Stone-Stamcor sponsored jockey Muzi Yeni maintained his excellent form this term with four winners at the Vaal on Thursday to maintain his number 1 berth on the SA jockey log.
Yeni took his season tally to 39, a total of 14 winners ahead of the hard-knocking Sean Veale, when he rode his quartet of firsts at the low-key racemeeting.
Four works for him! Muzi Yeni was a happy man on Thursday (Pic – JC Photos)
Yeni rode the winners of the Vaal fourth in the 33-10 I Am Regal (Paul Matchett), dead-heating with Kaidan Brewer on the Paul Matchett trained Sneak Preview, and then the last three races on the card: the 3-1 Risky Business (St John Gray), the 5-1 Open Highway (Fanie Bronkhorst) and 11-10 easy winner Prince Of Kildare (Billy Ruiters).
Fast approaching his 2500th career winner, Muzi, who has come within a heartbeat of winning the big title, told the Sporting Post after three weeks of the season that despite his good start he would be focusing on maintaining his work-rate and enjoying it, rather than chasing the national title.
His goal is building a good resume to allow him to pursue international opportunities, if the chance arises.
Regular poster Geoff Logan contacted us to say that Muzi is ‘really riding well at the moment and chalking up plenty of winners’.
“He is riding at three venues. Richard Fourie on the other hand is having a bit of a lean spell, which we understand happens. But at the moment Richard is only riding in the Western and Eastern Cape. I think Muzi could be an attractive bet for national championship honours. Richard’s odds look a bit cramped to me. I know it’s early days but am not sure of Richard’s plans for the season. He said on a podcast show he would not make it easy for his rivals. It’s rather confusing as he had about five rides for Justin Snaith at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Tuesday. At the next Hollywoodbets Durbanville meeting on Saturday he has one only ride for the Snaith team. It will be interesting to see if he starts traveling again. I remember Anthony Delpech mentioning that it took him three or so months to recover after his title chase. No doubt Richard will bounce back. Be interesting to hear what other SP readers’ opinions are. It’s certainly a fascinating start to the season,” added the lifetime racing man.
Hollywoodbets have Fourie at 8-10 and Yeni at 5-1 for championship honours at time of writing. See the betting here.
Another Sporting Post regular, Frankie Zackey, contacted our offices on Thursday evening to suggest that Muzi Yeni is one of the ‘most improved riders’ he has seen in years.
“Seriously, he is riding like a real champion,” added Zackey.
Richard Fourie has eight rides while Muzi gives Fairview a skip on Friday and takes eight rides at Turffontein on Saturday – while the champion is at Hollywoodbets Durbanville, where he is carded with nine rides.
