The 2026 KZN Racing Awards ceremony was staged last week. Here are the winners in each category, with their best speed figures:
CHAMPION TWO-YEAR-OLD FILLY
PALACE OF ARVERNIA s/s 88 ++
CHAMPION TWO-YEAR-OLD MALE
ERIK DUBOIS s/s 100
CHAMPION THREE-YEAR-OLD
QUICKSTEPGAL s/s 108
CHAMPION SPRINTER
ASIYE PHAMBILI s/s 108
CHAMPION MIDDLE DISTANCE
MOCHA BLEND s/s 105
CHAMPION OLDER FEMALE
ASIYE PHAMBILI s/s 108
CHAMPION OLDER MALE
HOLDING THUMBS s/s 101
CHAMPION STAYER
HOLDING THUMBS s/s 101
CHAMPION APPRENTICE
DAMYAN PILLAY
CHAMPION JOCKEY
KEAGAN DE MELO
CHAMPION TRAINER
GARETH VAN ZYL
CHAMPION OWNERS
HOLLYWOOD RACING
CHAMPION BREEDERS
VARSFONTEIN STUD
GROOM OF THE YEAR
MOSES TLALI
HORSE OF THE SEASON
QUICKSTEPGAL s/s 108.
These annual awards, be it by province or nationally (Equus) provide context and appropriate recognition for the stars of the show.
Over the years some noteworthy speed figure trends have emerged amongst the best thoroughbreds in South Africa.
Top juveniles typically get ratings in the mid 90’s. To be a genuine Classic contender 3YO’s need scores around 100. Older horses, with G1 achievements in their C.V.’s usually exceed 108. Elite horses, in a South African context, get numbers between 112 and 115 in their prime. International champions generally rate higher than 120 +.
South African racing is mainly orientated over the range of 1600m and middle-distances. Stayers are not really catered for to the same extent in the race program.
Of course, speed figures only measure what has already happened on the racetrack and, for punters, some imagination is required to project what might be achieved in the future. Horses’ performances can improve or regress depending on their physical development and the changing circumstances under which they are competing.
Every horse is different so anticipating progress as they mature is not a linear, formulaic process.
Horses may improve by a point a month as they get physically stronger between, during their three- and four-year-old careers but that “rule” can vary. Quite often a career peak will be 12 points higher than the previous best score recorded when younger, but again that is not cast in stone, just “normal parameters” based on historic data.
The attrition rate amongst thoroughbreds is alarmingly high. Often, it seems the fast ones are more prone to injury than the slow pokes. Racehorses are mighty strong, yet fickle creatures and many fall by the wayside due to unsoundness.
Whilst natural brilliance in a race or two is lauded at award ceremonies, the “unrecognised” virtues of durability, gameness and consistency may have greater utility to owners who repeatedly earn stakes and derive enjoyment over a longer period from these steady performers.
That said, all owners dream of lucking into a freaky-special, Champion. Out of the whole foal crop only a tiny percent gets to even compete in Stakes or Graded races. So, stepping up to the podium to receive a trophy in any of the age/gender/distance categories is a rare and laudable achievement.