Quid Pro Quo was the Belle of the Ball at the 2024 KZN Racing Awards celebration dinner held at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Friday 30 August, emerging as Champion Horse Of The Season following her historic victories in the Allan Robertson Fillies Championship over 1200m, the Golden Slipper over 1400m and the Douglas Whyte Stakes over 1600m – the first juvenile filly in history to take out all three legs of the ‘unofficial’ Triple Crown.
Owned and Bred by Gerald Kalil, the daughter of Lance reigned supreme throughout Champions Season winning her last five starts on the bounce, and the fact that she has won over a range of distances suggests Quid Pro Quo could be far more than just a precocious two-year-old.
Gerald and Karen Kalil (3rd & 4th left) rare proudly flanked by the Quid Pro Quo support team (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Trainer Barend Botes and regular pilot S’Manga Khumalo joined Gerald Kalil on stage as Quid Pro Quo became the first ever juvenile to receive this prestigious accolade.
Richard Fourie heroically made the journey from Gqeberha to Durban after riding a full card at Fairview and was personally on hand to receive the Trophy as Champion Jockey in KwaZulu Natal.
Fourie rode 126 winners in the Province at a winning strike rate of 24,5%, a significant contribution to his new National record of 378 winners in a single year.
Sandy & Eugene Arundel are joined by Kuyan & Glen Kotzen for Rascova’s well-deserved award (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Gareth Van Zyl secured the KZN Champion Trainer title by a short-head from Alyson Wright, the pair finishing the season on 54 and 53 wins respectively, while the Hollywood Syndicate were dominant winners of the KZN Champion Owners title.
Rachel Venniker was honoured as KZN Racing’s Personality of the Year and Kumaran Naidoo received Anita Akal’s special award in recognition of his dedication, passion and never-say-die approach, even under the toughest of personal circumstances.
Sporting Post-sponsored Champion Apprentice Kobeli James Lihaba on stage with Graeme Hawkins (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
KZN AWARD WINNERS:
- Champion Two Year Old Filly – Quid Pro Quo
- Champion Two Year Old Colt – Cats Pajamas
- Champion Three Year Old Filly – Rascova
- Champion Three Year Old Colt – Green With Envy
- Champion Sprinter – King Of The Gauls
- Champion Middle Distance Filly – Saartjie
- Champion Middle Distance Horse – Royal Victory
- Champion Stayer – Master Redoute
- Champion Breeders – Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein
- Champion Apprentice – Kobeli James Lihaba
- Champion Trainer – Gareth Van Zyl
- Champion Owner – Hollywood Syndicate (Nominee: Anthony Delpech)
- Champion Jockey – Richard Fourie
- Anita Akal Special Award – Kumaran Naidoo
- KZN Racing Personality of the Year – Rachel Venniker
- Champion Horse Of The Season – Quid Pro Quo
- Groom Of The Horse Of The Season – Asithandile Mgadeni
