Gold Onyx (NZ) on Track for G1 Durban H.

New Zealand bred Group 1 winner Gold Onyx (NZ) has continued his winning build-up to the Grade 1 Durban July Handicap (2200m) next month with victory in the Grade 3 Cup Trial (1800m) at Clairwood in South Africa on Saturday.

Trained by Sean Tarry, Gold Onyx (Black Minnaloushe x Egoli Lass) produced a late finishing burst to finish over the top of stablemate Buy and Sell (National Emblem) with jockey Anton Marcus in the saddle.

The four-year-old made his stakes-winning return two starts ago when successful in the Listed Sledgehammer Handicap (1800m) early last month, his first stakes victory since winning the Group 1 Greyville Premier's Champion Stakes at two.

The Group 1 Durban July Handicap will be held on 7 July on South Africa's premier race day at Greyville and carries a purse of R 3 million (NZ$460,000).

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

Owned by Mr C J H van Niekerk, the four-year-old's record now stands at 24 starts for six wins and four placings for R 833,325 (NZ$127,820) in stakes.