He may be a 100-to-one outsider but proven Group One performer Gold Onyx will fly the flag for the New Zealand breeding industry in South Africa's most celebrated race this weekend.
Black Minnaloushe 7-year-old Gold Onyx, bred by Cambridge's Windsor Park Stud and Phil Newman, will have his 50th start in the Group 1 Vodacom Durban July Cup (2200m) at Greyville Racecourse tomorrow.
A winner of the Group 1 Premier's Champion Stakes at Greyville at 2, Gold Onyx comes off indifferent leadup form but South Africa's leading trainer Sean Tarry is refusing to write off the winner of seven races.
"Gold Onyx's last run was disappointing. Obviously he over-raced and was too handy carrying 60kg," Tarry said of the Kiwi-bred's last-start fifth in the Group 3 Cup Trial behind race rival Punta Arenas.
"He emptied out quicker than I would have hoped, but he rode him completely differently to how he is normally ridden."