winners while Richard, charging in pursuit of the Jockey’s Championship, rode 15 winners that included a host of Gr1 features, thanks mainly to Sean Tarry but falling 19 short of Keagan’s national total of 277.

Richard Fourie is Gold Circle’s Jockey of the Month of July.

Trainer of the Month – July 2023

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Sean Tarry

The Gold Circle Trainer of the month award is generally reserved for resident KZN trainers but South Africa’s Champions Season attracts the full spectrum of the country’s trainers for three months of brilliant racing and it would be remiss not to honour Sean Tarry as trainer of the month. The Randjesfontein-based Tarry had a phenomenal Champions Season and a strong late run on World Pools Gold Cup day pushed him to within a feature race of overtaking Justin Snaith in the National Trainer’s Championship. Outside of the features, Sean won ten races in KZN in July, two more than Gareth van Zyl and a R1 win on each of Sean’s runners will have yielded a tidy profit of R21.50.

Sean Tarry is Gold Circle’s Trainer of the Month of July.

Trainer of the Month – May 2023

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Peter Muscutt

After hitting something of a ‘flat spot’ a couple of months back, Peter Muscutt has got his stable back on track and firing on all cylinders. May was a month to remember as he saddled 11 winners, three more than KZN Champion trainer Gareth van Zyl, at an impressive 35 percent winning strike rate.

Peter is Gold Circle’s Trainer of the Month for May.

Jockey of the Month – May 2023

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Athandiwe Mgudlwa 

Athandiwe Mgudlwa has always been a talented rider but with limited opportunities. That has all changed since he has teamed up with Gareth van Zyl and his fortunes have turned for the better. Success brings success and ‘Tandy’ as Garth Puller calls him, has become increasing in demand by other trainers. He visited the winner’s enclosure eight times in May, equal to S’Manga Khumalo.

Athandiwe is Gold Circle’s Jockey of the Month for May

Trainer of the Month – April 2023

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Stuart Ferrie

Stuart Ferrie may have ‘inherited’ a well-oiled operation from his former boss Dennis Drier but as an assistant for the majority of his career the increased responsibility and pressures of running a yard in its entirety is a new challenge. Stuart got off to a flying start in his first month, saddling three winners from his 13 runners and a R1 bet on each of his runners will have yielded a profit of R33.40.

Stuart Ferrie is Gold Circle’s Trainer of the Month for April.

Jockey of the Month – April 2023

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Ashton Arries

It has taken Ashton Arries time to mature from sheltered apprentice to fully fledged jockey but the talented rider appears to have settled down and it shows in his recent results. His achievements have not gone unnoticed and apart from getting regular support from leading trainer Glen Kotzen, both in KZN and the Western Cape, he is getting regular calls from local trainers. Rachel Venniker led the April winners table with seven from her 50 rides while Ashton rode six winners from 29 rides in KZN at an impressive strike rate of 20% and a R1 bet on each of his mounts will have yielded a tidy profit of R53.70.

Ashton is Gold Circle’s Jockey of the Month for April.