Khumalo fined for improper riding
S’MANGA Khumalo, the 201314 season’s champion jockey, has been fined R75,000 after an inquiry at the National Horseracing Authority offices in Johannesburg on Monday.
This concludes a case that has dragged on since November 5 2013 when Khumalo was found guilty of “not riding his mount Supertube in a competent and professional manner” at the Vaal. He was given a threemonth suspension. The decision to impose a fine rather than a suspension is a result of a court settlement agreement.
With Khumalo now serving a suspension, several top jockeys including new champion Gavin Lerena, Anthony Delpech and Piere Strydom can get off to a flying start in the new season.
Today’s Vaal meeting is the first on the highveld for the 201516 campaign and Delpech, who holds the record for the most winners in a season (334), should not return to Durban empty-handed. Delpech has three rides for Mike de Kock and one for Roy Magner and his second race mount, Mootahadee, might well upset the more fancied Precursor and Doing It For Dan.
Mootahadee has shown he goes well on the Vaal sand and gets the vote over Dominic Zaki’s useful four-year-old, Precursor.
Precursor is another talented son of new champion sire Captain Al and — with apprentice Callan Murray claiming his allowance — will receive 3.5kg from Louis Goosen’s five-time winner, Doing It For Dan.
Lerena partners stablemate Usisi but it is another Goosen inmate, Seventh Symphony, who could emerge as the danger with young Colin Storey booked for the ride.
Mike de Kock and Delpech, who was successful with Wild One in last Saturday’s eLan Gold Cup, have a chance to take the fifth race with Brazilian-bred colt, Toro Rosso.
The four-year-old has not got many miles on the clock so has room for improvement although he faces a tough customer in Rockingandrolling who has the benefit of the best draw.
Fire Horse ran a shocker here a fortnight ago and cannot be backed with any confidence so the pick of the other runners should be trainer Spike Lerena’s four-year-old, American Tiger.
De Kock must be frustrated that Red Savage is still in the maiden ranks and the son of Jay Peg could cost punters again in the final leg of the Pick 6.
SELECTIONS
1st Race: (8) Saraaba (1) Arrive At Five (2) Hazelnut (9) Imperial Party 2nd Race: (6) Mootahadee (2) Precursor (1) Doing It For Dan (3) Isphan 3rd Race: (6) Miss December (7) Seventh Symphony (2) Flame Cat (3) Usisi 4th Race: (1) First Sign (8) Il Duce (10) Racing Red (3) Walkabout 5th Race: (4) Rockingandrolling (5) Toro Rosso (7) American Tiger (6) Rough Justice 6th Race: (1) Battle In Seattle (2) Tacitus (5) Mind Games (3) Limbo 7th Race: (5) Matsuri (6) She’s A Looker (7) Seven Kingdoms (1) Dover Beach 8th Race: (5) Battle Of Arcole (2) Red Savage (3) Icy Avalanche (6) San Salvador