Country’s best jockeys in a face-off
THE Hawks will be taking on the Eagles and the Falcons and racegoers will get an opportunity to watch three teams of the country’s top 12 jockeys compete in the inaugural Interprov Rider Cup at Greyville on Saturday, July 18.
The Highveld Hawks have a particularly strong team and will be represented by champion jockey elect, Gavin Lerena, with strong support from current champion S’Manga Khumalo, former champion Piere Strydom and recent Daily News 2000 winner Raymond Danielson.
The Western Cape Eagles will fly with the internationally experienced Richard Fourie and Greg Cheyne along with Grant van Niekerk and Corne Orffer.
The KZN Falcons will swoop with former champions Anton Marcus and Anthony Delpech and top riders Muzi Yeni and Sean Cormack making up their quartet.
Bernard Fayd’Herbe was originally pencilled in for the Western Cape team but has to honour contractual obligations at Kenilworth on the same day while Anthony Delpech has been laid low by a heavy bout of flu but will be back in the saddle come this Saturday.
“We are always looking for ways to promote and add entertainment to our racedays and this format has proved successful in the past,” said Gold Circle’s Racing and Marketing Executive, Graeme Hawkins.
“It will give racegoers the opportunity to watch the best jockeys in the country go head-to-head and the bragging rights that go with winning the Interprov Rider Cup will hopefully add a competitive edge to the races.”
In order to give all riders an equal opportunity, the horses in each race will be seeded by a panel of form experts into four categories of three from top to bottom.
The riders from each team will get a chance to ride in each category with the choice of horses done by ballot.
This will give each rider a chance to showcase their skills on the best and the worst.
All riders will carry the owners’ colours but will be distinguished by different coloured caps.
The KZN team will wear black caps with the Western Cape blue and the Highveld red.
The riders will contest four races, including two Listed features, with points being allocated as follows. 20 for first 16; 14; 12; 10; 8; 6; 5; 4;3;2;1 with 7 points for a scratched ride.
Because of the narrow band of points allocation it is hoped that competition will be close and contain a little “needle”. should stay the trip and is well drawn. Celtic Heroine has done well with front-running tactics recently and goes for a hat-trick over a trip she should get as she made late progress before that over 2 200m when finishing under four lengths behind Casual. Noor Dubai is well drawn and could improve off a lowered merit rating.
The seventh is a MR 74 Handicap over 2 400m and Elusive Flyer ran well last time over course and distance despite casting a shoe, so could be the one to beat off the same merit rating. Noble Star is seven points higher in the merit ratings since winning that race, but Piere Strydom is back on board. Frikkie has strengthened into a fair sort and could be involved despite being raised seven points for running second over 2 600m last time out.
The last is a maiden over 1 400m and Nation Builder, who was green on debut over 1 000m after being backed from 25/1 into 9/2, should relish the step up in trip and is the one to beat with Lerena up.
Gold Status is an improving sort and could be a contender as this is not a strong field.