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YOUNG apprentice Mpumelelo Mjoka is hoping to follow in the footsteps of champion S’manga Khumalo and he gets a chance to show his promise on Thursday when he rides Speedy Gonvarlez in the seventh race at the Vaal.
Mjoka was in the saddle when Speedy Gonvarlez won her last start over Thursday’s course and distance, so it is understandable that trainer Lucky Houdalakis has given him the ride again.
The youngster does not have Khumalo as a rival in this 1,000m sprint, but he can expect strong challenges from Raymond Danielson on Celtic Lady and Gunter Wrogemann on the top-weight, Seventh Symphony.
Celtic Lady, who is trained by Roy Magner, won her second start at Turffontein despite encountering traffic problems and the four-year-old should go on to better things in the new campaign.
The Houdalakis stable could also be on the mark with another four-year-old, Our Miracle, in the fifth race. The filly will be ridden by Andrew Fortune who finished in third place in last season’s jockeys’ log with a tally of 172 winners.
Khumalo finished well clear of his rivals to win the title for the second time. He rode 243 winners and was 33 winners ahead of nearest rival Anthony Delpech.
Khumalo could mount a challenge against Fortune in the fifth race as he rides Green Crest for trainer David Nieuwenhuizen and the mare will be sharper after her recent outing at Turffontein.
Mjoka also has a ride in this race and he will partner Mythical Magic for champion trainer Sean Tarry.
If statistics released on Wednesday are correct, Tarry’s runners in the 2015-16 season earned just R438 short of R28m. Justin Snaith finished as runner-up o n the trainers’ log with stake earnings of R19. 1m. Mike Bass, who won Sunday’s Champions Cup with Marinaresco, took third spot with earnings of R18. 6m.
Callan Murray held off the late challenge of Lyle Hewitson to take the leading apprentice title and he will be hoping to go close on the French-bred filly Vul Indlela in the third race.
This inmate of Mike de Kock’s stable improved on her start and has a chance of opening her account on Thursday.
Khumalo’s mount Little Tokoyo is worth including in place accumulator and Bi-Pot perms. Another with each-way claims is Randall Simons’ ride Seal My Fate.
Silver Sage, a beaten favourite on his most recent outing at Turffontein, will bid to recoup those losses when he contests the second race over 1,600m. The gelding may have most to fear from Matchmaker who returns from a two-month break.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Mjoka seeks Speedy double
YOUNG apprentice Mpumelelo Mjoka is hoping to follow in the footsteps of champion S’manga Khumalo and he gets a chance to show his promise on Thursday when he rides Speedy Gonvarlez in the seventh race at the Vaal.
Mjoka was in the saddle when Speedy Gonvarlez won her last start over Thursday’s course and distance, so it is understandable that trainer Lucky Houdalakis has given him the ride again.
The youngster does not have Khumalo as a rival in this 1,000m sprint, but he can expect strong challenges from Raymond Danielson on Celtic Lady and Gunter Wrogemann on the top-weight, Seventh Symphony.
Celtic Lady, who is trained by Roy Magner, won her second start at Turffontein despite encountering traffic problems and the four-year-old should go on to better things in the new campaign.
The Houdalakis stable could also be on the mark with another four-year-old, Our Miracle, in the fifth race. The filly will be ridden by Andrew Fortune who finished in third place in last season’s jockeys’ log with a tally of 172 winners.
Khumalo finished well clear of his rivals to win the title for the second time. He rode 243 winners and was 33 winners ahead of nearest rival Anthony Delpech.
Khumalo could mount a challenge against Fortune in the fifth race as he rides Green Crest for trainer David Nieuwenhuizen and the mare will be sharper after her recent outing at Turffontein.
Mjoka also has a ride in this race and he will partner Mythical Magic for champion trainer Sean Tarry.
If statistics released on Wednesday are correct, Tarry’s runners in the 2015-16 season earned just R438 short of R28m. Justin Snaith finished as runner-up o n the trainers’ log with stake earnings of R19. 1m. Mike Bass, who won Sunday’s Champions Cup with Marinaresco, took third spot with earnings of R18. 6m.
Callan Murray held off the late challenge of Lyle Hewitson to take the leading apprentice title and he will be hoping to go close on the French-bred filly Vul Indlela in the third race.
This inmate of Mike de Kock’s stable improved on her start and has a chance of opening her account on Thursday.
Khumalo’s mount Little Tokoyo is worth including in place accumulator and Bi-Pot perms. Another with each-way claims is Randall Simons’ ride Seal My Fate.
Silver Sage, a beaten favourite on his most recent outing at Turffontein, will bid to recoup those losses when he contests the second race over 1,600m. The gelding may have most to fear from Matchmaker who returns from a two-month break.
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Published by Arena Holdings and distributed with the Financial Mail on the last Thursday of every month except December and January.