The 2023 KZN Racing Awards Dinner was held at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Friday 18 August.
Princess Calla, who won three Grade 1 races between May and July, was voted Champion Horse of the Season.
KZN Season Champion Princess Calla (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Des Gonsalves, racing manager for Mario Ferreira, was on hand to receive the magnificent trophy.
Princess Calla began her Champions Season campaign with a fluent victory in the SA Fillies Sprint over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville and followed that with an equally impressive performance when trouncing Desert Miracle in the Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes over 1600m on Hollywoodbets Durban July day.
But Princess Calla left the best for last, when taking on the boys in the Hong Kong Jockey Club Champions Cup over 1800m on 30 July.
Given a peach of a ride by Richard Fourie, the Sean Tarry-trained daughter of Flower Alley proved far too good for star three-year-old See It Again, with Princess Calla going on to score comfortably by more than a length.
See It Again, who won the Gr1 Daily News 2000, was voted Champion 3yo colt as well as Champion Middle Distance performer, while the Hollywood Syndicate’s Gr1 Mercury Sprint winner, Isivunguvungu, trained by Peter Muscutt, captured the title of Champion Sprinter.
Peter Muscutt, seen with partner Ros Vivienne-Coetzee, trained Champion Sprinter Isivunguvungu (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Herewith the full list of Awards:-
KZN Champion Two-Year-Old Filly
- Rascova
KZN Champion Two Year Male
- Outlaw King
KZN Champion Three-Year-Old Filly
- Canadian Summer
KZN Champion Three-Year-Old Male
- See It Again
KZN Champion Sprinter
- Isivunguvungu
Champion Sprinter Isivunguvungu – Hollywood Syndicate’s Devin Heffer and trainer Peter Muscutt receive the trophy from Gold Circle Director, Dr Manfred Rohwer (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
KZN Champion Middle Distance
- See It Again
KZN Champion Stayer
- Runaway Song
KZN Champion Apprentice
- Rachel Venniker
KZN Champion Jockey
- Keagan de Melo
KZN Champion Trainer
- Garth Puller
KZN Champion trainer Garth Puller with partner Wendy Heyns (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
KZN Champion Breeder
- Drakenstein Stud
KZN Champion Owner
- Drakenstein Stud (Nominee: Gaynor Rupert)
Champion Horse of the Season
- Princess Calla
Groom of the Horse of the Season
- Joe Lungile
Special Awards:-
Anita Akal Award
- Michel Nairac
KZN Racing Personality Of The Year
- Wendy Whitehead
World Pool Moment of the Day
- Daniel Cuiane (Sandringham Summit)
