Van Niekerk and Nel part company
ONE of the best jobs in South African racing is up for grabs as Sabine Plattner and Andre Nel have decided not to renew Grant van Niekerk’s contract as first jockey.
Van Niekerk (pictured) was appointed shortly after Aldo Domeyer replaced him as stable jockey to Candice BassRobinson after the Sun Met meeting at the end of January. The combination has had quite a bit of success but seemingly that was not enough.
Nel explained: “I still rate Grant highly but he and I didn’t really gel as a team in the way we should, and his contract ended at the end of last season. We are freelancing but the job is open and we are looking.”
Plattner Racing has a string of superbly bred horses which have been a force to reckon with during the reigns of Chris Snaith, Brett Crawford and Yogas Govender. They give every appearance of being on the way back to their very best under Nel’s guidance.
Back on track
Bernard Fayd’Herbe, who has not ridden since the end of last month, expects to resume at Kenilworth on Saturday.
He said: “I had a fall riding work at Philippi eight weeks ago and hurt my shoulder but I carried on riding taking antiinflammatories, and then I injured my elbow in the pens in a KZN sales race at Greyville.
“I am booked off until Friday and I see the specialist this Monday. I am confident of being cleared to resume as I rode work on Saturday and everything was fine. The rest has done me good because it has helped to heal other injuries but I have missed a lot of winners and that is not cool.”
Back in Cape Town
Morne Winnaar is back in Cape Town after a successful stint in Durban, saying: “I want to establish myself here again before the summer season starts. The Durban trainers have their regular jockeys so rides there are harder to come by out of season. Also there are a maximum of 12 runners in races on the poly at Greyville and that also restricts opportunities.”
Back in action
Craig du Plooy, sidelined since April and initially concerned that he might have to have a back operation, is optimistic that he will be in action once more by the beginning of December.
He said: “I have had rhizotomy treatment where they burn the nerve endings so the disc can heal naturally. It takes longer this way but it works better.”
Curtain comes down
Bertie Dobbie and his brother Melvyn bring the curtain down on half a century of bookmaking when they stand for the final time at Kenilworth on Wednesday.
They say that it will not be viable to operate on-course when the increased fees come into operation. They intend continuing off-course and say they expect their place to be taken by World Sports Betting.