Jockey legend Felix Coetzee believes the time is perfect for Gavin Lerena to take on the Hong Kong Challenge and is looking forward to following his career.
Coetzee, who achieved hero status on the island nation partly through his association with the legendary racehorse Silent Witness, will be in Hong Kong himself for twelve days from tomorrow working with apprentices.
He said, “The competition in Hong Kong right now is as tough as it’s ever been, but Gavin goes there with so many positives, such as the Jockeys Championship and the International Jockeys Challenge victory, and at the age of 30 is in his prime and riding with such maturity. His arrival will also coincide I believe with the departure of Ryan Moore and Silvestre de Sousa (both due to return to the UK for the British flat season) and they have had such good support he could be settling in where they left off.”
Talking about the idiosyncrasies of Chinese culture, Coetzee said a jockey not viewed as lucky would be quickly shunned, but did not expect this to affect Lerena. On top of his own current confidence, trainers will be confident in him having seen him ride in the Challenge. Lerena would also have had his eyes open in the few days he was there so will not be subjected to a complete culture shock.
Meanwhile, Coetzee has been working with Cape Town rider Craig du Plooy and has mentored him on all aspects from tactical awareness to riding style. He has been deeply impressed with Du Plooy’s commitment, especially considering how hard it is to change habits and “muscle memory” as a forty-year-old. He has little doubt it will bring about a change of fortunes in a game which has the catch 22 situation of having the need to be rated before getting good rides and needing good rides to be rated.
Coetzee is also mentoring former champion jockey S’Manga Khumalo and is helping in his drive to win the closely contested Championships.
Coetzee, who is steeped in the methods of Monty Roberts, also “breaks-in” young horses for a number of Cape Town yards.
By David Thiselton
Picture: Sportingpost
