Jockey Smanga ‘Bling’ Khumalo is in pain this morning (Sunday) but should be up and running by Wednesday, where he has six rides on the Kenilworth card.
Bling was thrown from his mount Supreme Warrior in the preliminaries to the World Sports Betting Gr2 Guineas at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday.
He was replaced by WSB Fillies Guineas winning rider Calvin Habib, who almost pulled off a win and was only nabbed on the post by the flying Zapatillas.
Smanga Khumalo – heavy fall on Saturday (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
“He’s doing okay! The x-rays came back good. But as a precaution, and due to it being the neck, the 48 hour rule was engaged. He is still in some pain this morning but should be up and running by Wednesday. See you in Cape Town at Kenilworth,” Bling Agent Monty Mariemuthoo told the Sporting Post.
The top rider is enjoying a great season and is in fourth position on the national log with 135 winners at a strike rate of 15.66%.
“Bling supporters can rest assured, he’s going to close out the final quarter of the season on a high. Thanks everyone for their messages of concern, always appreciated. The loneliest time in a jockey’s life is when he is injured,” concluded Monty Mariemuthoo.
Sporting Post reader George McDonald wrote:
‘Disgraceful that a jockey thrown from his mount right in front of the grandstand and lay without moving could have to wait so long for medical assistance. Question – Do the Stipes watch the horses go down to the start? Andrew Bon seemed like the only one to notice the jockey on the ground.The driver of the ambulance parked within feet of Khumalo on the ground seemed not to notice and he got into his vehicle and was on his way to the start. It was someone – could have been Adam Azzie – who caught the driver’s attention. Gold Circle has to explain this.’
We have passed this note on to Gold Circle for a response.
