The promising Oratorio colt Cavalieri gave former champion jockey MJ Odendaal the first winner of his training career when the 3yo got off the mark at just his second start at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday.
In the same season that his good friend Doug Whyte launches his own training career in Hong Kong, Odendaal has 24 horses – half of which he says he owns himself – at his Summerveld yard and Sunday’s victory was a great start for the charismatic former jockey.
MJ Odendaal salutes the fans as Paul Lafferty looks on (Pic – Candiese Marnewick)
He was champion jockey in 2004/5 and rode six winners on an afternoon for Gary Alexander.
MJ also rode abroad – in Hong Kong, Mauritius and Macau.
After breaking nineteen bones and having twenty-four operations, he called it a day from the saddle in 2014. He was then very sick for six months.
His wife Taryn is still on the farm and will relocate to KZN when their son Ty completes his primary schooling at the end of the year.
Owners Johnny Peter, Preggie Anappa and Colin Govindasamy have given him a flying start. He also paid tribute to his vastly experienced assistant Braam Malherbe.
MJ Odendaal and his owners lead Cavalieri in with Stu Randolph aboard (Pic – Candiese Marnewick)
Sporting his trademark long hair, MJ kept interviewer Paul Lafferty busy for a good while.
He attributes his hairstyle to a Red Indian belief that says that when one’s hair reaches the waist, one connects spiritually with animals.
“I am halfway there! And who knows – in a few years I could be the first Dutchman to train a Durban July winner for Indian owners!” he is on record as saying.
Watch his post-race interview here:
