Gold Onyx (NZ) Returns to South Africa's Black Type Ranks

Top South African racehorse Gold Onyx (NZ) made a successful return to stakes level on Tuesday at Scottsville winning the R125,000 Listed Sledgehammer Handicap (1800m).

Trained by Sean Tarry, Gold Onyx (Black Minnaloushe x Egoli Lass) came into the listed race after winning at Greyville over 1900 metres and proved too strong for the field of 16 runners, producing a strong gallop down the outside to claim the race by half-a-length.

Now a four-year-old, Gold Onyx was one of South Africa's best two-year-olds in 2010 winning the Group 3 Turffontein Protea Stakes on debut and taking the Group 1 Greyville Premier's Champion Stakes at just his fourth start.

Tuesday's victory was Gold Onyx's first at stakes level since his Group 1 win at two. The son of Black Minnaloushe seems to have struck form at the right time as he will be heading for the Group 2 Greyville 1900 on May 17 and then a possible tilt at the Group 1 Vodacom Durban July (2200m) on July 7.

Bred by Phil Newman and Windsor Park Stud, Gold Onyx was purchased by NZB as Agent for South African buyers from Windsor Park Stud at New Zealand Bloodstock's 2009 Karaka Premier Sale for $80,000.

Owned by Mr C J H van Niekerk, the four-year-old's record now stands at 22 starts for five wins and four placings for R705,350 (NZ$110,000) in stakes.

Gold Onyx's half-brother by High Chaparral was one of the standout lots at the 2011 Karaka Premier Sale and was purchased by Edmond Lee from Windsor Park Stud for $650,000.

South Africa spent almost $1 million at the 2012 Karaka Yearling Sales courtesy of Andrew Williams' Worldwide Bloodstock who purchased seven lots by sires including Darci Brahma, O'Reilly, More Than Ready and Street Cry.

Since 1970 New Zealand has been the source of 23 individual South African Group 1 winners who have won a total of 40 Group 1 races. New Zealand bred multiple South African Group 1 winners include Sledgehammer, Bold Monarch, Petrava, Be Noble, Fire Arch, Clifton King, Mythical Play and Hoeberg.