David Thiselton
Deryl Daniels is not getting many opportunities in South Africa but on Saturday once again displayed what he can do when given a chance by riding the Erupt gelding Buster Barnes to Zimbabwe Triple Crown glory at Borrowdale.
Daniels rode the Debra Swanson-trained gelding in all three legs, which are all Gr 3s, winning the Zimbabwe Guineas by five lengths, the Island Farewell Zimbabwe 2000 by two lengths and Saturday’s Coca Cola Zimbabwe Derby by ten lengths.
Deryl said, “Buster Barnes was my first winner after I had started riding again. I was aboard for his debut which he won by ten lengths. He was bought over here at the BSA August two-year-old sale for R200,000 with the idea of winning the Triple Crown and it has worked out nicely. He is a decent little horse. He is still very immature, still very soft and will be an even better horse next year.”
Buster Barnes was an astute purchase.
He has a speedy female line with his Caesour dam Swervilia winning five times from 1000m to 1200m, including a Listed win and a Gr 2 second, while his second dam Lady Celeste (Amour Da Fleuve (USA)) won five times from 1000m to 1400m, including the Gr 2 Sceptre Stakes.
However, the Dubawi stallion Erupt won two Gr 1s over the Derby distance of a mile-and-a-half, so was going to impart the stamina.
Daniels was content to sit last early, about six lengths off the lead.
He moved into fifth place about a quarter of the way through the contest and into fourth place by the 1000m mark, still traveling sweetly.
Pair Of Aces had opened up a big lead, but when they turned for home Buster Barnes made up the ground effortlessly and was being eased up when winning by ten lengths from stablemate Follow The Band.
Deryl has now been left with a dilemma.
He rode the Swanson-trained Master Of My Fate gelding Majestic Warrior in the following race, Zimbabwe’s biggest horse race, the R900,000 Gr 1 Castle Tankard over 2000m, and finished a three length second to the Bridget Stidolph-trained Raffles, who was ridden by Gavin Lerena.
He now has to choose between Buster Barnes and Majestic Warrior for the Gr 1 OK Grand Challenge over 1800m on June 8, which carries a purse of R1.8 million.
He said, “It’s a nice predicament to be in. I will probably end up on Buster Barnes. Jackie and Duncan Cocksedge are like my adopted grandparents over there, I stay with them and ride their horses, and they own Majestic Warrior and have shares in Buster Barnes so won’t mind either way.”
Buster Barnes is owned by the Centaur Syndicate, whose chairman is C John Smith.
Smith said, “The Triple Crown has only been won about seven times in the history of the Zim. I and some good pals were very pleased and proud to win the big handicap, the 2023 Castle Tankard with Ideal View, but elusive Triple Crowns still remain our chief goal. And the current season has filled Centaur with much pleasure – no more so than when Buster Barnes cruised through to win the Zimbabwe Derby. To buy a yearling or two-year-old, bring it through the months soundly to the three different races of the Triple Crown is not easy. Not only does the horse have to be exceptional, but so too does the trainer. As for the jockey, he needs to ride his races in three different ways and be able to go to plan B with ease. What does surprise me a quite a lot is that the jockey we chose to ride Buster Barnes is not better supported in South Africa. I know there was a period when Deryl Daniels was not riding and for a variety of reasons but he is back now – in full command of himself and I am impressed. His style, his balance, his calmness and his overall riding skills are there in abundance – and he can ride at 53kg. Here is a jockey SA trainers should be using a lot more – but not until Buster Barnes retires!”
Deryl shares the Swanson stable rides with Jeffery Syster, with himself tending to get the heavyweight rides and Jeffery the lightweights.
Well known jockeys agent George “Titch” Croucher approached Deryl when a jockey was needed for the Republic Cup in July last year. He accepted and on that day ran second on 2023 Castle Tankard winner Ideal View and also rode Buster Barnes to victory on debut.
He said, “From there it took off. It has been a wonderful blessing and I really enjoy going there.”
Deryl is not only full of praise for the “nice people” of Zimbabwean racing, but also regards Borrowdale as probably the best racetrack he has ridden on in Southern Africa.
He said, “It is probably the fairest and nicest track I have ridden on. Most giving, most fair, it has everything … beautiful track.”
Just watching racing on TV at Borrowdale it is easy to see what a great racecourse it is and hopefully the glory days can return.
There is actually zero income from betting for Zimbabwean racing and most of the races are run simply for “bragging rights” by the passionate industrymen.
Yet the club is now in decent health financial health through the development of a retail park as well as infield farming activities. There are also a number of other typically creative Zimbabwean initiatives about to bear fruit in the near future. It is also understood that discussions are underway to rectify the betting shortcoming too.
Things are looking up for Zimbabwean racing and next season races like the OK Grand Challenge will likely attract a few South African runners.