Top Cape jockey Greg Cheyne makes a welcome return to action at Kenilworth on Saturday after over eight months on the sidelines following an injury at the same venue at the end of last year.
Greg Cheyne and Miss Frankel at Avontuur
The former Durban July winning jockey suffered seven fractures and two dislocations when his foot was crushed against the pens riding two-year-old Mount Keith at Kenilworth on 27 December.
The Avontuur-sponsored Cheyne had a noticeable ‘pep in his step’ when we spoke to him on Friday.
He said that three months in the gym and five weeks of work-riding at Milnerton, Phillipi and at the Kotzens out at Woodhill had him as fit as he could hope to get,
“Thankfully I received world-class medical care due to the excellent insurance available to the jockeys and things have largely gone according to plan. The gym is not my favourite place but I have been working hard for over 3 months and have got stuck into riding as much work as I could over the past five weeks. But only race-riding does the job and I am looking so forward to getting back into the saddle on Saturday.”
He said that the time away from his profession had been tough but that he had tried to use it constructively.
“The first three weeks of immobility was the worst as all I could do was watch horses running that I knew I could be riding. But one adapts and I got used to things. When I look back there was probably a lot more that I could have done in my time off, given the fact that this is a seven day a week job when we are in the swing of things. But I was thankful to have taken the time – I got to Australia to visit my sister and attend the Melbourne Easter Yearling Sale, as well as enjoying time away when my wife wasn’t working,” he says.
Greg Cheyne – back in action
The 40 year old, who was the season before last’s multiple East Cape champion jockey, said that he was also looking forward to riding for Alan Greeff in PE next Friday.
He labelled the Greeff stable rider position, the ‘best job in SA horseracing’ and said that the ‘old-fashioned’ loyalty shown to him by Alan Greeff was fantastic.
Greg recalled an occasion when he had just returned from four months away riding in the East and had then been injured shortly after his arrival and ruled out for eight weeks.
“Alan kept my job open for me. That demonstrates the extent of the relationship that exists. I have been fortunate to enjoy a professional association with the Greeff family which has grown into a friendship. He has had top guys like Aldo Domeyer and Andrew Fortune riding in my absence and they have enjoyed good success – as one expects from a top professional yard. Frankly, I would be disappointed if I weren’t able to win the jockey championship again in the Eastern Cape, riding for them regularly.”
Alan Greeff
As for any South African championship title aspirations, Greg confirmed that he never aimed specifically at the coveted position.
“I finished third on the SA log the season before last and I was very pleased with that. But I am not chasing,” he said.
Greg has six rides on the Kenilworth card and said he would not like to suggest his best one.
“Look, I’m always competitive and doing my utmost. And I’m raring to go and to break the ice quickly is always good for the confidence.”
The nine-race Kenilworth programme starts at 12h45.
