Jockey’s challenge with a riddle

QUINTON Riddle, one of the biggest names in Zimbabwe horse racing, will be among international jockeys who will clash in the four-nation Jockeys Challenge to be held in Nairobi, Kenya in January next year.

Riddle, who has won a plethora of group one races in Zimbabwe and South Africa, was chosen by the Zimbabwean Jockeys Club to lead the three-member team that also includes veteran jockey Kevin Derere and Brendon McNaughton, a champion apprentice in 2013.

The Jockeys’ Challenge, sponsored by Jockeys Club of Kenya is slated for January 3-4. The Zimbabwe team will compete with Kenyan, Mauritian and South African top riders. Howard Mukundu, the Mashonaland Turf Club chief operating officer, yesterday told the Financial Gazette Sport that he was confident the Zimbabwean team will excel at the competition.

“Our jockeys have always been among the best in Africa and in the world. They have raced and won in South Africa and I don’t see any reason why they cannot beat the South Africans,” said Mukundu.

Jockeys will accumulate points individually for their home country to win the overall title.  Although this competition was a regular on the southern African racing calendar in the 90s with the likes of Kevin Wright representing Zimbabwe, it will be the first jockeys’ contest in 10 years due to the none availability of sponsorship.

The Zimbabwe team faces a strong challenge especially from South African jockeys who ride regularly in their country where racing is held virtually on a daily basis. In Zimbabwe races come after every two weeks.  The 37-year old champion jockey, Riddle, was champion apprentice in 1995 and has become a dominant figure in Zimbabwean horse racing for many years. He has won the jockeys’ title four times, ridden over 450 winners in his career and is the reigning champion jockey. Riddle rides under the Lisa Harris yard who on her part is also a champion jockey. Riddle considers Earl of Surrey as the best horse he has ever ridden at Borrowdale race course.

Earl of Surrey won the famous OK Grand Challenge in 2012. His first winner was Dream Deal on March 22, 2010. McNaughton was champion apprentice in 2013. He has over 30 winners and 135 places in 315 rides. He won the Zimbabwe National Army Charity race with Pleasant Valley in November 2013.

Derere who is 29-years old was champion apprentice in 2004. He has ridden over 390 winners and 2 093 placings in over 6 000 rides. He says his favourite jockey is himself. The 23-year old McNaughton is the youngest of the Zimbabwean team . Attached to the Alyson Wright stable, McNaughton joined the Zimbabwe jockey academy in 2007, and had his first run in 2009.

The three jockeys will take their time riding at Borrowdale race- course and in South Africa in preparation for the four-nation jockey championship. Kenyan trainer Nuno Nur who has since returned home, raced at Borrowdale racecourse in the 2013 season and won the first leg of the Triple Crown with Approval Rating. – Michael Kariati

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