The KZN Racing Awards takes place at the Elangeni Hotel in Durban on Friday August 26, where KZN’s finest will be honoured.
The criteria for this year’s awards have been changed slightly and the various racing categories were judged on a “Best Performance” basis by KZN-trained horses – the exception being Horse of the Season that is open to any horse that raced in KZN during the three months of South Africa’s Champions Season.
Gunner (outside) races for Paul Gadsby
Ashburton trainers were the only KZN-based trainers to have recorded Gr1 victories over Champions Season with the Paul Gadsby-trained Gunner victorious in the Gr1 Premier’s Champion Stakes and Weiho Marwing’s Mac De Lago in the Gr1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge.
Gunner is up against the two unbeaten colts Hack Green and Red Chesnut Road in the two-year-old male category while Mac De Lago is up against No Worries and Punta Arenas in the Older Male category and has three in opposition in the Best Middle Distance performance where he faces Exit Here, Olma and Same Jurisdiction.
Mac De Lago won the Gr1 Gold Challenge
The two-year-old filly’s category is dominated by another Ashburton-based trainer. Duncan Howells has all three of the nominees in his yard these being A Womens Way, Dawn Calling and Lunar Rush.
Best performance by a three-year-old male will be a hotly contested category with Exit Here, Isca, Redcarpet Captain and Ten Gun Salute the nominees.
Anthony Delpech was an easy winner of the KZN Champion Jockey Award judged on most wins in the province while Eric Ngwane will be crowned Champion Apprentice.
Anthony Delpech – KZN Champion jockey
Champion Trainer, also judged on most wins in KZN, goes to Dennis Drier who finished on 80 winners, seven ahead of nearest rival Duncan Howells.
A new category is Ride of the Season that will be judged and voted for by the racing public. Watch Tellytrack DSTV 239 for more information on voting for your favourite.
Six races have been singled out, those being:
Anthony Delpech – Black Arthur – Canon Guineas
S’manga Khumalo – Enaad – Gold Vase
Anton Marcus – Rabada – Daily News
Anton Marcus – Zante – Queens Palm Stakes
Weichong Marwing – Exit Here – Cup Trial
Piere Strydom – The Conglomerate – Vodacom Durban July
The KZN Racing Awards nominees are:
Best Performance by a 2YO Filly
A Womens Way / Dawn Calling / Lunar Rush
Best Performance by a 2YO Colt/Gelding
Gunner / Hack Green / Red Chesnut Road
Best Performance by a 3YO Filly
Cosmic Light / Free State / Lala
Best Performance by a 3YO Colt/Gelding
Exit Here / Isca / Redcarpet Captain / Ten Gun Salute
Best Performance by an Older Filly/Mare
Olma / Same Jurisdiction
Best Performance by an Older Male
Mac De Lago / No Worries / Punta Arenas
Best Performance by a Sprinter (1000 to 1400)
Budapest / Red Chesnut Road / Triptique
Best Performance by a Middle Distance (1600 to 2200)
Exit Here / Mac De Lago / Olma / Same Jurisdiction
Best Performance by a Stayer (2400+)
Enaad / No Worries
