Gold Circle Pty (Ltd)

Today's Racing :

Cheyne back and off the mark

MICHAEL CLOWER
Greg Cheyne is back in town and last year’s Vodacom Durban July-winning jockey celebrated his return to the South African turf by driving Doublewood to victory in the 1 600m handicap at Kenilworth on Saturday.
According to both punters and bookmakers, Varsfontein’s filly hadn’t a prayer and she drifted out to 20-1 for race eight. She led after two furlongs and looked sure to be swallowed up in the straight but Cheyne had not flown 11 000 kilometres to be denied, and he pulled out all the stops to keep her going to score by a neck for his old boss Glen Kotzen.
Cheyne rode 14 winners during his first season in Hong Kong and created a good enough impression to be invited back for a further year. The financial rewards for jockeys in Hong Kong are enormous but the competition is intense and many - big names in their own countries - have been forced to return home with their tails between their legs.
“Even last season three guys cut short their contracts and left because it was too competitive for them,” said Cheyne.
“I started well with a winner on my first day. A total of 20 would have been nice but 14 is not bad for your first season, and I’m enjoying it out there. It’s great experience.
“The international days are fantastic. You are riding against some of the best in the world and in the jockeys room you find yourself sitting next to the likes of Kieren Fallon, Johnny Murtagh, Olivier Peslier and Ryan Moore.”
Cheyne returns to Hong Kong on August 15 and in the meantime he has seven rides at Greyville on Saturday including Service Ace in the Durban July.
He also partners Lady Windermere in the Garden Province and is hoping that history will repeat itself. He won this Grade 1 last year on the same filly.

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