3 minute read

Canberra trainer Steve Kazanc has been around the traps at Canberra racecourse helping out numerous trainers over the years but on Sunday at Cootamundra he was given a day he will never forget.

The 25 year old who has only had a trainers license for just on five months broke-through for his maiden training victory when nine-year old gelding Solar Spirit recorded his first victory since February 2009 leaving Kazanc over the moon.

“It was a great day and the fact that it was a bit unexpected made it that little bit better,” Kazanc said.

“I've been involved with Solar Spirit since he was a yearling so to be able to get my first win as a trainer with him was just amazing.”

Kazanc purchased a share in Solar Spirit as a yearling when he was formally trained by Leon Macdonald but after several below par efforts over short distances it was decided to dissolve the partnership and have the gelding put for sale.

“He had only had a few starts over short distances and I thought he might be OK over further so I had the first rights to purchase him because I already had a share,” he said.

“I paid $3500 for him and brought him to Canberra and gave him to Peter Staunton and basically just went from there.”

The Desert Sun gelding has amassed a tick below $50,000 in prizemoney in his 6 wins and 15 placings from 58 starts with Kazanc just happy to have the old boy by his side.

“I'm not sure how much more racing he has left in him but he won well on Sunday and with the amount of time and effort Patrick, one of his fellow owners puts into him hopefully we can get another win out of him before his racing days are over,” Kazanc said.

“I've got 3 in work at the moment and would love to be able to get a few more owners and get a couple more to train, big enough to compete yet stay small enough to care.”