SA jockeys have edge at home
South African manage their seventh win against the international jockeys.
DESPITE the worlds’ top jockey, Frankie Dettori, wrapping up the awards, South Africa still managed to ride away with the full laurels of the Air Mauritius International Jockey’s Challenge.
A team of international top jockeys competed in three legs against the South Africa team, with the International Jockeys Challenge final held at Turffontein Racecourse on Sunday, November 20. The first two legs were held at Fairview in Port Elizabeth and Kenilworth in Cape Town.
As captain of the international team, Dettori celebrated two victories on the final day in great fashion, by treating the crowd with his flying dismount off the winning horses in the finishing box. The famous Dettori was awarded the Victor Ludorum prize on the day, plus the overall rider’s prize for the challenge.
Coming into the final leg, the South African team were strides ahead of their international counterparts, but had to work hard in the third outing – to keep the points difference big enough, in order to rake in their seventh win since inception of the event. The international team have claimed two victories previously.
But any hopes that Dettori had of his team catching the South African team, were dashed in spite of his personal heroics – given that the local riders consistently found the placings and ended up taking the honours once again.
His personal haul on the day of 72,5 – each jockey was awarded 8.5 points for the abandoned race – was enough to push his personal tally up to 87,5 for the three-legged series. It ensured he edged out Gavin Lerena by a slim two point margin.
Heading into the meeting each of the respective captains, Dettori and South Africa’s S’manga Khumalo, were rooted to the bottom of the rider’s standings.
“The race was easy for me. It’s great for the public and for me, that the fight is back on and we’re catching up,” Dettori said; after his win in the opener.
The double was completed for Dettori after the seventh, as he got Seattle Lady home for an easy victory – and in turn sealed up the Victor Ludorum.
Muzi Yeni had earned the Victor Ludorum at Fairview, but he couldn’t sustain the effort at Turffontein, with his best finish being a fourth in the sixth race; although he did add consistently to the team cause.
“It’s been brilliant. From the minute we set foot in this country, everybody’s been so great and hospitable. We really enjoyed ourselves; we had a great team,” Dettori said after receiving his respective awards.
The awards ceremony was also used as an opportunity to raise money for Freddie Tylicki, paralysed in a recent fall; with Dettori’s silks from the day autographed by both teams and auctioned off.
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