The first of four legs in the inaugural KZN Breeders “Level The Playing Fields” Series saw 21 horses line up at Scottsville on Sunday over two pools. The Yellow Star-bred Putchini took the first pool of the day for owner Ashley De Klerk together with a boosted stake of R100 000.

Ashley De Klerk and Putchini (Candiese Marnewick)

The innovative competition saw jockeys drawn out of a hat for the rides in each of the pools and accumulating points according to their finishing order. Billy Jacobson drew Putchini and did well to steer the chestnut Bezrin gelding home over 1200m by a nose from Bankable gelding, Reactive. Cipher (Overlord) and Poivre (Silvano) placed third and fourth respectively.

The second pool of the day saw Glen Kotzen’s Mogok filly Royal Agree, bred by Scott Bros, scoring a convincing win under Athandiwe Mgudlwa. Owned by Mr PG De Beyer, the filly out of Royal Promise by Royal Academy secured her second career win under the care of Lunga Gila, who is managing the Kotzen yard in KZN. Royal Agree finished a length clear of multiple winners Brave And Bold and Fire The Rocket over the 1200m-turf trip.

The “Level The Playing Fields” Series takes place on turf with trainers only able to enter one horse for all four legs. The jockey for each race is drawn out of a hat. The horse must have the ability to win from 1200m – 1600m in distance.

The final round, for a stake of R200 000, will run on the Greyville turf over 1400m on 25 June, with the winning jockey, owner, breeder and trainer each taking home R50 000.

The second leg of the series takes place on 30 April over 1400m at Scottsville. Keep an eye out for the log updates of horses and jockeys participating in this exciting new series.

By Candiese Marnewick for KZN Breeders