Nichola Yuen’s mount Dame Of Trix (far side) was pipped by Demanding Dave, but an objection was later upheld and their finishing order was reversed (Picture: Wayne Marks)
Hong Kong apprentice jockey Nichola Yuen arrived in South Africa a week ago and was celebrating a winner at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Sunday, even if it had to come via the boardroom.
In her third and final ride of her opening meeting out here, in the Woodruff Racing Syndicate Class 4 contest over 1000m, she was aboard the James Crawford-trained 16-1 shot Dame Of Trix and under a balanced ride came together with the well-backed Mike Stewart-trained favourite Demanding Dave (33-10) in the final stages.
With Demanding Dave running a bit green, and Richard Fourie accidentally striking his opponent’s crop from her hand in the final 100m, the Stewart gelding got the verdict by a nose.
The post race interview took place with Demanding Dave’s connections, but unfortunately for them the upheld objection spoilt what what would have been a dramatic story in itself.
Mike Stewart had been forced to get his Kalk Bay-based farrier Craig Sutton to fetch Demanding Dave and bring him to the County Course, after an accident on Ou Kaapse Weg created traffic delays en route from The Dunes in Noordhoek.
Trainer James Crawford lodged an objection on behalf of the runner-up on the grounds of interference in the latter stages. The Stipes upheld it and Nichola Yuen had just registered the first winner of her career in the boardroom.
She’s a neat and balanced rider and could pay to follow with her 1,5kg claim over the next few months.
On the video evidence available to racings fans the decision might have seemed a touch harsh. Demanding Dave had been tending to hang outward but Richard Fourie then switches his stick to the right hand and straightens him. He then hangs inward and bumps Dames Of Trix on, or just before, the line. The stipendiary stewards would have been able to see exactly when the bump took place with their views from all angles and would have been able to adjudge the effect it had.
Here is the stipendiary steward report on the incident:
At the 100m Apprentice N Yuen (DAME OF TRIX) had her crop accidentally struck from her grasp by Jockey R Fourie (DEMANDING DAVE). In the latter stages DEMANDING DAVE (R Fourie), which initially shifted out and was straightened, then shifted inwards away from the crop and bumped DAME OF TRIX approximately four strides before the winning post. The Stewards called for a race review which was followed by Trainer J Crawford lodging an objection on behalf of the 2nd- placed horse DAME OF TRIX (*N Yuen) against the 1
st-placed DEMANDING DAVE (R Fourie) on the grounds of interference in the latter stages. The Objection Board, after considering the evidence, reviewing the patrol films and giving consideration to the margin of 0,05 of a length between
the two horses concerned, was satisfied that but for the interference DAME OF TRIX (*N Yuen) would have finished ahead of DEMANDING DAVE (R Fourie) had this incident not occurred and therefore upheld the Objection and amended the result.
Click here to watch the race replay
Click here to watch the belated winning interview
Nichola arrived in South Africa a week ago with both Ms Amy Chan, Headmistress of the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Apprentice Jockeys’ School, and former South African champion jockey and Hong Kong legend Felix Coetzee, who is a consultant to the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Racing Development Board.
After walking the course early on Sunday under the guidance of Coetzee and Karl Neisius, the 1,5kg claimer, who has ridden 71 winners in Australia and New Zealand, achieved a remarkable outcome – albeit not in the way she would have chosen.
