Calvin’s Next Stop, Singapore!

Already a multiple Gr1 winning rider, things are happening quickly in the life of Calvin Habib.

The 25 year old had his last ride at Turffontein on Guineas day and flew out of Johannesburg on Monday afternoon on a Singapore Airlines flight all set for an exciting new phase in his career.

Calvin chatted to the Sporting Post while packing his suitcases on Sunday afternoon.

The talented son of former jockey Donovan Habib said he was excited at the thought of joining the yard of South African trainer Ricardo Le Grange at Kranji’s state-of-the-art training facilities.

Le Grange is an institution in Singapore.

Originally a stud farm worker and assistant to Joey Soma here in SA, Ricardo was granted a trainer’s licence in December 2016. He had originally made the move to Singapore in 2001 with the now retired Patrick Shaw.

“The Singapore season started on 7 January, but Ricardo confirmed that most horses were needing their first run and that I haven’t missed much. I had my feature commitments in South Africa up to Saturday, and wanted to honour those. Things happened pretty quickly and my visa arrived promptly.  So I’m on my way and hope to have my first rides on Sunday, including the 2022 Singapore Gold Cup winner Hongkong Great, who could be a big horse for the season, “ adds Calvin enthusiastically.

The decision to travel east was made fairly quickly, but with plenty of thought and consideration.

“Both Ryan Munger and JP van der Merwe told me not to hesitate and that they would be very happy to be riding in Singapore if the opportunities existed. I have been to Singapore previously, but was only a young apprentice at the time. My cousin was riding there and I enjoyed what I saw. I am excited and looking forward to the opportunity,” he adds.

On the domestic front, Calvin is married to a highly qualified professional in Shandre, who is a daughter of former legendary jockey and Stipe, Andre Hoffmann.

We asked whether she would be joining him.

“Yes of course! Both Shandre and Ellie (a cross Pekingese) – she’s actually our child- will be travelling across to join me in a few weeks. We are in the process of selling our house at the moment,”he confirms.

But February won’t be easy – it’s Valentine’s Day on the 14^th  and Calvin celebrates his 26^th birthday on 19 February.

“Thank goodness for Interflora – I can at least send some flowers. But we will leave all the celebrations for their arrival,” he laughs.

Calvin has been riding with great success for Sean Tarry since cracking his maiden Gr1 success in June 2021 at Hollywoodbets Scottsville when Under Your Spell stormed to victory in the Allan Robertson Championship.

Trainer Sean Tarry, for whom Calvin has ridden all four of his Gr1 winners, told the Sporting Post that he wished Calvin all the very best and that it was a deserved opportunity for somebody who has worked very hard.

“A stable jockey relationship is one that is forged and built over time through interaction and hard work. There is no plan for us to replace Calvin now and the in-form jockeys will get the opportunities and the rides,” added the multiple national champion conditioner.

Calvin leaves South Africa at sixth position on the national log with 71 winners.

Interestingly he has surpassed the hard slogger Muzi Yeni (766)  as the country’s hardest working rider, with 772 rides to his credit. Log-leader Keagan de Melo has ridden 752 horses in the same time period.

Calvin Habib was always destined to be a jockey, but he had to jump a few hurdles along the way!

He grew up in a horseracing house, with his Dad and cousin Derreck David jockey. Mom Amanda has been doing the jockey room catering at Turffontein and the Vaal for years.

“I recall as a ten year old going to work with Mom and just wishing I could put on the boots and the silks and go out and ride a winner. The atmosphere was intoxicating and my superheroes as a young boy were the jockeys, rather than the predictable Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and the likes of Batman. So I was probably always predisposed towards a career in the game,” he is on record as telling us in an earlier interview.

He was rejected when first applying at the SA Jockey Academy as the experts felt he would get too tall in time.

“So I joined Mr James Maree’s Workriders Programme with Lyle Hewitson and will never look back on that experience. I learnt so much and it formed my attitude towards my career – long before I knew I would actually even get accepted at the Academy!”

Calvin rode his first winner on 3 May 2014 at Turffontein.The filly’s name was Lucky Gambler for Devin Little and another eight winners followed as a workrider before his reapplying at SAJA.

“What a feeling it was when I walked through the doors of the SA Jockey Academy on 13 January 2015 alongside the likes of Denis Schwarz, Dylan Lerena, Ashton Arries, Louis Burke, Khanya Sakayi, Sandile Mbhele and Leon Tarentaal. It was only three months after starting that I rode my first winner as a professional apprentice jockey!”

The date was 17 April 2015 and Calvin piloted Missmasala to victory at Hollywoodbets Greyville for Sean Tarry.

His trip to Singapore will not be his first international exposure.

In late 2017 he rode in Bahrain and picked up 7 winners from 50 odd rides. He also rode in France in an apprentice challenge and has had plenty of success across the border in Zimbabwe.

We wish Calvin, Shandre and Ellie all the very best in their new life in the island country.

With the free-to-enter Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge proving popular on Singapore racing, Calvin Habib will be a man to follow for many players!