If there is a better jockey riding at the moment than current champion Lyle Hewitson, then he is sitting at home watching on the couch. One of the litany’s around the training yards, usual moans aside, is the lack of depth in our jockey ranks.

Who is going to replace the likes of Anton Marcus, Piere Strydom, Mark Khan and Anthony Delpech, Depech aside, that are nearing the end of their careers in the saddle?

But before these seasoned riders rose to prominence, the refrain was the same – who was going to replace the likes of Martie Schoeman, James Maree and Gerald Turner, who in turn replaced legends Harold “Tiger” Wright, “Cocky” Feldman, Johnny McCreedy and Charlie Berends to name but a few of the late, greats of their time.

Along came Michael Roberts, who was a bit more than just useful, the two Bert’s, Abercrombie and Hayden, were no journeyman riders, Garth Puller was a legend and Basil Marcus, Barty Leisher, Felix Coetzee, and my memory deserts, weren’t half bad either.

There may be small gaps between generations and the complexion of the jockey room has changed, literally and figuratively, but the cream will always rise to the top in one of the toughest and most dangerous sporting professions on earth – Formula One drivers at 300km per hour have more chance of surviving serious injury in a crash than a jockey taking a spill in a race – or just slow track work for that matter.

Granted, Hewitson has teamed up with one of the best agents in the game, Dees Dayanand, Anthony Delpech’s agent before his unfortunate accident, but Dees knows a good horse when he sees one, on the track and off it. So does current trainer’s championship leader Sean Tarry who worked out Hewitson early in his career and was instrumental in his championship win.

In the last two meetings at Greyville Hewitson has racked up the winners. Three on Sunday, and his four-timer at Greyville yesterday was a combination of finesse and straight grind. Injury saw a belated start to his season so his chance of defending his national title was dead in the water before it even started, but he cracked the 50-winner mark yesterday in a rapid climb up the ladder.

In short, if Hewitson can keep a lid on his weight, Bernard Fayd’Herbe could be a mentor, and a sound head on his shoulders, his services will be in demand where ever he chooses to ride.

By Andrew Harrison

The 2019 Vodacom Durban July is still some three months away but the debate around the weights is already a hot topic. In this light, Gold Circle chose 20 likely contenders for the great race and asked National Horse Racing Authority Handicapper Matthew Lips how he would frame the weights based on current form.

Lips took into account those that would be under sufferance and added the actual weight to be carried in terms of the race conditions and also used the July WFA scale to calculate the weights of the three-year-olds.

As things currently stand, last year’s Vodacom Durban July winner Do It Again would carry top weight of 60kg followed by Sun Met winner Rainbow Bridge on 59.5kg.

Top weighted three-year-old would be SA Classic winner Hawwaam who would shoulder 56kg, 1 kg less than the maximum weight for a three-year-old male, with Gauteng Guineas winner National Park 54kg.

It must be emphasised that the 20 runners on the list are random picks of horses that currently feature high up in the ante-post betting and are not guaranteed to run as it is entirely up to their connections whether they take part or not.

Some bookmakers have priced up in the ante-post market but punters must bear in mind that their money is forfeit should their fancy not make the final field. Betting shown below is merely a guide to the current market.

1. Do It Again 60.0
2. Rainbow Bridge 59.50
3. Hawwaam 56.00
4. Barahin 53.0
5. Buffalo Bill Cody 53.0
6. Legal Eagle 57.50
7. Oh Susanna 57.00
8. National Park 54.0
9. Lady in Black 56.0
10. Front and Centre 52.0
11. Head Honcho 58.50
12. Doublemint 53.0
13. Undercover Agent 57.50
14. Magnificent Seven 53.0
15. Twist of Fate 53.0
16. Cascapedia 52.50
17. Return Flight 52.0
18. Nafaayes 52.0
19. Tilbury Fort 53.0
20. Made to Conquer 53.0

Rainbow Bridge 11/2, Buffalo Bill Cody 13/2, Do It Again 8/1,  Hawwaam 17/2, Barahin 11/1 , Doublemint 13/1,  Zillzaal 15/1,  Head Honcho 18/1,  Cascapedia 18/1,  Hero`s Honour 20/1,  Soqrat 25/1,   Tilbury Fort  25/1,  Clouds Unfold, Twist Of Fate,  Made To Conquer, Noble Secret, One World 28/1, Undercover Agent 33/1,

Legal Eagle, Front And Centre, Atyaab, 35/1, Coral Fever, Oh Susanna, Lady In Black, National Park 45/1,  Eyes Wide Open, Charles, Magnificent Seven 50/1, 55/1 and upwards others. First nominations for the 2019 Vodacom Durban July to be run over 2200m at Greyville Racecourse on Saturday, July 6, are due by 11am on Wednesday, April 17, 2019.

By Andrew Harrison

The Vaal stages a nine race meeting tomorrow and with sun forecast there should be no need for a switch to another venue.

Punters could get off to a good start with Union Castle, who caught the eye second time out running on over this course and distance. He looks to have those who have run held and the danger could be the first-timer Fly Away, a Paul Peter-trained R100,000 What A Winter filly out of a one-time winning Argonaut mare who comes from a speedy family. Fly Away is closely in-bred to Western Winter.

