Odendaal happy in Durba

MJ Odendaal yesterday ruled out suggestions that he will move to Cape Town for the summer season.

The former champion said: “I certainly intend to travel there for the bigger races but I won’t move back because I am settling in Durban and making that my base. Most of the work I am riding is now at Clairwood.”

Odendaal, 44, based himself in Cape Town in January and February, riding six winners including a notable frontrunning performance on the subsequent Ladbrokes Gold Cup winner In Writing in the Chairman’s Cup.

He considered staying on but decided he should honour his commitments in Mauritius. His loyalty was not reciprocated and in July Paul Foo Kune ended his contract, and was quoted as saying that he “expected a lot more from Odendaal.”

Mauritian trainers have a reputation for fickleness and indeed the following month champion jockey Robbie Burke lost his job with Ramapathee Gujadhur over a difference of opinion about the riding and preparation of the former Joey Ramsden-trained Il Saggiatore.

Odendaal was South African champion with 199 winners in 2004/05 but has had to overcome a catalogue of horrific injuries, breaking legs, feet and shoulders in a series of dreadful falls.

He maintains a close link with several Cape Town trainers and last week finished a close third on the Mike Basstrained Captain’s Secret in the Emerald Cup.