While Cape Town star Kommetdieding will sadly have to wait for his moment in the sun after being pulled out of the Cape Derby on Saturday, another hometown hero bolstered his fan base at Fairview on Friday.
For a ‘has been racehorse’ and a ‘wannabe Graded race trainer’, Australian-bred Atyaab and his passionate conditioner Zietsman Oosthuizen continue to carve their popularity niche.
Warren Kennedy guides a rampant Atyaab to victory (Pic -Pauline Herman)
Having his first start in the Eastern Cape, and just a matter of under four weeks after his Gr2 victory on Cape Town Met day down at Kenilworth, the 5yo Atyaab scored his sixth win from twenty career starts when he went all the way to score a facile victory in a R50 000 Pinnacle Stakes over 2000m.
Taking his earnings to just over the R1,25 million mark, Atyaab cruised in under Warren Kennedy to beat Miss Orange by 4,50 lengths. He was weighted to beat them and was generously priced at 15-10.
On a red letter day for the Zietsman Oosthuizen team, Atyaab was one of a hat-trick of winners for one of the most media friendly and colourful trainers on the local racing scene.
Proudly decked out in his now trademark light blue lounge shirt and pink tie to complement the Viljoen racing silks, a visibly shaken and emotional Ziets conceded that he had been nervous in the build-up and in the race.
“Today there was expectation. When we went to Joburg for the Summer Cup we were a has been racehorse and a wannabe Graded race trainer. There was no pressure. Attie has proven he can run. The public love him. We don’t want to disappoint them. This game needs heroes,” Ziets told the Sporting Post.
The fairytale has been told before.
Atyaab was a big yard discard, purchased by owner Suzette Viljoen for just R150 000 off a BSA sale in late 2020.
Many thought the trainer was dreaming – targetting Graded races in major centre from the humble environs of Fairview.
But Zietsman is entitled to feel slightly chuffed. We could see the gelding in three weeks and then the target is the SA Champions Season – and maybe even the Durban July. Dreaming big is the name of the game!
Atyaab was originally acquired for A$260,000 at the Inglis Easter Sale off the Arrowfield Stud draft. He is from the first crop of High Chaparral’s champion son Dundeel and is a half-brother to stakes-winner Vesper.
The two other Oosthuizen winners were Denim En Jeans and Mayfern, the latter also for Suzette Viljoen. Both started at double digit odds.
The last race almost saw an Oosthuizen four-timer when Final Assembly went down a half length to Winter Tonic.
Ziets is open for business – he only has 36 horses, but has 20 open boxes. Please contact him on [email protected] or 066 068 6652.
