Experienced Quenton Riddle
Zimbabwe are the first country to have named their team for the Kenya Horseracing 110 year anniversary celebrations International Jockeys Challenge.
The Jockey Club of Kenya, under the guidance of Tom Fraser, recently announced that 18 January 2015 would be the best day of racing Kenya had ever experienced.
The Kenya Guineas is Ngong’s first classic of the season, and will take pride of place on the day.
The four nation jockey challenge, which will include the hosts and the cream of the crop from South Africa, Mauritius and Zimbabwe, will be held over designated races on the afternoon.
The Zimbabwe team has a rich blend of experience and youthful talent. It is made up of Quinton Riddle, Kevin Derere and Brendon McNaughton.
The 37yo Quinton Riddle was champion apprentice in the 94/95 season and and has also been Zim Champion jockey four times. He has ridden over 450 winners in his career to date.
Riddle labels the brilliant Earl of Surrey the best horse he has ridden.
“It was the second last race of the season and I needed to win the race to retain the championship, and the champion he was ! The Earl won by 4 lengths.
He names Piere Strydom as his favourite jockey.
Youthful Brendan McNaughton
The 23yo Brendon McNaughton is the young gun.
Currently attached to KZN trainer Alyson Wright’s Zimbabwe Satelite yard, the promising youngster joined the Zimbabwe jockeys academy in 2007 and had his first ride on 1 March 2009.
He rode his first winner on Dream Deal on Sunday 22 May 2010.
McNaughton was champion apprentice for the 2012-2013 racing season and came out of his time in August 2013. He has ridden 26 winners and 129 places from 309 rides.
He tells us that his most memorable winners were Double Date when winning the Champion Fillies Stakes on 2 December 2012 and Pleasant Valley when winning the ZNA Charity Handicap on Sunday 3 November 2013.
A name that South African punters will readily identify with is Kevin Derere
Popular Kevin Derere
The 29 year old Derere scored one of the great feature upsets of the 21st century on Spike Lerena’s Grand Format in the Laurie Jaffee silks on Saturday 2 November 2002, in the Gr1 November Handicap.
He joined the academy in 2000 and started riding on 15 September 2001 on Blue Quail, who ran into ran fourth.
Derere rode his first winner on La Scara on 13 October 2001 for trainer Alex Laird at the now closed Clairwood racecourse.
He was crowned champion apprentice in the 2002-3 & 2003-4 seasons.
He has ridden 381 winners and 2093 places from 6043 rides.
While Grand Format was his most memorable winner, he suggests that Far De Vie is the best horse he has ever ridden.
He modestly says that his favourite jockey is himself.
Watch this space for more news on the Kenya Anniversary celebrations.
