Leading South African heavyweight and currently Mauritius-based jockey Bernard Fayd’herbe has been cleared to ride and is set to partner the 2022 Gr1 Cape Derby winner Pomp And Power in the Hollwoodbets Durban July.
Part owner Greg Bortz told the Sporting Post in an interview on Monday that Fayd’herbe was the jockey selected by the partnership to ride the Justin Snaith-trained 16 to 1 shot Pomp And Power in Africa’s greatest race on 1 July.
Read the Bortz’ thoughts here.
Bernard Fayd’herbe and 2008 Gr1 Vodacom Durban July winner Pocket Power (Pic – Gold Circle)
Fayd’herbe was successful in the Durban July on Pocket Power in 2008 (Mike Bass) and Marinaresco in 2017 (Candice Bass-Robinson). Both of his winners raced in the Marsh Shirtliff pink, white and blue silks.
The only hurdle thought to be an obstruction to Fayd’herbe accepting the engagement on Pomp And Power is the fact that the 2023 Gr1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate winning-rider was handed a twelve month suspension and a Rs 100 000 (ZAR 44 000) fine on the Indian Ocean Island last month. This was after he was deemed to have not given his mount every chance in the third race at the Champ de Mars on Saturday 13 May.
The subject of the sanction was the Dominic Zaki-trained Castle Of Glass, who had been beaten into second by the reportedly well-backed Arlingtons Revenge (Rye Joorawon).
While ARF member jurisdictions, of which SA and Mauritius are two, do honour and reciprocate penalties meted out on jockeys, it was expected that Fayd’herbe would try and take advantage of the NHA’s relatively new rule 91.1.3, which allows a rider suspended by specified horseracing authorities abroad, including Mauritius, to appeal against the suspension within 90 days of the finalisation of an appeal hearing.
The Sporting Post approached the National Horseracing Authority on Thursday for clarity as the final field for the Hollywoodbets Durban July is being declared on Monday 19 June.
NHA CEO Vee Moodley, an Asian Racing Federation council member, seen with ARF Chairman Winfried Engelbrech Bresges in Tokyo
NHA CEO Vee Moodley confirmed that the office of the NHA Racing Control Executive had just received the necessary clearance from the Mauritian authorities.
“Mr Faydherbe was found guilty of not riding a horse on its merits on 19 May and a one year suspension and a fine of Rs 100 000 was imposed. We have been informed that the sanction has been placed in abeyance as Mr Faydherbe has exercised his right to appeal. A date is still to be set for the relevant hearing. On that basis he will be permitted to continue riding,” confirmed Moodley.
Final declarations for the Hollywoodbets Durban July are due by 11h00 on Monday 19 June.
The final field and barrier draws will be announced on Tuesday 20 June. Watch this platform for times and channels to follow the announcement.
The official public gallops will be held at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Thursday 22 June.
