Striker kicks off his KZN season at Scottsville today
I have decided to ride at Scottsville today which will be my first meeting in this KwaZulu-Natal season. It’s been a bit disappointing that I have had to miss so much of the season. But all is not...
View ArticlePicking up the right ride at the right time is the key to success
It is amazing how life changes when you start doing well. I’ve had a couple of winners but it has a lot to do about getting the right ride at the right time. Often I will phone for the ride I think is...
View ArticleDraws play a massive part on Turffontein Inside track today
Next weekend is Super Saturday at Greyville which is the final big meeting of not only the KwaZulu-Natal winter season, but also of the 2017/18 season. There are four Grade 1 races on the card along...
View ArticleSnaith runner should win Gold Cup
Today we are back in Durban for the final feature races of the season, which includes the R1.25-million eLan Gold Cup. We all want to win the big races and this Grade 3 event is one of them. We all...
View ArticleKeep an eye on the Naidoo runners at Flamingo Park
It’s not often that we don’t have a weekend meeting on the Highveld but sometimes we need to look at the bigger picture and give the smaller racecourses a chance. So today it is Flamingo Park who will...
View ArticleStriker back next Saturday
This is a quiet time of the year and I have been medically booked off to take care of a few wear-and-tear issues. Income is not the same if you’re booked off because it’s a case of no work, no pay. You...
View ArticleThrill of new Summer Cup sponsor
The Johannesburg summer season will soon be under way and next week we already have our first feature of the season with the running of the Grade 3 Spring Spree Stakes over 1200m. We could do with a...
View ArticleInterviews with jockeys are there to help punters
In the interview after a race, the winning jockey and trainer are asked by the presenters about their other chances on the day. We try to answer truthfully in order to help the punters but even that...
View ArticleWinds can affect race outcome at Turffontein today
All over the world racing has to adapt to seasonal issues. Right now on the Highveld, as we move from winter into spring, the tracks are still hard but we have had strong winds that are currently...
View ArticleHeritage delay was the right move to get track right
We are back on the Turffontein Inside track today even though we were due to run the WSB Grand Heritage which is the showpiece race at the Vaal. Unfortunately nature is not always in alignment with...
View ArticleTake me to the Mardi Gras
We are racing in the Inside track at Turffontein today although we were meant to race at the Vaal, but the weather has not played ball so we had no option but to move the meeting. That resulted in a...
View ArticleGrand Series delays affect plans for horses
Today we will be having a third attempt, let’s hope we can finally get the WSB Grand Series off the ground. The organisers must be pulling their hair out with one issue after another preventing the...
View ArticleMatch race looks a thriller
The Joburg summer season is now in full swing but with all the delays through weather and course problems, it’s been more a stop-start season. We finally saw the running of the two legs of the WSB...
View ArticleTo whip or not? Tap on shoulder should suffice
Last weekend we experimented riding without a whip as a reaction to what is happening in the UK where there is strong opposition to the use of the whip. A lot of us were in support of the concept and...
View ArticleGreat draw for Sabina’s Dynasty
On Wednesday we had the draw for the G-Bets Gauteng Summer Cup which will be run on Saturday 1 December and luckily for me I managed to draw No 1. I will be riding Sabina’s Dynasty who I get on well...
View ArticleDe Kock duo best in open Cup
Today is our big raceday on the Highveld with the running of the G-Bets Gauteng Summer Cup over 2000m. There’s a good vibe at Turffontein and because it is a race we all want to win, it adds to the...
View ArticlePrices and form don’t add up
I sometimes get the impression that punters don’t like their own money. Is it that they don’t study form or is it because some of them don’t know how to study form? On Tuesday I rode Artemisia at the...
View ArticleQueen’s Plate a royal treat
It’s getting close to Christmas and a number of the jockeys are taking some family time. There are a few reasons for the time off. It is obviously a mixture of suspensions, injuries and just enjoying...
View ArticleSectional timing a double-edged sword for jockeys
Going into the New Year one of the new items that will be introduced is sectional timing. It is a new tool that breaks down each race into times for every 200m, for example. It will help people when...
View ArticleOravar stands out as the best bet at Turffontein
Lately the weather has been playing havoc with racing on the Highveld and I’m sure a lot of punters are finding it frustrating. If you’re frustrated can you imagine how we as jockeys feel. For us it is...
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