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Reigning Mauritius Champion and former multiple South African Grade 1-winning trainer, Dominic Zaki will be open for business at Summerveld in a matter of weeks.
Dominic Zaki became Mauritius champion trainer in 2024, almost ten years after calling it a day on a top-class career of over 1000 winners in two decades in South Africa.
The Sporting Post reported early in September that after the change of government on the Indian Ocean Island, the veteran conditioner had not been successful in having his license renewed this season.
Accepting the reality, and mindful of the fact that his life and career was in limbo, he arrived back in South Africa a week ago – a year since saddling his last Mauritius winner.
“It was tough being away from my family, but I really enjoyed training on the island and was fortunate to build myself up to be one of the bigger yards with 40 horses. There are no hard feelings and I decided to be realistic and accept the authority’s decision not to grant my licence. I am fortunate to enjoy the support of some very loyal and passionate racing folk, including Germini Pillay of Arnesto Tours, and they have all been very patient and have pledged to continue to support me in KZN,” he added.
The National Horseracing Authority required a clearance certificate which was issued by the GRA in Mauritius.
“I was given clearance and my license has been granted. It is all systems go. Owen Heffer and the Hollywoodbets team have done amazing things in KZN and the Cape in tandem with Race Coast, and things look very different to what they did when I left here some years ago. There is a wonderful vibe of positivity, and even at the age of 56, and effectively starting from scratch, I am so excited to be given an opportunity to be a part of it all,” he said.
When his license failed to be granted in Mauritius, Dominic was forced to leave his nine horses, originally intended for export, with Julia Pilbeam at Soetendal in the Cape.
“Julia does a terrific job and she has kept them ticking over, trotting and cantering, and kept us posted every step of the way. Depending on their progress, I hope to have my first runners by the first week of 2026.”
Dom’s string is headed by the former Vaughan Marshall-trained 4yo Talk To The Master, a stakes-placed two-time winner with six places from ten starts.
Vihaan’s Bomb, a former Gareth van Zyl-trained Lancaster Bomber gelding, who won four on the trot earlier on, is one of the other notables.
Dominic has 20 boxes to start with and is looking forward to starting up in a region where he was one of the first outside trainers to open a satellite yard – it was run by Lloyd Lunn – and in a province where he trained his first Gr1 winner, Talahatchie, who scored in the Premier’s Champion Stakes at Clairwood Park in 2005 under present day Hollywood Racing Manager, Anthony Delpech.
Gr1 star National Spirit is another Zaki flagbearer of the recent yesteryear to have set the KZN tracks alight and who will be familiar to racing fans.
Dominic’s horse-crazy daughter Savannah, who holds a number of equine qualifications, and her partner Caleb Thomas have been licenced as stable employees, and will form part of the founding team of Dominic Zaki Racing.
“All going well, I don’t plan to grow beyond 40 horses in time. I’m older but have plenty of fuel pumping through my pipelines, and wisdom comes with age. One learns about the good and bad, and we make mistakes – and getting too big was one of them.”
Dom’s wife Beverley and the family plan to relocate to KZN in December.
“Besides my past wonderful memories of racing success in the province, KZN has always been a happy space for us as a family, and we are thrilled to be together again under one roof.”
Dominic has invited inquiries to his mobile/WhatsApp: 083 465 1918.