July winner driven by true grit
Smanga Khumalo left SA to increase his chances of a win
WHEN Smanga Khumalo first walked through the shiny white stables of the South African Jockey Academy in Summerveld, outside Durban, as a 15year-old, he knew nothing about horse racing. And he was a little scared of horses.
He was scouted at his KwaMashu high school, uMzumvelo, for his diminutive size and strength — traits the academy looks for when seeking young apprentices.
The journey to becoming the first black jockey to win the century-old Durban July began at the turn of the century.
“I knew nothing about horse racing at the time,” he confessed. “Funnily enough, before I went to the academy I wasn’t really interested in any sports. I hadn’t found my feet yet. I was young and I just liked school and hadn’t thought about being in any sport at that time.”
His proud mother, Mantombi, said Khumalo gave nothing away as a youngster and was interested only in riding his bicycle.
“At the academy, they saw that I had a natural jockey physique and they liked the way I sat on a horse,” said Khumalo.
“Most trainers like the fact that I am balanced and the way I assist the horse.
“Not coming from a horseriding background, it was pretty hard and difficult in the acade- my, but I managed to adjust to become one of the best jockeys. I came to understand everything about the horses.”
Khumalo’s ambitions grew rapidly. He told his mates at the academy that one day he would win South Africa’s biggest race.
The allure of the money he could earn as a professional jockey — money he would later use to enhance his family’s living standard — was a crucial motivation.
He went on to buy a modest
He got there on his own and on his ability. Nothing has been given to him on a platter
house in Newlands West, Durban, for his mother and four siblings.
His win in the Durban July last weekend, riding Heavy Metal, was his third in four of South Africa’s richest races this season.
Before that, he had won the R2-million Summer Cup (on Wagner) and the R2-million President’s Champions Challenge (on Heavy Metal).
As a graduate, his chances to ride good horses in competi- tions were not forthcoming and so he packed his bags and left for Zimbabwe to join the academy’s satellite campus in Harare in 2003.
“When we graduated, everyone wanted to show their talents and it was hard, considering there were 15 of us trying to get one horse,” he said. “I thought to myself I’m not going to stay in Durban and not do anything — let me rather try other places where I can get confidence and make a name for myself.”
He won six races in the six months he spent in Zimbabwe and caught the attention of his old academy riding master, Robert Moore, who arranged for him to return to South Africa.
Here he reunited with Sean Tarry, the trainer in charge of Heavy Metal.
“He showed ability from the very beginning. He had very good balance and very good hands, and it was only a matter of time before he became mature enough mentally to become a very good rider,” said Tarry.
“He’s very cool and he’s quite strong for a lightweight rider, which is pretty important.
“The great thing about Smanga is that there was no BEE or quota system that required there to be a certain number of black riders — he got there on his own and on his ability. Nothing has been given to him on a platter.”
Khumalo is now aiming to be crowned as South Africa’s champion jockey.