Gold Circle have announced the revised dates for Champions Season 2020, delayed due to the implemented lockdown which is due to lift April 30, in the interest of South African’s safety to ‘break the curve’.

Usually run the week before the Vodacom Durban July, it remains in the format – to be held on Sunday 19 July and the Vodacom Durban July scheduled for the 25 July. The KZN Yearling Sale Million remains on VDJ day, along with the Garden Province, Golden Horseshoe, Golden Slipper, the 2200, Gold Vase and Thukela Handicap.

The Gold Cup, which usually heralds the end of the racing season and an important feature for the annual statistics, has been pushed back to 29 August. A number of Gr1 features will be prominent on that day, including the Champions Cup, Mercury Sprint, Premiers Champions Stakes and the Thekweni Stakes amongst others.

The KZN Breeders Race Day, always a major feature with owners and trainers and always very well supported with a packed Durban View Room consisting of breeders, owners and trainers – and will consist of 8 races including the Million Mile itself.

As of the last log published 10 March, there are 293 horses entered for the races 3yos old and up, with 2yo entries were due to be finalised at the end of April.

Amongst the horses entered are Spiritofthegroove, Chjimes, Wave, Railtrip, 2nd placed Gr1 SA Fillies Classic Marygold, Gr1 winner Camphoratus, Miss Marmalade (closely related to the Gr1 trio of brothers, Hawwaam, Rainbow Bridge and Golden Ducat), Just Cruised In, Prince Of Kahal, Just Chaos, Nexus, Ronnie’s Candy, Silent Crusade, and Gr1 winner Mississippi Burning.

The KZN Breeders Golf Day is provisionally booked for 14 July, whilst the KZN Yearling Sale is scheduled for 23 & 24 July. Sales vouchers for #kznbreds will be up for grabs at our Golf Day and Race Day – acquisitions using the vouchers include Gr1 placed Wave.

The full KZN Champions Season feature programme for 2020:

Further to the National Press release issued by the NHA and the Racing Operators on Monday, 13 April, Gold Circle has amended the dates of its signature race days for Champions Season.

Sunday 31 May: 

IOS Drill Hall Stakes (G 2)

WSB Guineas (G 2) 

WSB Fillies Guineas (G 2)

Sunday 28 June: 

Daily News 2000 (G 1)

Woolavington 2000 (g 1)

Gold Challenge (G 1)

Saturday 4 July:

Golden Horse Sprint (G 1)

SA Fillies Sprint (g 1)

Golden Horse Medallion (G 1)

Allan Robertson Fillies Championship (G 1)

Saturday 25 July

Vodacom Durban July (G 1)

Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes (G 1)

Durban Golden Horseshoe (G 2)

Golden Slipper (G 2)

DSTV Gold Vase (G 3)

Saturday 29 August 

Gold Cup (G 3)

Champions Cup (G 1)

Mercury Sprint (G 1)

Premiers Champion Stakes (G 1)

Thekwini Stakes (G 1)

Gold Bracelet (G 2)

Umkomazi Stakes (G 2)

The Debutante (G 2)

The complete Feature Race programme for Champions Season 2020 is available on the Gold Circle website www.goldcircle.co.za