Brand new Fairview trainer and former jockey Juan Nel celebrated a welcome early Christmas gift via his first winner at Fairview on Monday.
Teaque Gould keeps Vivid Red at her task to hold off Marco van Rensburg and Hollywood Thunder (Pic – Pauline Herman)
The Lammerskraal Stud-bred Var filly Vivid Red improved under Teaque Gould after four blank starts to beat the fancied Hollywood Thunder in the opening event on the Fairview polytrack card.
Vivid Red, who is out of the four-time winning Go Deputy mare Ventura, is leased by her breeders and races in the silks of former Tellytrack presenter Neil Pretorius.
The 46 year old Juan Nel, who gave up riding due to weight problems, worked for Justin Snaith, Brett Crawford, Mike de Kock, Joey Ramsden and Mike Bass.
He joined the SA Jockey Academy in 1989 together with Heinz Runge, Francois Herholdt, Rene Bonham, Craig Arnold and the late Andre du Preez.
He completed his last season in Saudi Arabia before politics between his boss and the government forced him to call it a day.
Interested owners can mail him at [email protected].
