Summerveld trainer Gavin van Zyl is the only raiding trainer in either of the two classics at Turffontein this Saturday.

He travels his promising Duke Of Marmalade filly Dancing Feather up on Friday to compete in the Grade 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic. 

He said, “She is doing well, I am happy with her, she is in a good space. If she reproduces either her 1600m maiden win or her following win over 1750m she will be competitive and that is why I am sending her, I think she has a shout. She is a good horse and we have to give her this chance. She was going further and further away and used all of the straight atGreyville and Scottsville in both of those wins so she should enjoy the Turffontein Standside course. She is not big but stands over a bit of ground and although slightly long in the back is nicely made and has a good action. Keagan de Melo has been very happy with her work and is upbeat about her.”

Meanwhile, Van Zyl’s Grade 1-winning Equus two-year-old champion from last season Gabor is set to make her comeback ahead of her SA Champions Season campaign. She had a problem with her knee which was “not serious” but required time off.

He is bullish too about the future of two three-year-olds in the yard, Trippi gelding Guru’s Pride, who has won three in succession, and Silvano filly Voice Of Reason, who won her maiden third time out over 1600m at Kenilworth. Both of their formlines are looking good and they could be possible SA Champions Season campaigners. 

Older stalwart Blackball continues to do his owners proud.

The yard is looking particularly strong in the two-year-old division. 

Van Zyl is already eyeing the Grade 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion and other features with Greenlighttoheaven, who cruised to victory in a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1000m at Scottsville on debut.

Waiting in the wings is the like of R800,000 purchase Secret Is Ours, a Dynasty full-brother to Bela-Bela, who did well in a Barrier Trial recently.

Van Zyl has another superbly bred Dynasty colt called Gotitall, who is out of a USA-bred mare whose dam is a half-sister to a very successful USA-bred sire called Jump Start. Gotitall was scratched from a recent barrier trial as he needs a bit more time

Van Zyl said a full-brother to Rocketball, and therefore a half-brother to Blackball, should be looked out for in a forthcoming barrier trial.

There are others too by the like of Silvano and Global View to keep an eye out for.

By David Thiselton