NIC JONSSON

The Gold Circle Owner Award for the month has been bestowed on Nic Jonsson

For owners around the country, having a runner in the Vodacom Duran July, Africa’s greatest race, is an honour in itself and for that runner to win the famous event is something they dream of.

But to win the world-famous race twice in consecutive years with the same horse is extra special and this year that honour belonged to Nic Jonsson as his Twice Over gelding Do It Again – once again perfectly presented by trainer Justin Snaith – lifted the coveted trophy for the second year in a row, an honour only achieved three times before in the 121-year history of the race.

And fitting it is that a great grandson of Frederick Jonsson, one of the 15 founding stewards of the Durban Turf Club who established the famous Jonsson racing dynasty, should achieve the honour.

Nic is a leading supporter of racing in South Africa with about 50 horses in training with stables in KwaZulu-Natal, the Western Cape and Port Elizabeth and the Equus awards for Champion Older Male, Champion Miler, Champion Middle Distance Horse and Horse Of The Year bestowed on Do It Again recently were wonderful and well-deserved rewards for a man who says of his racing involvement – “I love it.”

Congratulations and well done Nic.