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:

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.

Capetown Noir is off to a flying start at stud and he had a double on Sunday at Hollywoodbets Scottsville.

The handsome multiple Gr1 winner, trained by Dean Kannemeyer, throws a very specific type of Thoroughbred that is easy to pick in the parade ring, and he throws them oozing quality and good looks. These were his 4th winners for the early season and 10 places to date from limited numbers to race.

In his first season he had 28 runners, with 8 wins and 48 places – that included the very smart and talented Piemonte Stud bred Brandina – twice Stakes Placed, at both Fairview and Kenilworth.

Straight Up, owned by Jimmy Sarkis and bred by Summerhill Stud won third time out for trainer Duncan Howells, after placing previously and relished the 1600m distance.

Soiree, a half-sister to a winner last week (Mystic Dreamer) who set a new track record (both bred by Clifton Stud) was equally impressive, the 3yo coming out to win on race debut for trainer Corinne Bestel and jockey Gareth Wright.

Capetown Noir is represented by 9 horses at the upcoming Emperors Palace Ready To Run Sale on 3 November at the TBA Complex.

His fee is available on application.