An 18 000km round trip to Singapore, which delivered another Grade 1 success on Saturday, will be behind Muzi Yeni as he takes five rides at the bread-and-butter Hollywoodbets Greyville racemeeting on Wednesday and continues his unrelenting quest for a first national championship title
Muzi could well make it a winning return in the 12h35 opener when he partners the overdue Glamorz for the Paul Lafferty yard.
Gr1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge winning rider Muzi Yeni chats to Hollywoodbets’ Devin Heffer and Anthony Delpech (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
While the daughter of Last Winter ran a cracker behind Future Flo last time, she has enough all-weather collateral earlier to suggest she could escape the maidens here.
Interestingly, the Lafferty team have a 15% share in Glamorz’ Willow Magic half-sister Soetkoekie up for grabs. So get in early.
But back to Muzi.
Sacrificing a possible Grade 2 feature double at Turffontein last Saturday, and after travelling nearly 9000km from home, the SA national log-leading lightweight went to the Gr1 Grand Singapore Gold Cup start at Kranji with renewed resolve and purpose – traits the ‘pocket dynamo’, as he was tagged by the Singapore press, has never lacked.
He had just completed four frustrating unplaced rides at the historic final racemeeting in the Lion City and his decision to forego the rides on runner-up Fiery Phoenix and impressive winner Back To Business in the two Grade 2 features at Turffontein on the same day was suddenly starting to be heading pear-shaped.
Speaking to the Sporting Post, Muzi told of the learning curves that were his earlier rides.
“They don’t make use of false rails and the Kranji straight is very short. So it’s a whole different ball game to the way our races unfold on most South African tracks. I kept finding myself stuck out wide. The guys all ride more vigorously and get stuck in early. It turns into a mad stampede for home. In South Africa, we have more time on our hands, somehow! So when I cantered down for the final race and feature on Smart Star, I decided, that’s it – they are not going to catch me sleeping this time!” he laughed, as he explained how his long trip changed complexion in the 2 min 0,45secs it took for the 35-1 longshot to complete the 2000m on the Short Course to close a 182 year chapter in history and win the SG$1,38 million Gr1 Grand Singapore Gold Cup.
Muzi and Smart Star get there! (Pic – STC)
It was a vigorous, yet sweetly timed ride to beat the more fancied Lim’s Saltoro.
He rode in Singapore six years ago at two meetings, including the inaugural Premier Gateway International Jockeys Challenge, and said that as he packed his bags for the trip home that he is ‘very glad’ he accepted the invitation to travel for a final visit.
“Getting my first – and as it turns out last – win in Singapore felt awesome. The racing vibe in this country is crazy, even if I also felt a bit sad knowing that it was the last race.”
We asked him about the crop laws in Singapore.
“They don’t count strikes, but obviously they frown upon a jockey giving a hiding to a horse who is clearly out of contention,” he added as he tells that he and trainer David Kok could not contain their excitement after the six-year-old son of Star Witness returned to the podium.
On the emotions as the lights went out on Asia’s oldest turf club for the last time after 182 years of history, a reflective Muzi said it’s a bitter pill for him to swallow as an outsider who has only good things to say about his Singapore experiences.
“Governments make decisions, and it’s all about viability and future planning, I believe. But just looking at their world-class facilities, it’s difficult to comprehend. Their training tracks are world-class and multi-dimensional. You can train on either leg, on a variety of the best quality surfaces. There are enough swimming pools and treadmills for all the horses. The crowd of 10 000 were absolutely emotional but also loving the moment. I teamed up on Sunday for lunch with a Singapore jockey who I have kept in touch with. He came out with a group of seven appies to the SA Jockey Academy 19 years ago. In public I noted people acknowledged us. The racing culture is amazing. It is difficult not to believe there won’t be a void left, but I’m glad that the horses and the trainers and jockeys will find homes in new jurisdictions. I can only thank them all for the most wonderful hospitality and the privilege of being a part of their history – even at a sad time like this,” he concluded
The Stone-Stamcor sponsored Muzi is currently quoted at 3-1 with Hollywoodbets to win the SA championship – it would be his first national title. Maybe it’s time?
- The Hollywoodbets Greyville first is off at 12h35.