In the second race over 1000m Palace Of Dreams can be bankered in the Bipot. She has a nice stride and showed resolve second time out before producing a strong late run to just fail. A first-timer once again looks the main danger. Montreal Mist is a R700,000 Soft Falling Rain filly out of Esterel, who was a Listed-winning sprinter by Var so she should have plenty of speed.

The first leg of the PA is a weak stayer’s maiden and Smart Deal has a good opportunity to get off the mark from pole position. However, he is not the most reliable sort so Robusto, who was only about 2,5 lengths behind him last time, can be included along with Born Rich.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 over 1000m Robberg Express is a nice looking son of What A Winter who has speed and the ability to stay all the way to the line. He has not raced for 121 days but this is his third run after gelding and he can go well fresh over this trip. Mr Whatson won from the front on debut and looks to have a fair future as he showed resolve. He has substance and a nice stride and has plenty of scope for improvement. Deerupt comes from a fair form race over 1200m and is the best in at the weights according to official merit ratings, so has to be included. Scoop and Dalai’s Promise also have to be included in the Pick 6.

In the first leg of the Jackpot over 1000m Galactic Warrior has always been held in high regard and his last win was over this course and distance with a 4kg claimer aboard. He has been raised four points since then but has another 4kg claimer up and he might well have benefited from a 103 day layoff. Winter Storm is a progressive sort who is capable of overcoming a three point raise for his last win. Purple Diamond has Galactic Warrior held on the form of their last meeting but that was at Turffontein and he does not have the best record at The Vaal. However, he should be included in all exotics.

In the sixth race over 1200m Operetta has shown ability but has not had the best of lucky recently. She has consequently dropped to a mark just two points higher than her last win, which was over this trip on the old Vaal Inside track. She won by 3,25 lengths that day so if she can have more luck than in recent races she can go close. La Bastide drops down in class off a merit rating which has dropped from a winning mark of 81 down to 77. She has a chance despite having to carry 61,5kg. Che Bella has a chance on formlines too. Rings And Things bounced back to form with blinkers on last time over 1400m and has won over this course and distance before, so she cannot be left out of the Pick 6 and Jackpot. Generous Notion is better than her last run and is also worth including, although she is off quite a tough mark at present.

In the seventh race over 1400m Witch Of The West has always struck as one with some class and having had two fair comeback runs over trips too sharp, she now steps up to her best trip. She will go close. Gimme Hope Johanna had to overcome a wide draw over this trip at Turffontein last time and was making late progress. She can be competitive here down the straight. Only To Win is an honest sort who is also effective over this trip. She will be right there as usual. 

In the eighth race over 1400m Manhattan Cocktail is a talented horse who can rise above his current merit rating. He is ideally distance suited here too. He is made the best bet of the day.

In the last race over 1400m Refuge has a good chance as he drops back to his best trip off a lowered merit rating. Endofmarch is another one who will enjoy the step down in trip and his merit rating has also been lowered. Street Flyer falls into the same boat and those three could get punters through.

By David Thiselton

Tobie Spies had the first Durbanville winner of his long career when Anthony Andrews made all on 27-4 shot Singfonico in the VHM Racing Handicap last Saturday and he runs three, plus a reserve, there this Saturday.

He is based at the Vaal and had his biggest success at Kenilworth on New Year’s Eve 1988 with Yardmaster in the Queen’s Plate. He has had a string at Milnerton for the last few months.

He explains: “In Yardmaster’s time we only took a couple of horses for the Cape Town season but this time Van Halen (his most recent Grade 1 winner, in the Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion at Scottsville) was qualified for the CTS 1200 and I thought I might as well take a few others as well and stay for a bit. I have around 17 at Milnerton at the moment and I expect we may pull them back to the Vaal in a month or two.”

What does he make of his chances this Saturday? “I haven’t seen the racecard yet so I don’t have a feel for the opposition but Steffi’s Graft (twice a winner at Kenilworth) ran well for a long way last Saturday but got tired towards the end while All About The Bass (second reserve in the last) ran a very nice race to finish third so he must be in with a bit of a chance if he gets in.”

By Michael Clower

Mpumi Majoka, who suffered a horrific fall while riding work last year, is almost back to full fitness after spending six months on the side-lines.

“The doctors said that I would be off for about a year, maybe 18 months, but it has been just over six months and I am determined to get back in the saddle,” he said at Ashburton yesterday where he put a dozen horses through their paces.

Majoka, who was riding the crest of a wave before his accident, went crashing through the rails when a stirrup leather snapped while riding work. His knee was severely injured and a severed artery added to the complications.

“The surgeon said that he could amputate my leg, or I could take a chance as it was a life-threatening injury. I decided to take a chance.”

The 22-year-old, who has ridden 58 winners, said he was about 96% fit but would take it slowly in making his comeback. “I am working with a bio kineticist and will give it another two weeks or so before I ask for rides. Maybe, one or two a meeting if I can get them.”

“I know it will be hard to make a comeback. You know that if you are out of this game people forget about you quickly. Hopefully I can get some rides here (KZN) before I go back to Jo’Burg but ideally I would like to commute back and forth.”

The South African Jockey Academy has extended his apprenticeship because of the accident and to assist in his re-hab but Majoka only needs two more winners to lose his claim.

By Andrew Harrison

Image: Apprentice Mpumi Majoka with legendary jockey turned trainer, Michael Roberts.