International jockeys keep one eye on SA racing
Only one of the six international jockeys who will be participating in tomorrow’s Air Mauritius International Jockeys’ Challenge at Turffontein have previously participated in this event.
However, with South African racing now being beamed all over the world, all of them have been keeping a careful eye on the local tracks and the various racing styles.
The International team is being led by Irishman Pat Smullen and he is joined by compatriots Seamie Heffernan and PJ Mcdonald as well as Martin Dwyer from England, recent Melbourne Cup wining rider Corey Brown of Australia and Thierry Thulliez from France.
Current South African champion Anthony Delpech leads a young team of local riders but it does contain two other former champion jockeys in S’manga Khumalo and Gavin Lerena as well as Greg Cheyne, Craig Zackey and apprentice Lyle Hewitson.
“Racing is a small and a close community throughout the world and although most of us are here for the first time we are not alien to South African horseracing,” said Smullen at a press conference held at TAB/ Betting World at the Buzz Shopping Centre in Fourways.
“I watch a lot of racing and particularly lots of South African racing so we know quite a bit about it.”
He added that they have been told quite a lot by Heffernan, the one jockey who has ridden in the Challenge. “He rode a winner when he was here. But it is quite similar to Australian racing and in that respect Corey can give us a lot of help.
“In Europe we tend to make a quicker pace from the start and then sustain it while here your guys tend to get out fast and then slow it down and speed up again at the end.
"So we will try to adapt as soon as possible – hopefully from the first race,” he added with a smile on his face.
Brown comes to the country on a high after having ridden Rekindling to victory in the Melbourne Cup last week, his second victory in Australia’s premier race. “I actually told (Racing Association CEO) Larry Wainstein that if he picked me to come to this event I will win the Melbourne Cup.
“It was fantastic to do it for the second time and I had my whole family down there this time as well.”
He commented that South African jockeys have made an impact on Australian racing. “Jeff Lloyd has taken racing to another level and we have seen other guys like Glyn Schofield and his son, Chad.
“I also had a brief meeting with Callan Murray when he was in Australia but I watched him when he rode in Hong Kong and he looks very useful.”
Delpech was also at the press conference and he was cognisant of the fact that one of South Africa’s two losses came the only time the racing was staged on the Inside track, the same course which will be used tomorrow.
“The outside track is more in our favour,” said the SA captain. “The Inside track is much quicker and will be easier for them to get used to where the longer runin on the Standside track often tends to catch them out because they move too early.”
Smullen was delighted to hear that piece of information. “I’m glad to hear the only time you competed on the Inside track produced a loss for the home team.
"We will give it our best and hopefully we can pull off the victory.”