DENNIS BOSCH

In his younger days Dennis was one of the leading jockeys in South Africa, a powerful rider whose career in the saddle saw him win many top races. Weight problems eventually saw him turn his talents to training and this popular man has been very successful with a small string.

This was reflected during the month where he saddled five winners with his runners also securing nine placings from just 29 runners, an overall strike rate of just on 50%.

It was an excellent performance and worthy of the monthly award.

Well done Dennis.

DENNIS DRIER & DEAN KANNEMEYER

Making a decision this month was extremely difficult as there was a very strong case for the award going to Dennis Drier who captured three Grade 1 races among his eight winners in the month. It was an achievement that richly deserved it.

However, there is no greater achievement in South African racing than winning the Vodacom Durban July and Dean’s planning and preparation of Power King for the race and his subsequent victory as the pinnacle of his very successful season gave him a fractional edge in the decision.

Well done to Dean and Dennis

JOHAN JANSE VAN VUUREN

Entering the lion’s den of Champions Season in KwaZulu-Natal with the country’s top stables and horses in the province in their numbers is not easy and winning chances are few and far between.

But Johan had an excellent run with five wins and seven placings from just 16 runners, an outstanding win rate of 31% and a win-place rate of 75%.

Top stables of Mike de Kock and Duncan Howells with 39 and 72 runners respectively during the month, each managed only one winner more than Johan which added to the impressiveness of his success.

Well done Johan.

SEAN TARRY

It was a very difficult call this month with a number of trainers having multiple successes. Dean Kannemeyer had another good month with eight winners and Dennis Drier had a great day at Scottsville winning two of the four Grade 1 races, the Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion and the Tsogo Sun Sprint.

But in the end, having saddled six winners including the Grade 1 Daily News 2000 and the Grade 1 City Of Pietermaritzburg Fillies Sprint, Sean got the narrow selection for trainer of the month.

Well done Sean.

DEAN KANNEMEYER

A popular Cape trainer that has supported Champions Season for many years, Dean had his first experience of training at Summerveld instead of his customary and preferred Clairwood centre which has closed. He has adopted perfectly to the different altitude and facilities and has had a great start to his season.

During the month, from just 15 runners, he managed to send out five winners with seven of his other runners finishing in the placings – four of them finding the second place box. This was an outstanding performance and worthy of the award.  He wins this award for the second month in a row.

Well done Dean.

DEAN KANNEMEYER

Dean has been a regular visitor to the province for many years, operating out of Clairwood and making an important contribution to the success of the winter season. This year he has brought his team up from the Cape early to familiarise himself with the different conditions at Summerveld.

His foresight has been well rewarded as his runners have done exceptionally well and from just seven runners he has enjoyed five wins.

One of the most professional stables to visit during the season, local racegoers can look forward to more winners from this popular Cape trainer.

Well done Dean.

ALISTAIR GORDON
Alistair Gordon is Gold Circle’s Trainer of the Month for February.

Alistair had a winning strike rate of 25% with five of his 20 runners winning.  More remarkable is that if punters had placed a R1 win bet on all his runners they would be in profit for the month.  His winners were Assegai, Racing For Fun, Syringa, Sugarbuzz and Donna Amata.

Well done Alistair

MIKE MILLER

Mike has been a trainer for many years and has produced many winners from a relatively small string. But during January the yard was in top form with 50% of his 26 runners finishing in the first four of which six made the winner’s enclosure.

His was the second highest winning percentage for the month and those that followed him with a R1 win bet on all his runners would have ended the month with a R4.10 profit.

Well done Mike.

DUNCAN HOWELLS

It has been a good year for the Ashburton trainer who is the reigning champion trainer of KwaZulu-Natal. He has been blessed with some top horses in his career but his stable generally has consistently performed at a competitive level.

During the month he saddled 54 runners with nine finding the winner’s enclosure and a further 15 finishing in the placings with a win-place strike rate at 45%.

An excellent performance from a professional operation and worthy of the award.

Well done Duncan & your entire stable.

DUNCAN HOWELLS

It has been a good year for the Ashburton trainer who is the reigning champion trainer of KwaZulu-Natal. He has been blessed with some top horses in his career but his stable generally has consistently performed at a competitive level.

During the month he saddled 54 runners with nine finding the winner’s enclosure and a further 15 finishing in the placings with a win-place strike rate at 45%.

An excellent performance from a professional operation and worthy of the award.

Well done Duncan & your entire stable.