Two good friends and true characters of the local racing community, Frikkie Greyling and Deryl Daniels partnered to mark a milestone victory for the Blue Sky Thoroughbreds team at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Wednesday.
A former jockey, trainer and assistant to some top conditioners in his time, Frikkie Greyling broke the ice as the Blue Sky Thoroughbreds trainer when Deryl Daniels drove the speedy Var filly Hurricane Cat home in the Hollywoodbets Greyville opener on Wednesday. The Tinus Gericke bred and raced 3yo had shown promise in five starts and the decision to try her on the all-weather, after some decent sand work at home, worked well.
Deryl Daniels steers Hurricane Cat to victory (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Starting at 8-1, Hurricane Cat was always in the mix after the odds-on favourite Sun In My Pocket blew her chances at the start.
Under a kind ride from Daniels, the diminutive Hurricane Cat registered 58,7 secs for the 1000m.
An emotional Frikkie Greyling, who has been associated with some major winners worldwide, said he was thankful to his team and was overwhelmed on what was an important icebreaker.
He is training out of Blue Sky Thoroughbreds’ second farm, which used to be called Yellow Star Stud.
Greyling brings a wealth of experience as a former jockey who has been assistant to some of the top trainers in the country. He has also held his own trainer’s licence.
He came out of his time as an apprentice in 1992 and rode for about six more years before weight problems forced him to retire.
Deryl and Frikkie – two happy mates (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
However, he was snapped up by Mike de Kock, for whom he had ridden a few winners. Shortly after he joined the Mike de Kock yard, the great Horse Chestnut arrived and Greyling became his chief workrider as well as his babysitter.He slept at the yard before big races as part of the security measure surrounding the superstar. He also travelled with the champion to America.
Greyling also traveled to Dubai with the like of Victory Moon and Ipi Tombe.
He later had a stint as a trainer in Dubai in partnership with Dean Maroun.
Greyling later worked as assistant to Glen Kotzen at Summerveld, where he ran the satellite yard in the off season, and he played a role in the Durban July win of Big City Life.
He has also worked for Mike and Adam Azzie and others.
Here is the post-race interview:
