Three-time South African Champion jockey Anthony Delpech said the feeling of loss he felt when finally forced to retire from the saddle last week was difficult to explain, although he was able to look back on a glittering career.

“Something that was a part of you is gone, you feel robbed. I was used to getting up in the morning to go to work and now I don’t know what to do with myself, but if you try and explain your feelings to people they just don’t understand.”

Even as he spoke he was in pain and something as routine as putting on shoes is now avoided if possible.

There is a burning sensation in his leg, hands and arms, with the leg being particularly noticeable.

“It feels as if somebody has rubbed deep heat on my leg down to my feet.”

Delpech started workriding again a couple of weeks ago and hoped this would help his path to recovery.

He rode a couple of horses the first day back and the burning in his leg got worse.

In a subsequent session he upped the number he rode by one or two and the burning got so bad he could hardly bear to have his riding breeches on.

His doctor advised him later that day to never ride a horse again as it was putting more pressure on the spine.

Delpech said, “I went in that day not realising it was going to be the end so it was really hard.”

However, he had to put his family responsibilities first and heeded the advice.

Doctors told him after his shocking fall in the SA Classic in April last year he would likely never ride again. However, his own doctor had seen how badly he wanted to get back in the saddle and had given him every opportunity to do so. Delpech tried everything from oxygen therapy to physiotherapy to chiropractic treatment and other methods in his bid to recover.

He said one of the hardest parts in accepting his fate was that despite being 50 years of age he felt he had been riding better than ever at the time of the fall. He said he owed this partly to Mary Slack, who had retained him for two years.

He said, “It was two of the best years of my career, I felt rejuvenated, it was like having a new job and I couldn’t wait to get to work to see which new horses of Mary’s there were. She has been behind me throughout this ordeal and has contacted me at least once a week.”

Asked what he would miss most he said, “To me the horses were always the most important and of course I will miss the riding too. Towards the end I appreciated even the maiden winners. I will miss the people too, the owners have been fantastic.”

His highlights were too many to mention, but he singled out his four Vodacom Durban July victories and every win he had on Vengeance Of Rain. He rated the latter the best horse he ever rode and among the races he won on him were Hong Kong’s biggest race, the Hong Kong Derby, and the Grade 1 Dubai Sheema Classic.

In South Africa he said Triple Tiara, July and Met-winner Igugu was one of the best fillies he ever rode.

His three South African Jockeys Championships were also highlights and he added, “Especially the last one, as I was a bit older and appreciated it a bit more. Even when I broke the record, I was young and so busy I didn’t really appreciate it as much as I should have.”

The record he was speaking about was the staggering 334 winners he rode in the 1998/1999 season, which looks to be one of the safest records in South African sport.   

He mentioned “Muis” Roberts, Garth Puller, Basil Marcus, Jeff Lloyd and Anton Marcus among the many great jockeys he had ridden against.

He added, “Anton and I had a great rivalry for six years. We had great respect for each other and that competition is one of things I have missed most.”

Mike de Kock was naturally the trainer he will have the best memories of and he said, “I rode for him when I came back from Hong Kong on the recommendation of Kevin Shea. I had 99% of my success with him and learnt so much. He taught me a lot about racing and people and just about everything. I saw horses coming into his yard and how he could turn them around. Bold Silvano was one I will always remember, I am not saying he wasn’t good already, but the way he turned him around was phenomenal. In every sport there are those who have to work hard at what they do and those who are gifted and Mike was one of the most gifted people I have seen in horseracing. I didn’t used to say much or ask a lot I just watched to see what he did. I learnt so much and will take all that with me.”

Delpech has had such an emotional few days he has not yet began planning his next career move and admitted riding was all he knew.

He has had to learn to live with the pain and it is still not known whether this will ease or be permanent.

The public, owners and trainers have missed Delpech’s race riding skills and of course with Anton Marcus now dominating that intense rivalry has left a gap that is taking time to be filled.

By David Thiselton

S’Manga Khumalo has been booked by Joey Ramsden to ride in seven of the eight races when Cape Town racing resumes after its two-week post Sun Met break at Kenilworth on Saturday.

