A natural lightweight, Cole ‘Frost’ Dicken is determined to make this his best season yet and his swashbuckling display when booting home a double for the powerful Glen Kotzen Summerveld satellite yard at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Wednesday augurs well for his future plans.
While the Winning Form-sponsored rider’s career has stopped and started at times as a result of the inevitable injuries over the years, the 27 year old is riding with renewed confidence and vigour after a fractured clavicle knocked him for a six last year.
Cole Dicken steers Blackberry Malt to victory (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
His double in midweek was sterling stuff and he was understandable pleased with both victories.
Knocking out many Pick 6 hopes in the exotic opener, his first winner came courtesy of the Varsfontein raced and bred Greenlitealltheway (20-1) who showed the expected improvement over the mile to narrowly edge out the well-supported Hodgepodge, who should not be long in escaping the maidens.
“All winners are big moments, but I enjoyed this as she is a lovely filly and rallied so bravely. I felt a bit silly as my crop broke at the grip – which is unusual, so I swirled it in the last few strides. I reported it to the Stipes as I didn’t want to be seen as showboating!” laughs Cole as he says it’s not easy taking on the determined Sean Veale in a tight finish on any day.
Two races later, Cole was back at it , getting Blackberry Malt (28-10) home ahead of the well-fancied Natyam. It was a particularly enterprising, almost gung ho kind of ride.
“I did my homework here. I watched the replays. I observed how Blackberry Malt was often getting there too late. So I decided at a point that if we were going well enough, and the pace was right, that I’d pull him out and attack. I switched him just before the turn and he was loving it. Marco van Rensburg’s horse really quickened smartly about the 250m on our outside. But Blackberry Malt, who was lugging in, kicked again and it was easy in the end. He wasn’t winning out of turn and he gave me a great feel,” adds Cole enthusiastically.
His last three winners have come courtesy of the Kotzen yard and Cole says he is fortunate to be getting the support of a top yard and was appreciative of the proverbial ‘leg-up’.
“It’s all about support – and I’m doing my utmost to give it my all and Mr John Buckler has been really kind. I’m also fortunate that I stand at 50kgs in my boots and I don’t have weight issues that plague some of my colleagues.”
Cole’s route to becoming a professional jockey famously came during his time as a helper to his Dad Gift, a Pinetown-based electrician, who was installing a chandelier at the home of Anthony and Candice Delpech.
Cole Dicken poses for our photographer after a successful day at the office (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
“Seeing all the trophies and silverware, I told my Dad I wanted to do whatever this guy did for a living! My size helped – the rest is history,” he enthuses proudly. He started at the SA Jockey Academy on 8 January 2018.
Cole Dicken attended the British Racing School and completed the International Apprentice Course at the BRC campus in Newmarket.
He rode his first winner on Princess Nicole at the Vaal on 6 August 2019.
He has four rides at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Friday, including two for Glen Kotzen and one apiece for Gary Rich and Wendy Whitehead.
The first race is off at 15h30.
