Horse racing is a fickle mistress and injury, be it horse or jockey, can suddenly be career ending. But perseverance often pays dividends and although apprentice Dennis Schwarz will have had outstanding support and re-hab from the South African Jockey Academy, it is often easier for a young lad to throw in the towel after a career-threatening injury.
Schwarz lost his 4kg claim quickly once trainers cottoned on to his potential and he was on a roll towards the end of last season. But a serious knee injury saw him side-lined for close on six months.
It has taken some time for Schwarz to get back to riding fitness and trainers to pick up on the fact that he was one of the more promising youngsters but he gave notice that he is back with a double at Scottsville yesterday, boosting his seasonal tally to four.
Art Attack (Candiese Marnewick)
His first came on the battling maiden Chilli Affair for Alyson Wright as the six-year-old finally got his act together, much to many punters chagrin, as he got first run on hot favourite Coys and kept rolling to the line.
From a tricky draw, Anthony Delpech was hung out like the washing for most of the early exchanges unable to get close to the rail, and in the straight was not helped as Coys kept looking to run off a straight course.
Schwarz, replacement for fellow apprentice Diego d Gouveia, produced another enterprising ride on out-sider La Gitano in the Track & Ball Gaming Handicap for Tony Rivalland to hold off Captains Moll with favourite Girl In Gold battling to quicken and finishing unplaced.
Ivan Moore was a top jockey in his home country of Zimbabwe before taking out a trainer’s licence and then moving south.
He has a small yard with grandson Darryl, who cut his teeth with top trainer Charles Laird before joining his grandfather, and Art Attack’s victory in the White Horse Function Room Handicap will have been sweet. Consistently place over 1600m but running on empty over the final 100m, Warren Kennedy took advantage of the drop to 1400m, attacked early and pinching a lead before holding on gamely to deny Magic Memory a third straight win.
Delpech had better luck in the second as he produced a well-timed effort on the well-supported Lucky At Last for Nathan Kotzen who, after struggling to saddle his first winner as a licenced trainer, added a quick second after Cumulus broke his duck on Sunday.
Anton Marcus is never one to doubt his ability and an early move on the Mike Miller-trained Fashion Quest paid dividends in the Qualified Maiden Plate. Stepped up to 1600m after a string of placed runs over sprints, Marcus showed faith in that his mount would stay the trip from a tricky draw. Taking up the running before the home turn, he fought off all challengers when at one stage it looked as if he would be swamped.
By Andrew Harrison
