Bravura, 6-1 favourite for the Vodacom Durban July with Betting World, has suffered a setback and will miss Saturday’s Winter Guineas (Grade 3) at Kenilworth.
Joey Ramsden said last weekend: “It’s only a slight setback but it’s annoying and means he just isn’t ready. I’m not entirely sure where he will come back. The Daily News is a definite possibility but I would like to give him a run before that.”
The unbeaten gelding has not raced since getting the better of Cape Guineas winner Noordhoek Flyer in the Cape Derby at the end of January.
Tick Tock, second in the Cape Fillies Guineas, heads the entries for the Listed Sweet Chestnut Stakes on the same Kenilworth card but she will also be an absentee.
Trainer Michael Robinson said: “She is fine but she is not ready and I want to do a bit more with her before she runs again.”
On a more positive note Dean Kannemeyer reports Noordhoek Flyer bang on target for Sunday’s KRA Guineas at Greyville.
Kannemeyer said yesterday: “Noordhoek Flyer is thriving in Durban and he went exceptionally well in a gallop on the course last Thursday. Strawberry Ice, who runs in the KRA Fillies Guineas, also worked well at Greyville.”
Mark Khan cites neck injuries that failed to heal as the reason for his decision to retire, and it’s a decision he is finding hard to accept.
The injuries relate to a fall he had at the Vaal last July when he also hurt the shoulder he had broken in April.
Khan, 41, said: “My neck hasn’t really recovered despite all the rehab. I’ve been advised that the risk has elevated so it’s better for me to retire.
“It was a very hard decision to take - particularly as I believe a jockey does not reach his peak until he is nearly 40 - and I’m going through a tough time with it.
“I’ve been in racing for 26 years and this leaves one feeling a little bit lost. I’m not sure what I’m going to do but I’m looking at different business options.”
Khan, who comes from Cape Town but moved to Johannesburg in 1992, had his best season in 2001/2 when he became champion for the first time and joined the select band to have ridden 300 winners in a season.
He was champion four times more and won many of the country’s big races including the 2004 J&B Met for Geoff Woodruff for whom he was stable jockey.
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