DENNIS BOSCH

Once one of the most talented jockeys in South Africa, Dennis’ riding career was plagued with weight problems which eventually led to his retirement from the saddle. With racing and the love of the thoroughbred running so strongly through his veins, he turned his hand and his immense talent to training.

Operating a relatively small stable, Dennis has had many achievements in the sport and during the past month, from just 24 runners, he saddled five winners and six other runners that finished in the placings – a winning strike rate of 20.83%.

A trainer who his patrons say is a wonderful person to race with, Dennis is very popular among his fellow conditioners and his success during the month was a tribute to his dedication and hard work.

Well done Dennis.

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.

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.

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.

PAUL GADSBY

It was a month where the spoils were spread across the spectrum of training yards with the leading stables continuing to perform while the smaller stables pitched in and made their presence felt on the winner’s board.

Charles Laird, Gavin van Zyl, Dennis Drier and Duncan Howells continued to send out winners while the stables of Robbie Hill and Paul Gadsby threw their hats into the ring along with Frank Robinson and Dennis Bosch.

It was a difficult call to select a trainer of the month but Paul was chosen for having the highest winning percentage of 36.36% and for his general presentation of his horses and himself on course.

Well done Paul.

FRANK ROBINSON

Vastly experienced through his association with Herman Brown and legendary trainer Herman Brown senior, Frank has developed his yard as a highly efficient operation and his talent and dedication is paying off.

During the month Frank saddled six winners from just 18 runners with another five of his horses finishing in the money. His winning strike rate of 33.33% for the month was exceptional and worthy of the monthly award.

Well done Frank.

JUSTIN SNAITH

Racing during the month was extremely competitive and trainer Duncan Howells has to be commended on leading the winner table for the month with seven successes.

However, the ultimate and most sought after achievement in racing is success in the Vodacom Durban July and, although realising that on an objection, the records show Justin trained the winner of the 2014 running of the great race.

Justin had brought his charge through a tough campaign winning the Gr1 Investec Cape Derby, the Gr2 KRA Guineas and the Gr1 Daily News 2000 on his way to the first Saturday in July which adds to his outstanding accomplishment.

Well done Justin.

DEAN KANNEMEYER

Ever the true professional and operating a long way from his home base in Cape Town, Dean has brought a competitive team of horses to Durban for the season and has enjoyed tremendous success so far with the smaller string than usual.

The stable sent out nine runners during the month and won with five – a win strike rate of 55.56% – including the Silvano gelding Hot Ticket that ran out an easy winner of the Grade 2 Betting World Stakes at Clairwood. The gelding just failed to win the race a year ago when it was run as the Betting World Derby.

Always welcome in Durban, his success was one of the highest winning percentages achieved in Durban.

Well done Dean.

JUSTIN SNAITH

A confident young trainer with heaps of talent is Justin and that talent was rewarded during the month with success in the three Classic races run at Greyville this season – the Grade 2 KRA Guineas, the Grade 1 Daily News 2000 and the Grade 1 Woolavington 2000.

Legislate, winner of the first two classics mentioned above and the filly In The Fast Lane were impeccably presented for these races, which is a trademark of this stable’s runners and the three races consolidated his position at the top of the country’s trainer log.

Justin won 25% of the races he contested during the month and looks certain to add more winners to his tally before the national season closes.

Well done Justin!

MIKE DE KOCK

By its standards, the Mike de Kock stable has not quite performed to the level punters have come to expect even though the stable record for the season has still been very high. But during the month under review the De Kock “magic” has begun to emerge again and one can expect another great performance during Champions Season.

With his international commitments, which have resulted in world-class performances, Mike has spent much time out of the country. But his local teams have done him proud and in KwaZulu-Natal they topped the boards with nine wins and 10 places from 29 runners giving them a 65.52% Win/Place return.

Racing salutes Mike de Kock on flying the South African flag so high and congratulates him for his stable’s success during the past month.

Well done Mike