Nicholas Patel is pictured finishing second on King Pelles in a Coinditions Plate event over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on November 7 (Candiese Lenferna Photography)
Nicholas Patel has been punished for a ride on King Pelles which lacked vigour .
On Saturday King Pelles was favourite for the Betway Summer Cup and, after being caught wide and then being sent for home early, he was gone by the 400m mark.
Two separate races over different distances, but will King Pelles’ Summer Cup run provide Patel with the grounds to appeal his punishment, considering the fine turn of foot King Pelles displayed with Patel aboard after being left alone in the first half of the straight?
The details of the inuiry are shown below:
The National Horseracing Authority of Southern Africa (NHA) confirms that at an inquiry held in Durban on 20 November 2025, Jockey N Patel was charged with a contravention of Rule 62.2.2. The particulars being that, as the rider of KING PELLES, he failed to ride this horse in a competent and professional manner, when he delivered a ride that lacked sufficient vigour, determination and urgency from approximately the 350m to the 200m in Race 2, at Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse on 7 November 2025.
Jockey Patel pleaded not guilty but was found guilty of the charge.
After considering the evidence and mitigating factors presented, as well as taking Jockey Patel’s record pertaining to this type of contravention into account, the Inquiry Board imposed a suspension from riding in races for a period of forty-five (45) days, of which twenty-four (24) days are suspended for a period of one (1) year. The suspended portion of the penalty is conditional upon Mr Patel not being found guilty of a contravention of Rule 62.2.2 within the stipulated period.
Jockey Patel has the Right of Appeal against both the finding and the penalty imposed.
The Inquiry Board after interviewing Trainer Gareth van Zyl and carefully considering the particulars of the matter, decided not to proffer a charge against him.
Enquiries:
A D HYDE
Racing Control Executive
