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David Thiselton

Louis Nhlapo is being given some chances by Johan Janse van Vuuren this season and is taking them with both hands, while he also took the chance Tony Peter handed him the previous weekend on the unbeaten young three-year-old Rifle Queen.

Louis is now 50 years old and is one of a number of older jockeys who have come back from adversity and hopefully he can get the breakthrough he deserves this season as he is not only a fine horseman but is also tactically astute and, furthermore, he is a lightweight who can ride 52kg .

On Saturday at Turffontein Inside Louis had just two rides, both on Janse van Vuuren horses, and he rode a 55/1 double.

In the second race he was aboard the Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein-bred first-timer Banyan.

This gelding looked a picture in the preliminaries. However, being by stamina influence Flower Alley out of Dynasty mare Chakri, whose three wins were from 1400m to 1600m, the 1000m trip of this maiden plate was going to be on the sharp side, but he did have the advantage of pole position. Louis bounced him out well and had him handy on the rail. He eased him off the rail when the path looked blocked going down the straight section before the elbow and he thus had a clear run straight to the line as they came off the elbow. The tall horse was clearly still full of running but Louis remained patient and only delivered the first of his backhanders at about the 300m mark. The tall horse stayed on well to win by a comfortable 1,30 lengths having been backed in from 25/1 to 7/1.

Louis showed his tactical awareness in his only other ride in the Chris Haynes Middle Stake over 1000m where he also had pole position. After bouncing out well and taking the lead he was aware that none of the others were keen to lead and he was thus within his rights to go no more than a steady pace. The challengers came to swamp him at the 300m mark, but he hadn’t even asked the horse yet and when giving him more rein he found extra. The favourite Karate Kid delivered a strong late challenge. However, there was plenty still in the tank when Louis gave Sheldon a backhander at the 150m mark, his only use of the whip in the whole race. The seven-year-old Querari gelding converted 7/1 odds by a cosy quarter-of-a-length, his first win for two years.

Louis will obviously be given more chances after those performances, while he is the only one so far to have ridden the Tony Peter-trained Buffalo Bill Cody three-year-old filly Rifle Queen, who is unbeaten in two starts and has done it impressively.

Louis made his comeback in January 2023 after an eight year layoff.

Louis stopped riding in 2015 due to a personal tragedy.

He was in a car accident in which he lost his first and second born children.

He admitted to losing the will to live.

He said, “That was when the NHA came to the rescue. They offered me a job as a stipendiary steward. I am very grateful to them because it saved my life. I had to do a lot of reading and writing in the job. I didn’t have time to think and the healing fight began. It kept me going and I eventually pulled through … the job turned out to be a cure.”

However, when his life was back on track he began missing what he had been doing since the age of seven … riding.

Louis resigned after seven years of stipendiary stewarding.

 He grew up on James Maree’s farm and from the age of seven was given one horse at a time to look after.

He used to go straight to the stables when school was over and his afternoon schedule included riding the horse.

He was officially a groom with James Maree for 15 years and for two years he was a farrier.

He started riding in work riders races at the age of 14.

He was accepted into the SA Jockey Academy in 2001, despite being in his mid-twenties.

However, he regards James Maree as the man who taught him how to ride and added, “Mr Maree was a very good teacher. He has the right temperament because he is never in a rush and takes time to teach you the right things the right way.”

He had no concern about his age of 48 when making his comeback and said at the time, “Race riding is all about experience. Being young does not help if you do not have the knowledge and experience. Look at Piere Strydom who is still riding big race winners at the age of 56. Horses are animals and you have to know what you are doing. This month I have been going to the gym morning and afternoon too. If I had just been sitting at home for the last few years my overall fitness and leg strength would have been a problem, but I haven’t because I play soccer. In fact in soccer here, do you know what they call me? … I am known as Louis The Sniper! The goalkeeper doesn’t know what is coming to him!”

He had reserved a final word back then for the great racing man Laurence Wernars and the latter was part-owner and owner respectively of both of Louis’ wins on Saturday. Wernars sponsored the soccer team Louis played for and he said it was great to see the youngsters having something to do through this team and thus staying on straight lines during difficult times.

Louis idolises Piere Strydom and has been influenced by his style. That was clear to see on Saturday as he kept something in reserve for as long as possible.

Andrew Harrison

Objections will always be a contentious issue in horse racing. Some incidences are so clearcut that the stipendiary stewards have little choice but to press the button for the objection hooter to sound.

In other cases, objections from the affected parties require little more than a quick deliberation, over ruled and deposits forfeit.

Objection rules  have changed many times over the years as the authorities try to pigeonhole offences but in a fluid situation in the heat of the moment, none can say who is right or wrong unless the infringement was blatantly obvious.

That brings us to the sixth race at Hollywoodbets Scottsville yesterday where winner Plum Pudding and runner-up Trois Trois Quatre came together around the 200m marker, the two having met at their previous outings with Trois Trois Quatre the winner but Plum Pudding now 1.5kg better off in the handicap.

On the evidence, Plum Pudding did move onto Trois Trois Quatre, pressured on her outside by African Dusk.

Plum Pudding and Trois Trois Quatre were both knocked off balance by their coming together but Plum Pudding recovered the better and went on to win convincingly.

Some will argue that Trois Trois Quatre had come from off the pace and may have been finishing the better prior to the contact but in the final analysis, Plum Pudding did come out the stronger of what looked to be six of one and half a dozen of the other.

As far as I recall the deciding criteria is: would B have beaten A?

Callan Murray, who lodged the objection got his money back, Serino Moodley may not be so lucky.

Dean Kannemeyer may have moved the majority of his string back to Milnerton but he has had a plethora of debutantes making their mark and Nicolette Roscoe holds the Summerveld fort. The word was out early that Hah Lah Lah was the horse to beat in the card opener and they were on the mark as Craig Zackey steered her to a comfortable victory.

Second-placed Son Of Rafeef and third-placed Buddy Boy both caught the eye when running on strongly and both names are for the notebook.

Royal Sword looked to be one of the better bets on the card and the betting told it all as he went out solidly in the red. Garth Puller’ s gelding lived up to his name and the market and although it was not all plain sailing as Moodley had to work to keep his mount hard to the task and Royal Sword kept responding to hold off Jet Blackfire.

Act Of Grace made short work of her opposition in the first leg of the Pick 6 with favourites obliging in the first three races of the day. She put daylight between herself and Paul Matchett’s filly Tipperary, with Matchett likely to be around in KZN from his Highveld base until the spring rains take some of the string out of the ground on home turf.

RACE 1

Summary: OLIVE OYL (5) has been costly to follow and was a beaten odds-on favourite last time out. She does look to be head and shoulders above this field and can finally got off the mark. The year older OH MANDY (3) has been in good form with the blinkers removed and goes well over course and distance. LANA VIEW (4) made marked improvement first run for her new stable coming off some modest Cape form. GOLDEN CROC (6) improved last run and can feature. (Andrew Harrison: 5-3-4-6).

RACE 2

Summary: FIZZY BUBBLY (1) went down narrowly over course and distance last time out but did have a 4kg claimer aboard. However, that form seems to have held up. GLOBAL DRUMBEAT (3) has been knocking at the door and should be involved in the finish. BOMBER BAY (2) looks held by Global Drumbeat on their last meeting but does get first time blinkers. (Andrew Harrison: 1-3-2-5).

RACE 3

Summary: OUTBACK EXPRESS (3) was much improved first up on the poly and has a light weight. A repeat showing should see him close again. PROLIFIC STAR (1) looks held by Outback Express on their last meeting but has shown up well in his last two on the poly and gets first time blinkers. CHEAP THRILLS (7) has shown her best on the poly. She has a light weight and can go one better that latest after starting favourite. (Andrew Harrison: 3-1-7-4).

RACE 4

Summary: GOLDEN PEACE (2) is unbeaten since arriving from KZN. He makes his local poly debut but goes well over the trip and can go in again. Judging by jockey bookings ZATARA MAGIC (4) looks the pick of Gavin Smiths pair. His last run is best ignored as the 3000m trip looked too far. GLOBAL ALLY (5) has had to play second fiddle to both Golden Peace and Zatara Magic in recent starts but with some luck in running he can turn the tables. (Andrew Harrison: 2-4-5-6).

RACE 5

Summary: GREENN ISLE (8) made a winning debut for her new stable coming off some fair Cape form. She only got a two-point raise in the handicap and can follow up. UMZOLOZOLO (3) is unbeaten in two since arriving from KZN. She steps up in trip but did get a four-point raise in the handicap for her last win. GOT THE FEVER (4) is way better than her last run in the soft. She has fair poly form in blinkers. THREE CHEERS (6) has been consistent over further but the drop to a mile should not be of concern. (Andrew Harrison: 8-3-4-6).

RACE 6

Summary: JUST ONE KISS (5) shed her maiden at second time of asking. She appears to have plenty of scope and with further improvement could prove too good for well exposed opposition. PANTHERA UNICIA (2) makes her local debut. She was a winner of a work-riders maiden but has shown some ability. SWEET JULIA (4) is struggling for her next win but goes well this course and distance and the tongue-tie has been removed. FULL OF MAGIC (9) is struggling for her second win but has been in good form of late and only has 49.5kg to shoulder. (Andrew Harrison: 5-2-4-9).

RACE 7

Summary: SWISS WALT (4) seldom runs a bad race and his last win was over course and distance. He’s is now off a four-point higher mark but was still close-up last tine and this extra furlong should suit. BEECHAMWOOD BOY (2) has been a soldier for his connections and tries for his eighth win. He is never far back. DAS GUTE (5) was much improved first run since arriving from the Cape. He can come on from that effort. THUNDER MASTER (7) has come to hand of late and has a handy galloping weight. (Andrew Harrison: 4-2-5-7).

RACE 8

Summary: COASTAL PATH (1) has been costly to follow but is long overdue. Beaten favourite at his last five, he needs to make amends. STRANGE MAGIC (5) has made steady recent improvement and looks primed for this. HER ROYALTY (9) has been dropping in the handicap and now looks to be off a competitive mark. CHIEF RUNNER (2) took on stronger last run. Starting at long odds he was not disgraced and can do better here. (Andrew Harrison: 1-9-5-2).