It was pleasing to see two apprentice races at Turffontein Insideon Thursday, but after a potentially nasty incident in the first of them it has to be questioned whether certain aspects of safe riding are being drummed in enough to the youngsters and whether policing in South Africa is stringent enough to ensure riding is generally safe. (The pictures shows the apprentices at a Vaal race meeting last year). (JC Photos)
If there is one aspect of South African racing that is not adequately policed it is the rule about being clear before cutting in front of an opponent horse.
On Thursday the manoeuvre was witnessed once again and the chain reaction caused a rider to fall off in a manner which was scarily similar to the way Anthony Delpech fell when sustaining a career ending injury i.e. he clung on to the side of the horse before dropping off.
Mxolisi Mbuto appeared to be okay after the fall and in this case no further news was likely good news.
It could have been a lot worse.
It has to be asked whether seven days is adequate punishment for such a transgression?
Read on after the stipes report shown below because the best example of this transgression just being totally ignored actually happened in one of our biggest races, the L’Ormarins King’s Plate.
Today’s stipendiary report about the incident stated:
a) At approximately the 1200m, TINTAMARRE stumbled badly and dislodged Apprentice M Mbuto after clipping the heels of CARNELO (*K J Lihaba), which shifted out when awkwardly placed on the heels of GUERILLA WARFARE (*G Dookhit), which shifted in when insufficiently clear.
Apprentice G Dookhit was charged with a contravention of Rule 62.2.7 in that he, as the rider of GUERILLA WARFARE, failed to ensure that he did not cause interference to TINTAMARRE (*M Mbuto) and CARNELO (*K J Lihaba) when he shifted in at approximately the 1200m. Apprentice G Dookhit signed an Admission of Guilt and is suspended from riding in races for a period of seven days.
Suspension dates: 14 February 2025 to 20 February 2025 (both days inclusive).
Click here to watch a replay of the race
In the L’Ormarins King’s Plate Montien ran an absolute cracker and nothing should be taken away from him and trainer Piet Botha.
Montien came from a wide draw and assumed the lead in front of Oriental Charm just before they reached the first turn.
The stipendiary steward report stated:
Racing into the turn at the 1200m, ORIENTAL CHARM (JP van der Merwe) was steadied when close to the heels of MONTIEN (C Orffer).
How was it possible for Oriental Charm to be close to Montien’s heels if the latter did not cut in front of him without being adequately clear?
Van der Merwe clearly had to take a stranglehold to avoid running into the back of Montien as the latter came across and as Oriental Charm starts taking the turn he actually pecks slightly.
Click here to watch a replay of the L’Ormarins King’s Plate
Today’s incident took place in an apprentices’ race.
It has to be asked whether the importance of being clear before cutting in is is being drummed in and whether the policing backs up the importance?
The impressionable youngsters are just going to follow suit if it is happening without being brought to book.