The dual champion, still looking for his first Kenilworth winner of the season (he has had three seconds and two thirds from just 34 rides), gets the call partly because Donovan Dillon is still sidelined as the result of the injuries he received on Met day.

Double Alliance was difficult to load for the Tattersalls Summer Juvenile and reared with him in the pens causing the damage. Dillon finished fifth on the colt and rode in the next before being forced to call it a day. The failure to inform Hong Kong of the subsequent jockey changes caused that well-documented international furore.

Dillon said yesterday: “I tried to carry on with my other rides that day. The adrenaline was still flowing for a time but as soon as I had a bit of break the pain became unbearable. I proved to have damaged ligaments in my knee. I also have a damaged cartilage and bruising on the knee bone. I expect to be out for about six weeks.”

Anton Marcus will also be in action at Kenilworth on Saturday. The four-time champion has six rides – two for Candice Bass-Robinson, three for Brett Crawford and Mythical Bolt (a beaten favourite last time) for Sean Tarry.

Marcus, now leading the championship chase and 15-10 favourite for the title with World Sports Betting, has an impressive  strike rated of 26% at Kenilworth this season but this figure is significantly less than his near 32% national strike rate. Muzi Yeni, at the moment his only serious pursuer, went into yesterday’s Flamingo Park meeting four winners adrift on 111. That came from 921 rides compared with Marcus’s 362. Yeni is 28-10 second favourite.

Ryan Munger (792 rides) is a 14-1 chance and started yesterday in third place on 89 winners, with Greg Cheyne fourth on 82. But it’s the current champion Lyle Hewitson who is regarded as the biggest threat to the top two. He missed the early part of the season but is fast making up for lost time and has now ridden 92 winners. He is a 7-2 chance.

Gavin Lerena, 80 winners this term and champion in 2014/15, comes next on 4-1. Richard Fourie is twice that price despite also having ridden 80. Cheyne is a 33-1 shot – presumably because he has repeatedly said in the past that he is not going to go for the championship come what may!

By Michael Clower

The Vaal Classic track stages a low key eight race meeting tomorrow but there look to be some fair opportunities for punters.

Favourite backers should get off to a good start with Chief Of State who was green on debut when only just failing over this 1000m trip. The Toreador colt now represents the lethal combination of Paul Peter and Charles Ndlovu in this Workrider’s event. On formlines he has the chief danger Saint Michael well held. The latter ran second last week over this trip last week and could finish second again here. None of the other raced horses look to pose a threat.

In the second race over 1000m Cosmic Mist is the one with the most ability over this trip, but she costs herself with slow starts and last time was bumped coming out too which might not have done much for her confidence. She is now tried in blinkers and ear muffs. Captain’s Love ran on in eyecatching style last time over this trip in first time blinkers so has a good chance too. Without Limits was beaten two lengths by Captain’s Love last time and Mercer Girl was 0,6 lengths further back after a slow start and now runs in blinkers for the third time. Mega Lee’s first two runs were fair efforts when up with the pace and staying on but slow starts have cost her recently and she does not appear to be improving.  

In the third race over 2000m Spring Poetry has her third run after a layoff and went close in both of her comeback runs over 1400m and 1600m respectively. She has won over this trip before and has a plum draw. Azkur also has her third run after a layoff and has also won over the trip so should improve on her last two outings especially considering she has been dropped five points in the merit ratings. Waity Katie is a decent type and has dropped to a competitive merit rating. This is the first time she will be trying this trip but she was running on over 1700m in her penultimate start to the useful Chitengo and is drawn in pole so should get it.

In the fourth race over 1600m Wild Thoughts found a good position from a similarly tricky draw last time over this trip on Turffontein Standside and moved up well before being run out of it by a fair sort in Princess Lomitas. If she can repeat she is the one to beat. Sea Like Glass was effective from the front over this trip last time from a similarly wide draw and was only passed late. She was five lengths clear of Pigeon Post, who does however have scope for improvement. Pigeon Post is often backed and has obvious ability.

Last time in her first try at this trip the rider had difficulty settling her when dropping her in behind the field from a wide draw but she then ran on in eyecatching fashion, although she was too far back to be a threat. If she manages to find a handier position and settles she will go close. Julep was handy without cover last time over 1400m which did not suit her and she was also found to not be striding out. If finding cover from a tricky draw and coming from off the pace like she did when going close in her penultimate start over this trip then she has a chance. Ideal Cut was just behind Julep last time over 1400m and can improve over this step up in trip.

In the fifth race over 1600m Only To Win only just failed last time over 1450m when running on against some decent types. She is now drawn in pole off an attractive merit rating and over a trip she is proven over. Seville Orange won in commanding fashion in her last start over this trip from a similarly wide draw and looks to be coming into her own so should go close off just a three point higher mark. High Seas Beauty is capable of a strong finish from off the pace so will likely be dropped out from her high draw. She was staying on in her first try at this trip last time behind a fair sort.

In the sixth race over 2400m Master And Man dictated in a similarly small field over this trip in his penultimate start and only just failed to hold on. He followed with a fine effort over 1800m against some useful horses and is going to be hard to beat in this field. Hands Of Man and Africa’s Gold make most appeal of the rest.

In the seventh over 1450m Warrior’s Rest is a resolute front-running galloper who stretches fields and then continually turns it up a notch. However, he has to be in front, because he does not have the necessary turn of foot when sitting behind slower paces. The blinkers have now been fitted probably to help him get to the front as last time he was held up in second place. Monopolize enjoys this trip and will be a threat. The filly Greener Pastures is the best in at the weights on official merit ratings and is also distance suited. However, it is never easy against the boys and she has a wide draw to overcome.

In the last race over 1000m Elbi makes most appeal having performed above her merit rating last time over this trip when a close up second to the useful Casual Wear. Mademoiselle has become ultra consistent and is distance suited and there is not much between her Ulla and Nicky Noo so those three must also be included. Last Chirp is better than her recent form suggests and has dropped to a competitive merit rating so is an outsider to consider.

By David Thiselton

Last year’s Vodacom Durban July winner Do It Again now has Durban on his agenda for a second time following his three-quarter length defeat in the Sun Met but at the moment he looks unlikely to attempt to win South Africa’s most famous race for a second time.

Jono Snaith said: “We are discussing it with the owners (Nic Jonsson, Bernard Kantor and Jack Mitchell) but he will most likely not run in the July because of the handicap. He will instead go for the Rising Sun Gold Challenge and the Champions Cup.”

No horse has won the July in successive years since El Picha at the turn of the century and as things stand at the moment Do It Again could be expected to be given top weight. Since Pocket Power dead-heated with the Justin Snaith-trained Dancer’s Daughter in 2008 only Marinaresco (2017) has won with top weight.

A week ago the handicappers put Do It Again one point above his Met conqueror Rainbow Bridge. Little went right for the favourite in the Met. He lost significant ground at the start and was shuffled back to second last. Three furlongs out he was last of all and, although he then made good progress, he hung badly right away from the whip and did so again when Richard Fourie changed his stick to his right hand. There now appears to be a jinx on favourites in the Met – Do It Again was the seventh in a row to meet with defeat.

Jono Snaith said: “We thought he was unlucky but that’s racing and, in any case, I wouldn’t want to take anything away from the winner.”

By Michael Clower 

Torrential rain and lightning that affected the outside broadcast was not enough to stop racing at Greyville yesterday. Bucketing rain flooded the poly track but after a lengthy delay, tractors squelching through the puddles and a track inspection, racing went ahead.

The Ashburton stable of Louis Goosen was in the doldrums for a few months towards the end of last year, but the wheel has turned in the past few weeks and he took his season’s tally to 15 as Bravo Zulu, showing no ill effects from his narrow loss last Wednesday, backed up with a solid victory in the first.

Goosen had lodged an objection on Wednesday which was over-ruled, which in the light of yesterday’s win, was probably a blessing.

“It was probably 50/50,” commented Goosen on the objection. “But you know it was 90/10 with the emotion taking over.”

The storm hit shortly after the running of the first and it was over an hour before Getaway got to strut her stuff for Wendy Whitehead. The temperamental Diamondsandpearls was sent out favourite but came under pressure early in the straight as Getaway lived up to her name.

“She’s a really nice filly, very quick,” said Whitehead. Getaway finished fourth behind winners in a KZN Breeders race but pulled a back muscle which took time to heal, hence the lengthy break.

Diego de Gouveia had a rocky start to his riding career, in and out of the Jockey Academy and riding in work rider races for a time, but his perseverance has paid off. More importantly he has caught the eye of some of the bigger yards in Gauteng and made the most of his ride on Atyaab to win the Gr1 Cape Derby for Mike de Kock on Sun Met day.

De Gouveia was only three weeks out of his time as an apprentice before winning the Derby and he showed yesterday why he has been given chances at the highest level as he steered Moshav home in the third for Stuart Pettigrew.

Well off the pace turning for home, De Gouveia steered the favourite through gap after gap to get the favourite home when at one stage he was staring at defeat.

Ivan van Wyk is one of the quiet men of racing training off the farm at Yellow Star Stud in the KZN midlands and he is mostly left with the lessor lights. But he has kept the seven-year-od Putchini on the boil and he scored the eighth win of his career in 83 starts when landing the fourth. “He is never unsound,” said Van Wyk of his charge who had four starts last month.

Anton Marcus has plum rides nearly every meeting and he makes the most of them as he rarely goes home without at least one scalp on his belt. His winning strike rate is nearly one in every three rides – 31.5% currently.

 He scored a double yesterday, driving Wordbuster home for Garth Puller in the fifth to deny championship rival Muzi Yeni on Whiskey Road and he went two clear of Yeni with another polished ride on Sir Bernadini for Dennis Bosch in the seventh with Yeni, who did not get the best of passages, third on Legend.

Serino Moodley is another rider just out of his time and he caused something of an exotic bet boil-over as he got Frank Robinson’s 20-1 chance Komeshans Flight home ahead of Heart Of A Legend.

Keagan de Melo deputised for De Gouveia on the Pettigrew-trained Bel Canto Chorus in the last, as De Gouveia was forced to leave early or miss his flight back to Johannesburg. It proved something of an arm-chair ride for De Melo as Bel Canto Chorus sprinted clear and won as she liked.

By Andrew Harrison

The Gauteng Guineas meeting follows fast on the heels of a Sun Met so punters can look forward to another day of top class racing at Turffontein Standside tomorrow.

Hawwaam is unbeaten in three starts and looks set to join his stable companion Soqrat as a Triple Crown contender. The Triple Crown has two first legs, the Grade 1 Cape Guineas or tomorrow’s Grade 2 Gauteng Guineas. Hawwaam showed his class second time out in the Dingaans over tomorrow’s course and distance when displaying a devastating turn of foot and winning by 3,40 lengths. The form has not worked out well, with second-placed Thanksgiving running disappointingly in a below par renewal of the Grade 1 Cape Derby and third-placed Green Haze finishing only fifth in the Listed Sea Cottages Stakes over 1800m.

However, Hawwaam showed his class in his next start in the Grade 3 Tony Ruffel over 1400m when the muddling pace did him no favours at all, yet he still managed to find the necessary extra to win over a trip which was too sharp.  He has class stamped all over him and is 16/10 with WSB to remain unbeaten. National Park was an easy winner of the Graham Beck Stakes over 1400m before being beaten 7,40 lengths into fourth in the Dingaans. It was the second time in two starts he had failed to reproduce his best over this trip.

There was a valid excuse the first time and the second time could have been due to the altitude. Horses hitting a flat spot after being up at altitude for roundabout three weeks has been noticed by more than one horseman and the Dingaans was run three weeks after the Graham Beck, The big Gimmethegreenlight gelding had to do the donkey work in the Dingaans too, whereas he is better coming from off the pace. He has pole position tomorrow and might be dangerous as he is also full of class and still appears to be learning.

Barahin proved himself top class in the Golden Horseshoe when beating Soqrat, who went on to win the Grade 1 Premier’s Champions Stakes, the Cape Guineas and then finish second in the Queen’s Plate. This is his first run of the season and he has a tough draw, but Anton Marcus is aboard. Against The Grain is well drawn and has struck as one with plenty of ability and he should stay the trip. Chijmes was the winner of the Sea Cottage and on paper he is not far off Hawwaam on a line through Green Haze.

He is also well drawn in two, especially considering his front-running style. Vontreo will love the step up in trip judging by his strong finish in the Tony Ruffel to be beaten just a length although he does have a tricky draw and is 2kg worse off with Hawwaam for a length beating. Owlinthetree could earn too, although he would prefer further. There is little between Marchingontogether and Chijmes, so the former is interesting with first-time blinkers on, albeit from a tough draw. They are selected in the order mentioned.

In the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas the Silvano filly Blossom will attempt to emulate her Triple Tiara-winning mother Cherry On The Top. She has class but still has a lot to prove and has landed a wide draw. Nafaayes could be the one to beat. She does not have the biggest action but it is effective and she beat a good sort in Al Danza when winning the Ipi Tombe over this course and distance last time out. Ronnie’s Candy would likely be the choice if better drawn. She showed in the Starling Stakes over 1400m she was top class when running on strongly to win easily, beating Nafaayes by 2,20 lengths.

However, she then over-raced in two further features when widely drawn over 1600m and 1400m respectively. However, last time, when running in a preparation race over 1400m down the Vaal straight she wore a tongue tie and settled beautifully so that augurs well for her tomorrow. Blossom and the promising Chitengo both have the ability to go close for sponsors Wilgerbosdrift Stud so must be included. Cordillera won the Listed Secretariat well over 1400m and is looking for this trip. The risk averse can also include Storm Destiny, Running Brave and Dagmar.

By David Thiselton

The main race at Scottsville yesterday, a MR 86 Handicap over 1200m, saw a cosy win for the promising Mark Dixon-trained Silent Crusade. .

This three-year-old Crusade filly looked capable of improving on a 78 merit rating as she is a half-sister to her useful stablemate Silver Fantasy who reached a merit rating of 92. Carrying just 52,5kg she sat just off the pace and moved through smoothly under Keagan de Melo to beat topweight Essenceoflife by 1,90 lengths.  

The meeting began with a win for the talented but problematic Duncan Howells-trained Rocket Fire in a Maiden over 1000m. This Klawervlei Stud-bred gelding is by Rock Of Gibraltar out of a placed Irish-bred mare who is a half-sister to twice Group 2 winner Bankable, who stood at stud in South Africa. His temperament has cost him as he gets worked up and then tends to over race. However, yesterday he was allowed to stride out at the head of affairs under Mark Khan and stayed on well to beat Krishnies Jet and convert 2/1 favouritism.

The second race was a Maiden over 2400m and once again the horse who was bred to win did so. The Frank Robinson-trained Cruise Cruz is by Vodacom Durban July winner Bold Silvano out of a half-sister to the SA Derby winner Seal and after sitting third in the running he stayed on well in the straight and won cosily in the end under Serino Moodley. This colt has a rangy action and could win more races over staying trips.

Moodley and Robinson then clinched a quick double with the Gimmethegreenlight filly Watchmego in a Maiden for fillies and mares over 1200m. The rank outsider benefitted from a tactic change as she shot out of the starting gates straight into the lead and managed to gallop all the way to the line for a one length victory over the fancied By The Way.

In the next race, a Maiden over 1400m, Last Of A Legends was settled near the back from a tricky draw of eight and Luke Ferraris then switched the Sean Tarry-trained three-year-old Horse Chestnut colt to the outside in the straight. He ran on full of running to win by 1,75 lengths from outsider Mr Fitz, who caught the eye with a strong finish on debut.

In the fifth, a Maiden for Fillies and Mares over 1400m, the Tony Rivalland-trained Oratorio filly Star Vega is a good looking sort with plenty of substance and after running on resolutely from midfield down the inside of horses she found another gear in impressive style to win by 1,60 lengths under Stuart Randolph from the rank outsider Class Of Eight with the favourite Winter Retreat third.

The sixth race was a MR 72 Handicap over 1200m and Lyle Hewitson took the Garth Puller-trained Toreador gelding Sentido straight to the front. He was full of gallop on the day and won easily by 3,25 lengths from the second favourite Tristful.  

The last race over 1000m saw the Darryl Moore-trained Querari gelding Woodstock Festival just getting up under Jarred Samuel to deny Bravo Zulu.  

By David Thiselton

Trainer Eric Sands said his Sun Met hero Rainbow Bridge had taken Saturday’s race well and he would now have a rest on the farm before heading for a campaign in KZN.

However, he did add the cautionary words “presuming he is still with us.”

Sands, asked on whether he had become confident as the race unfolded, replied, “I had been confident from Saturday morning, I’m not sure why, although I knew I had the right bloke on top. I only saw Do It Again running on down the inside when I watched the replay. I was only concerned about my own horse so only watched him and could see he was going to fetch the leader a long way out.”

The Ideal World gelding has a reputation for becoming hot in the preliminaries and also has a tendency to over race.

However Sands said, “He was better behaved but was his normal self. It didn’t matter though because the number went up in the frame.”

Rainbow Bridge did sweat up but Marcus’ confidence was buoyed when taking him down to the start faster than usual and then reining him back. He said, “He came back to me beautifully.”

Marcus’ reservations about the strapping four-year-old staying the trip were thus put to bed and he duly settled well in the running.

Sands concluded, “He had issues during the running of the Queen’s Plate but luckily we were able to get him over it.”

Rainbow Bridge missed last season’s Champions Season and instead ran in the first two legs of the Cape Winter series, both of which he won. He was then rumoured to be running in the Vodacom Durban July but this was halted due to a pending sale overseas. He failed the piroplasmosis test and the sale did not go through.

His career is following a similar route to the legendary Pocket Power’s, although the latter completed the Winter Series Triple Crown and then won both the L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate and the Met before heading for KZN for the first time.

An arch rivalry has developed between Rainbow Bridge and Do It Again and the Grade 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge to be run at Greyville over 1600m on June 8 is shaping up to be a clash of the titans. 

By David Thiselton

The Vaal stages a nine race workrider’s meeting at the Vaal tomorrow and it should be exciting as none of the best riders have a clear advantage in terms of the quality of their mounts.

The best bet comes in the seventh over 2000m as the hard-knocking Indy Ice should finally get it right over an ideal trip from a plum draw with the former Champion Workrider Chamu Mabaya aboard, although Flapjack will give some cheek from pole position under the astute Goodman Dadamisi.

Mabaya rides Shezahotti in the eighth race over 2000m. This Irish Flame filly went close over 1800m last time and should relish the further step up in trip. She is an honest sort and will be hard to beat from a pole position draw. However, Midnight In Paris is also a capable sort and if Charles Ndlovu rides her from off the pace over this ideal trip like she was in her penultimate start she could upset the applecart.

Mabaya has a chance with the frustrating Noble Princess in the next race over 1700m. However, this filly has become expensive to follow and is proving to be limited so although she has to be included in all exotic bets preference is for Arctic Party who can start coming into her own now being by Oratorio. Factor Fifty made a fair debut and is also a must include. One Dollar Massage and The Great Queen are also capable of earning.

The first leg of the PA should be fought by Kindavar, who has the experienced former Workrider’s Champion Francis Semela aboard, and Royal Future who represents the lethal combination of Paul Peter and Charles Ndlovu.

The latter pair will also have had a chance in the first leg of the Bipot with the first-timer Just Dance, who is by Querari out of a Whitechapel mare who is a half-sister to a Listed-winning Var filly. However, Fuyu looks the one to beat on paper and he is ridden by Marcell Pillay, who has ridden in Australia and trainer Shaylen Naidoo has put him aboard for the reason he gets along well with this horse. 

Paddy’s Legacy looks likely to improve in the fourth over 1400m having made a fair debut over 1200m despite losing a length. Tintagel is an interesting runner as he looked to have a fair chance last time over 1160m but never got in to the race and he could now be looking for this trip.

In the fifth over 1400m Colonel Caramel will be ridden by Castigo Machaelie, who has only had five rides but has a second and a fourth to his name. This rangy sort has caught the eye before and has had a succession of bad draws around the turn but should now have a fair chance down the straight. Latin Opus and Dry Your Eyes are capable of improvement and are probably more reliable selections. Prix Eclips and Gaelebale can also be included.

In the sixth race over 2400m Smart Deal has been disappointing but faces an uninspiring field. The Honey Badger needs things to go away so he will have a chance from a plum draw. Voodoo can also be involved although this race could have an upset and it would be wise to try and find more to include.

By David Thiselton