Legend. Felix Coetzee is taking one day at a time
One of South Africa’s greatest jockeys and sporting ambassadors was discharged from a Cape Town Hospital on Monday after undergoing a hip replacement operation. The bubbly Felix Coetzee immediately joked that he should not be referred to in the past tense.
The determined and personable 54 year old was in high spirits when he chatted to us earlier this week, just hours after hobbling through the front door of his Camps Bay home on one crutch.
The man affectionately dubbed ‘The Cat’ underwent surgery at Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital in Cape Town last Friday.
The champion athlete who has ridden 3508 winners in South Africa, Hong Kong, Singapore, England, Macau, Dubai and Mauritius, including an extraordinary three Durban Julys, eight Gold Cups, five J&B Mets and two Summer Cups, said that he was looking forward to seeing his medical specialist in a fortnight from now.
“I am full of painkillers right now, but I practiced negotiating the stairs at the hospital, so I am striding out with more ease than a matter of days ago,” he joked as he winced in pain and observed that his home had not been designed for a person with his present temporary disability.
Flashback. Felix Coetzee has captured the public attention since his first winner at the age of sixteen
Coetzee, who has been associated with three of the greatest horses of recent years in Empress Club, Silent Witness and Rocket Man, said he was using his colleague Karl Neisius as his inspiration .
“Karl has set a whole new level of competitiveness and professionalism, and is an iron man in the true sense of the word. I find his attitude and strength an inspiration. Particularly as he is a lot older than me,” he quipped with a broad smile, in a tongue in cheek reference to the former multiple champion and veteran of the SA jockey ranks, who is 56 years old, and thus only two years older than ‘The Cat.’
“I am taking things day by day for now, but I have my wonderful family pampering me and treating me like I am not capable of even brushing my teeth. So it is really lovely being spoilt!” he said.
Felix’s wife Janine is supporting him and said that she was worried that he was just too active to sit around for extended periods.
“I just hope he takes the doctor’s advice and takes things slowly,” she said with a wave of the hand and a broad smile at her husband.
Felix is very proud of his children and spoke of them with glowing acknowledgement.
His 23yo daughter Katherine recently qualified with distinction at a Cape Town art school and has landed a prestigious position as Personal Assistant to legendary entertainer, Richard Loring.
His 13yo son Daniel was also fussing worriedly over his famous Dad, and when quizzed on whether his slight frame would also one day be riding winners all over the world, we were told,’no’.
“He has an excellent head on his shoulders and has his sights set on becoming a Marine Biologist. I wouldn’t influence him either way and while it is a tough game, horseracing has treated me very well,” conceded Felix.
Globetrotter. Felix and Silent Witness. Perfect pair!
Felix Coetzee has a CV that would make any jockey on earth, proud.
He was stable rider to the maestro trainer Terrance Millard, which provided him with a legendary host of big race winners throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, as well as three Jockeys Championships.
He relocated to Hong Kong in 1992 and eventually teamed up with former champion jockey Tony Cruz.
Coetzee helped Cruz win his first Trainer’s Championship in the 1999/2000, a title he also won in 2004/2005.
It was his partnership with the legendary Cruz-trained Silent Witness that made him a household name amongst the global racing community.
The Australian-bred gelding won his first 17 starts and Felix partnered him in every one of his 29 career starts.
Coetzee was always destined to reach the highest level in horseracing.
His grandfather was an owner-trainer and his father Hennie trained out of Summerveld.
The records show that his first winner was in an amateur race at Richmond aboard a quarter horse called Middleberg, whom he regarded as one of the top three fastest horses he had ever ridden.
Gold Class! Felix Coetzee rode a terrific tactical race to win the Gr1 Gold Cup on In Writing
His first professional winner was for his father aboard Royal Drummer and his first feature winner was as a sixteen-year-old aboard Kentford in the 1975 Clairwood Winter Handicap.
He won South Africa’s premier staying race, the Gr1 Gold Cup on In Writing in 2012, in one of the great tactical rides seen at the top level in recent times.
Would he ever consider taking out a trainer’s licence, if the opportunity presented itself?
“Hell no, that is one job I wouldn’t want for anything in the world. It takes a special person to take on a challenge like that!” he said.
On the future, Felix brightened up and said that he was anxious to get back into the saddle, but would only do so when he could give one hundred percent and is free of the pain that has plagued him in recent times.
“I have every hope of riding again. I still have time on my side and I have never lost an ounce of my enthusiasm,” he said.
