Latest news with #EquusHorseoftheYear
The Citizen
6 days ago
- Business
- The Citizen
No hanging about in Gold Challenge at Greyville
The Equator's southern appearance will be closely watched. Oriental Charm, seen here winning last year's Durban July, is in the field for the Gold Challenge on Saturday. Picture: Gerhard Duraan/Gallo Images There'll be no dawdling behind the Drill Hall at Greyville on Saturday afternoon; no ambling, loitering, strolling or sauntering. It'll be, 'Quick march! At the double!' – recalling the bad old days when the infantry base resounded with fighting energy. The 1600m starting pole next to the Drill Hall plays host to 12 horses in the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge and making the 2025 contest really interesting is a glut of accomplished front runners in the field. The high-quality line-up includes Equus Horse of the Year, and likely favourite, Dave The King, who always likes to make the pace in a race. Reigning Durban July champ Oriental Charm does not like to be headed at any stage – and can get a bit annoyed if it happens. The excellent Montien is seldom out of the first two in running, and See It Again performs best when travelling in a handy position. Other contenders Those are some of the best middle-distance racehorses in the country who'll be fighting it out for the early lead. But they're up against some sprinters with natural gate speed and cruising power – such as Café Culture and William Robertson. The real 'milers' in the race, such as Great Plains, Gladatorian and Royal Aussie might be outgunned at the start but will be hoping overeager speedballs cut each other's throats and leave the way clear for 'closers'. It'll be a good watch. A Grade 1 trophy and R2-million are on the finishing line, while several runners are also getting their acts together for the Hollywoodbets Durban July a month hence. The Greyville meeting will get massive international exposure with Races 7 to 10 being part of a Hong Kong World Pools Saturday extravaganza that also takes in the famous English Derby at Epsom. Turffontein meeting Sunday's meeting at Turffontein racecourse is a bit overshadowed by that glamour, but racing aficionados will watch it keenly. The Jubilee Handicap and the Egoli Mile feature a number of Durban July hopefuls – all out to do well and crack the nod for the big one. Among them are Legend Of Arthur, Confederate, Atticus Finch, Son Of Raj, Musical Score, Olivia's Way and Immediate Edge. But the most intriguing is surprise July entry The Equator, making his South African debut after being imported from the Irish stables of the world's top trainer Aiden O'Brien. Nigel Riley, new co-owner of the colt, who is a son of the great Galileo, put out a media statement on Wednesday saying: 'We have been inundated with enquiries about the well-being of The Equator and have decided to appraise the racing public of the situation, so that they can make their own decisions… He went into (trainer) Tony Peter's yard on 28 March, where he has made excellent progress and has put up some eye-catching work. 'Last Sunday, The Equator had a 1600m gallop on the inside track at Turffontein against a couple of horses, including a Grade 1 winner. He won the gallop by three lengths, going away from them, and his work rider was as impressed as onlookers. We look forward to the race. We hope this will assist punters.'
The Citizen
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Callan puts Dave back on throne
New Aussie citizen teams up with the De Kock powerhouse. Callan Murray reckons we can be thankful he hasn't returned to South Africa with a mullet. He's been in Australia for three years and has been doing a bit of surfing – two high-risk areas for disagreeable hairstyles. Jokes aside and hair be damned, local racing fans are just thankful to have the former champion apprentice jockey – and a favourite son of the local turf – back in action in the motherland. Murray wasted no time reminding us of his prodigious talent on horseback, booting home two winners at Turffontein on Saturday in his first meeting back, then popping down to KwaZulu-Natal the next day to pilot the Equus Horse of the Year, Dave The King, to victory in the Sir Theophilus St George A Stakes at Scottsville. Murray-De Kock partnership The prodigal's return had been kept under wraps until form guides for the weekend were printed and there was much conjecture about his sudden appearance. Well-known horse owner Joao da Mata was quick on the draw with a YouTube chat with a still jet-lagged Murray and got some answers. Mathew de Kock, recently returned from a successful training sojourn in Aus, to team up with his famous father Mike, has been instrumental in the jockey's return. Mathew and Callan have long been close friends and that bond continued Downunder – even though the former was based in Melbourne and the latter in Adelaide. Indeed, Callan's brand-new engagement came via the De Kock connection, with fiancé Dani having worked as an exercise rider for Mathew in Melbourne. In seems the Murray-De Kock partnership is a firm one – albeit of indeterminate duration in this iteration. But the jock says he will be looking for other rides on good horses. For the moment, it's a 'see how it goes' situation. The move has been made possible by Callan obtaining permanent residency in Australia – ironically. If things don't work out in South Africa, he can always flit back to mulletland. Or he can bounce between the countries – and perhaps others, too. Covid and lockdowns 'From when I left SA racing to where it is today there has been a significant improvement,' Murray told Da Mata. 'The powers that be in the various provinces have done a fantastic job in getting the country back to a really good racing industry.' When a much younger-looking Murray went to Australia in August 2021, SA racing had been hammered by Covid and government lockdowns and seemed on its last legs. With a handful of Grade 1 winners under his belt, courtesy of the De Kock stable with the likes of Hawaam, Mustaaqeem and Rafeef, and riding experience in the hothouse of Hong Kong, the young man secured a contract with the South Australia racing authorities and the possibility of citizenship in a place where racing was thriving. There were winners in Aus, but the lure of being a stable jockey to a powerhouse stable like De Kock has tempted him back. No Hollywoodbets Durban July booking has been made yet, but he's looking at possibilities, with a light weight and a young horse prominent in his deliberations. Murray currently rides at a low of 56kg, but will work on 53kg with enough incentive.
