Mpume Mjoka steers 20-1 shot Kabon Kapi home at Fairview on Friday (Pic – Pauline Herman)
Despite riding a winner at Fairview on Friday, the day soured somewhat for jockey Mpumelelo Mjoka, after he used a mobile phone in the winner’s enclosure – and he will probably also need to sort his agent out.
One of our bright young talents, Mpumi became one of the few SA jockeys to have ridden a winner in Ireland when he booted Fleetfootsoldier home for trainer Kevin Coleman at Dundalk in April this year. He also rode a winner in Ireland in April.
The Durban born rider also represented South Africa in the Prix Longines Future Stars Challenge in France back in 2017.
After winning the sixth race at Fairview on Friday, the Stipes noted that he made use of a cellular telephone, which was handed to him by Trainer Zietman Oosthuizen, while being led into the winners enclosure on Kabon Kapi.
The Stipes questioned both the jockey and trainer and have adjourned to give this matter further consideration.
Mpume’s day was to worsen after the eighth when he was charged with a contravention of Rule 26.1.2. It was alleged that he permitted a person to act as his agent when such agreement had not been registered by the Licensing Board.
Mpume signed an admission of guilt and was fined R2 500.
He was also charged with a contravention of Rule 21.7 in that he accepted to ride both Clap Of Thunder and We All Chomies in the eighth. He signed an admission of guilt and was fined R1 000.
Meet Mpume in an In The Box Seat Interview:
Up at Turffontein on the same afternoon, promising young apprentice Trent Mayhew appears to have gotten his maths muddled, and provided a clear-cut text book example of how to exceed the crop use limit.
He was charged with a contravention of Rule 58.10.2 (read with Guideline M on the use of the crop) in that as the rider of Fushimi Inari in the fourth race, he misused his crop by striking his mount 14 times (12 is the limit). This use was not warranted when considering the circumstances of the race, in the opinion of the Stipes.
Fushimi Inari ran sixth and 4,10 lengths behind.
Trent signed an admission of guilt and was fined R6000.
It’s worth watching the race replay to observe Striker Strydom’s cool ride after a bad start, to win on Radu for Sean Tarry.
Watch the replay here:
