After booting Vardy to victory in the 2020 L’Ormarins Gr1 Queen’s Plate, our national jockey log-leader Craig Zackey will be aiming for his second victory in the prestigious weight-for-age mile at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday when he partners the class 6yo Gimme A Prince for Dean Kannemeyer.
Craig Zackey drives Tsunami Warning up the outside as Sean Veale has Trippi’s Silk challenging hard (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
The Mauritzfontein & Wilgerbosdrift-sponsored Zackey is enjoying the season of his life and became the first SA rider to break the 100 winner mark this term when he booted Tsunami Warning home for Kannemeyer at the final Hollywoodbets Kenilworth racemeeting of 2024 on Saturday.
An illustration of the impact of Zackey’s best season ever is that he only reached the century mark in April last season – so he is effectively four months in front of where he was last term, when ending on 168 winners.
His previous best was 138 winners, and he earned the National Champion Apprentice title in the 2014/2015 season, when riding 58 winners.
On Saturday 28 December , he appropriately registered his century on Tsunami Warning, who is raced by his sponsors of ten years, Mauritzfontein & Wilgerbosdrift, and trained by Dean Kannemeyer, for whom he is stable jockey. Zackey is also retained by Lady Christine Laidlaw’s Khaya Stables.
Zackey boasts a 17,7% win strike-rate and, as we went to print, was 4 winners ahead of Gavin Lerena (25,7%), with reigning champion Richard Fourie (22,8%) on 86 in third.
He is currently quoted at 22-10 with Hollywoodbets to win the national title.
His L’Ormarins King’s Plate mount Gimme A Prince is an interesting runner and tries the mile for only the second time in his career.
A multiple Grade 1-winning sprinter, Gimme A Prince ran on powerfully for third in the Cape Mile, finishing 0,35 lengths off Rascallion. His racing style suggests the summer course will be right up his street on Saturday.
Kannemeyer knows how to train winners of this race. He saddled Capetown Noir (2014) and Free My Heart, who won it in 2002 and 2000.
Craig Zackey – 100 winners up (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Craig Gerard Simon Zackey is the son of Simon and Debbie and the fourth of their five children. He has one younger sister, Franchesca and three older brothers, Gerad, Byron and Marco.
“Seeing that I am Lebanese, I also have 67 other cousins and supporters,” he laughs.
Craig was born in Benoni, but grew up in Brakpan. Not hailing from a horsey family, he admitted that his interest in racing started because both his father and grandfather played the horses as a hobby.
Craig joined the SA Jockey Academy in 2011.
“My dad owned a horse with Duncan Howells when I was young, but I hadn’t been on a horse until I got to the Academy. I think I handled it pretty well. Well, I didn’t fall, is probably a good way to put it!”
He signed his papers in March 2012 and had his first ride under rules aboard West End for the Jeff Freedman yard on 18 March.
“To be honest my heart was in my throat and my hands were shaking. I was nervous – I didn’t know what to expect. But once the gate opened, that all changed. It’s like you become a different person and I was more confident in the race than in the stalls. As time went by and I got more rides, I adapted to it.”
Craig’s first win came at Clairwood on 2 August 2012, riding Commander Cat for Tony Rivalland and like most jockeys, it proved an unforgettable experience. “It’s hard to explain. It was a really good feeling and just a whole lot of excitement and joy and happiness all at the same time.”
He started riding for Dominic Zaki and his main owner, Kalil Zackey started giving him opportunities that led to Craig’s maiden Grade 1 success on Arabian Beat in the SA Nursery on 25 April 2015.
Just months away from his 30th birthday on 7 April, Craig has emerged this term as a serious championship contender and one of our leading new generation riders.
Nico Botha
Keith Sing
Cameron James
James Farmer
