KZN’s Putchini To Make It A Century On Sunday
Yellow Star Stud’s stalwart Bezrin gelding, Putchini, owned by Ashley De Klerk and bred by Yellow Star Stud will have his 100th start this coming Sunday at Hollywoodbets Greyville.
Foaled on the 13 October in 2011, the 8yo gelding has earned R 679,425 in stakes, with 24 places and recording 9 wins to date.
His winning range specialises between 1200-1600m. He remains in form as he placed very recently under Calvin Habib, just a half a length off the winner.
Out of an almost ironically named broodmare sire, Centenary, his dam Suki Tortri has only produced one winner at stud, being Putchini. In the damline is 11-time winner Byblos and champions Golden Loom and Majestic Light can be found under the 3rd dam.
Trained by Deon Visser initially who bred him in parthership with Yellow Star in a foal share scenario, Putchini racing in the colours of Ashley De Klerk then transferred to Chris Erasmus after Deon gave up training. With Ivan Van Wyk taking over the training reins at Yellow Star, he has taken on Putchini for the balance of his career.
“We named him Putchini after the composer Puccini but the name was taken, so we changed the spelling. He is a favourite of Koos and mine – he wrote Nessun Dorma – some of our family thought he was Porcini like the mushroom!” laughs Lorraine De Klerk.
The chestnut geldings blue and white colours have become a familiar sight at both racecourses in both Hollywoodbets Greyville and Hollywoodbets Scottsville.
Putchini will be running at 16:00 on Sunday at Hollywoodbets Greyville over 1600m, with Nathan Klink in the irons carrying 55.5kgs.
