New faces for Jock Challenge

There are some big names in the international Jockeys match against South Africans in November…

Hayley Turner, Frenchman Christophe Lemaire and Panamian Eduardo Pedroza are among the stars who will take part in the international Jockeys match against the South Africans in November.

But the big surprise this time is that Kenilworth has been dropped from the list of venues which are now restricted to Turffontein and Fairview.

The organisers have had trouble attracting enough runners in Cape Town in the past but Racing Association chairman Larry Wainstein said yesterday: “We wanted to give the series a different spin this time and so Port Elizabeth has been given the opportunity. The idea is also to have some races on polytrack.”

Durban was dropped previously, at the request of Gold Circle, but the latest change will be a disappointment to Cape Town racegoers who enjoyed seeing the big names in action.

Wainstein, the driving force behind the event, hopes to have the remaining three international riders firmed up shortly but he confirmed that there will be no-one from Turkey. That country’s representative last year, Yasin Pilavcilar, attracted a lot of criticism and was described by Joey Ramsden as “absolutely appalling.”

Wainstein added: “We will ensure that we have a decent team this year.” The Fairview fixture is on Friday November 13 (hopefully not an inauspicious choice!) and the Turffontein one the following day.

Turner, who rode here in 2010, has been the most successful female Flat jockey in Britain and she retires at the end of the year. Lemaire’s major triumphs include the 2011 Melbourne Cup and Pedroza has been four times champion in Germany.

Gavin Lerena will captain the home team which is also expected to comprise S’Manga Khumalo, Greg Cheyne and Anthony Delpech plus two still-to-be-selected wild cards.

By Michael Clower

I hear Frankie is a possibility

Striker and Dettori?
Should be fun

Remeber turner is chucking riding so this will possibly be he last ever rides ?

About time PE get something

whoah wrote: About time PE get something

What do u mean u have the wind and rain

yet again the natal punters get shown the middle finger by gold circle rather give them the cheapened interprovincial version

oh no! disappointed Capey. but ok, the other centres also need to have a turn.

Yawn, a boys club event.... :woohoo:

Kieren Fallon will captain the visitors at next month’s international jockeys match…

Kieren Fallon has accepted an invitation to take part in next month’s international jockeys match at Turffontein and Fairview and he will captain the visitors.

Fallon, 50, was a big draw when he last rode here five years ago and he has a tremendous record behind him, having ridden as stable jockey to Henry Cecil, Michael Stoute and Aidan O’Brien. Six times champion jockey in Britain, his big race triumphs include the Epsom Derby three times and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe twice.

He is also no stranger to controversy. He has twice had lengthy bans for testing positive in France and in 2007 he went on trial at the Old Bailey in London on charges of race-fixing but the judge ruled that he had no case to answer.

He spent four months of this year riding in America because he felt that he was not riding as well as he should in Britain and said that the change would do him good.

Racing Association boss Larry Wainstein, the driving force behind the jockeys match, said yesterday: “It was great to get him to come to South Africa again and it’s going to make it all very interesting while Hayley Turner is on record is saying that her South African rides will be the last of her career.”

Pat Cosgrave, who has ridden here before, will also be in the team as will fellow Irishman Robert Havlin. It will be his first time in South Africa as it will for Panamanian Eduardo Pedroza and Frenchman Aurelien Lemaitre who replaces much better known compatriot Christophe Lemaire.

Former champions Piere Strydom and Anton Marcus are the two wild cards in the South African team, otherwise decided by the first four in last season’s national log – Gavin Lerena (captain), S’Manga Khumalo, Greg Cheyne and Anthony Delpech.

The home team leads the series five-two since its reinstatement in 2008. The Fairview leg is on November 13 and the match finishes at Turffontein the following day.

By Michael Clower

Sure Rab Havlin is scottish and not Irish ?

He is Bob especially with a name like Rab