Gavin van Zyl earned his Springbok colours along with Jeff Lloyd and Tobie van Booma and hung up his boots after 30 years in the saddle in 2007 when he started out as a trainer at Summerveld with just four horses.
Gavin and Chesney Van Zyl
On Saturday he reaches another milestone in the evolving Van Zyl equine dynasty when his 30 year old son Chesney sends out his first runners at Turffontein’s Champions Day.
South Africa now has three Van Zyl’s on the national trainer’s log!
Chesney’s older brother Gareth went on his own in October 2016 with instant success and there is some pressure on the new man’s young shoulders – few trainers start out with an unbeaten favourite in the Gr2 SA Nursery!
But it could be a fairytale start as the Bold Silvano colt Bold Eagle is unbeaten in three starts and Chesney is on record as saying that he has come on from his win in the Protea Stakes when giving weight all around.
Warren Kennedy, who was aboard first time out, takes over from the injured Anthony Delpech.
Bold Eagle wins on Classic day
Chesney also saddles Just Cruising In under a galloping weight in the Gold Bowl, with a quartet of fillies representing his new yard in the Gr2 SA Oaks.
Gavin Van Zyl told the Sporting Post that he was proud that he could give Chesney the chance – he starts out with 20 horses at James Maree’s farm.
“I am really pleased that he has the support of some new owners and they bought some nice horses at the sale recently. These are very tough times for trainers but anybody who can make it and keep going now, will be here for the long run. I wish Chesney well. He works hard, has always been passionate about horses and he interacts well with people.”
